weekend: "Exploring Observance in a Pluralistic Setting” - Oct 29-31

This Weekend:
“Exploring Jewish Observance in a Pluralistic Setting”

Led by Rabbi Ethan Tucker, Adas Israel and area independent minyanim—including Zoo Minyan!—will be “Exploring Jewish Observance in a Pluralistic Setting.” With events spanning the weekend (Oct. 29-31) there's something for everyone. Visit details & schedule-of-events for more info and to RSVP.

To volunteer for part of Zoo Minyan leading/leyning, email
info@zooMinyan.org.

Experience the power of Torah Lishma—learning for its own sake.

See you there!

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ETHAN TUCKER BIO
Special Guest: Rabbi Ethan Tucker

Rabbi Tucker is Rosh Yeshiva at Mechon Hadar and chair in Jewish law.
He was a faculty member at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education,
where he taught Talmud and Halakhah in the Scholars Circle. He was
ordained by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and earned a Ph.D. in Talmud
and Rabbinics from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a B.A. from
Harvard College. A Wexner Graduate Fellow, he was a co-founder of
Kehilat Hadar and a winner of the first Grinspoon Foundation Social
Entrepreneur Fellowship.
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Save the Date - Sat. Nov 20th (& Oct 29-31)

Next Zoo Minyan - Sat. Nov. 20

(we are *not* meeting Nov. 13th)

-----------------------

Oct. activity:
Rabbi Ethan Tucker at Torah Lishma weekend

Oct 29-31

Independent Minyanim co-sponsoring with Adas Israel
See a schedule of events and RSVP online


-----------------------

Details coming soon...

Zoo Minyan Sukkah time - Thurs. Sept 23

Sukkot is here!

Need some more Chag?
Missing your Zoo Minyan chevre? Want to meet new folks?
Come gather together and share a festive potluck in Woodley Park, at the sukkah of Deborah & Shalom Flank.

6pm Dinner & Mincha
7:45pm Candles & Ushpizin/Ushpizata for Ice Cream

-------------
THE DETAILS:
Thurs. night, September 23, (2nd night Sukkot)
Starting at 6pm
Pot-luck dairy/veggie dinner -- main courses especially appreciated

At the home of Deborah Hittleman Flank and Shalom Flank. For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email info@ZooMinyan.org

Chag same'ach!

---
FACEBOOK! Be sure to check out our Events on our page! Send 'em to your friends.
(people are RSVPing like crazy!)

Simhat Torah option

There's no Zoo Minyan, but there's the first ever TLS Simhat Torah celebration...

(Tikkun Leil Shabbat)
-------------------

TLS SIMCHAT TORAH CELEBRATION!


Thursday, September 30, 2010
7:15 pm

+ Church of the Pilgrims building, 2201 P St NW
+ Gothic building (with large rainbow "welcome" banner) on west side of 22nd St between P & Q Sts, NW. Enter around to the left side of the main entrance through the stairs down marked "Fellowship Hall."
+ Directions: http://www.churchofthepilgrims.org/directions.html

Join TLS for our first ever Simchat Torah celebration! We'll begin with ma'ariv (the evening service)*, continue with hakafot (dancing with the Torah), and conclude by completing and restarting the annual reading of the Torah. Wear your dancing shoes!

- The first 4 hakafot will be a cappella (without instruments).
- The last 3 hakafot will be accompanied by instruments (a klezmer band).


POTLUCK INFO
If your last name starts with the letters A-L, bring a potluck snack that can be eaten with fingers.
If your last name starts with the letters M-Z, bring a hydrating beverage or a pitcher for water
You may bring other beverages as an additional contribution if you wish.
(There will not be a regular potluck dinner. All are encouraged to eat dinner before arriving - it will be a late night!)

*TLS is a diverse Jewish community. Some of us celebrate 2 days of yom tov (festival), including Thursday night Sep 30 as the second night of yom tov. Some celebrate one day of yom tov and see Thursday night Sep 30 as a weeknight. Some don't have an opinion one way or the other. This service will be set up to accommodate all of these different practices. You can read further about the one day and two-day yom tov celebration practices here: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/About_Holidays/Types_of_Holidays/Length_of_Holidays.shtml

Next Zoo Minyan: Sukkot!

In the coming Chaggim intensive month, Zoo Minyan will not be having any of the usual Sat. or Fri night davenning. The next Zoo Minyan activities will be for *Sukkot*

For the *Physical*,
>>> Raising the Sukkah --- Sun. Sept 19th @ 4pm

Come play with wood, nuts, and bolts

For the *Spiritual*,
>>> Dinner in the Sukkah --- Tues night Sept 23

Potluck dinner in the Sukkah, 2nd night of Sukkot

Sukkah will be in Woodley Park (within walking distance of the Zoo, as is Zoo Minyan custom) at Deborah and Shalom's house.

(Additional details coming soon)
---

FACEBOOK! Be sure to check out our Events on our page! Send 'em to your friends.

"Labor on the Bima " Zoo Minyan w/ UAW drash - Aug 28

.
.Come enjoy a drash over lunch by UAW (United Auto Workers) insider at Zoo Minyan's "Labor on the Bima"

..come enjoy "davenning treats" with a Labor theme

...Maybe sing some Labor songs?

(celebrating JUFJ program "Labor on the Bima")
(Zoo Minyan is doing its programming the week **before** labor day, so it won't conflict with other congregations' programs, so come on down!)

---
if you can tell us you're coming we'd appreciate it, but RSVP is never required
==================


We'll be gathering for davenning, lunch drash, shmoozing, singing, etc., in Woodley Park (within walking distance of the Zoo, as is Zoo Minyan custom) at Deborah and Shalom's house.

Want to volunteer to lead something for davenning, or add something to enrich our kavannah (we call them davenning treats, i.e. creative tidbits, not actual food ;) Schlep a sefer torah, or bring some Zoo Minyan veggies? Write back to info@ZooMinyan.org.

For Leyning there are aliyot available (please sign up if you can!)...use self-service leyning spreadsheet, or email leyning@ZooMinyan.org.


The Details:

Zoo Minyan
Saturday, Parshat Ki Tavo, 28 August
10am sharp, with a rockin' Psukei d'Zimrah
Pot-luck dairy/veggie lunch -- main courses especially appreciated

At the home of Deborah Hittleman Flank and Shalom Flank. For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email info@ZooMinyan.org

Shabbat Shalom

Rosh Hodesh: SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN OF THE WALL

In recent months, the Kotel in Jerusalem has been even less of a site of kedusha and unity, with Rosh Chodesh davenners with Women of the Wall subject to a new wave of harassment, arrest, and even the threat of violence. As we enter the season of Teshuva on Rosh Chodesh Elul, we stand in solidarity to sound the wake-up call of the Shofar.

WHAT: SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN OF THE WALL

Rosh Hodesh Elul Morning Service

WHEN: Wednesday, August 11, 7:30 a.m.

WHERE: Adas Israel, 2850 Quebec Street, NW, Washington, DC

(Metro: Red Line, Cleveland Park)

DETAILS:

A cross - denominational group of women and men will gather in solidarity with Women of the Wall and begin the spiritual journey toward the new year. Women will lead the service, including reading from the Torah. The service, like those held on Rosh Hodesh by Women of the Wall in Jerusalem, will accommodate participants from across the Jewish spectrum.

Women of the Wall strive to achieve the right to pray together at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem, Judaism’s most sacred holy site and the principal symbol of Jewish peoplehood and sovereignty.

Women who would like to lead part of the service or read from the Torah should contact Virginia Spatz, 202-557-0086, songeveryday@gmail.com.

Please bring a prayerbook (siddur) if you are able and a tallit if you wear one. While women will lead the service, men are encouraged to come.

"One thing I have asked from You, one thing I seek, to dwell in Your house all the days of my life." -- Psalm 27

For more details, please visit

http://songeveryday.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/rosh-hodesh elul/

or on Facebook "Rosh Hodesh Elul DC".

Save the Date

Labor on the Bima - Sat. Aug 28

(the week **before** Labor day)

Details coming soon...

Fri. night Zoo Minyan - July 30th

Pop quiz -

QUESTION:
What happens on the Shabbat following TLS (Tikkun Leil Shabbat) with instruments?

ANSWER:
Fri. night Zoo Minyan, of course!

(Did you know that's our usual schedule?)

So, it's been a while since we've had Shabbos together - hope you can come...

***** Next week - Fri. July 30th *****

We'll have spirited songful Davening and delicious dinner (catered entrees from Sienna's). We'll be in Woodley Park, at the home of Deborah & Shalom Flank. We're seeking davenning leaders, and there's always room for davenning treats, special niggunim, etc., just write back to Fridays@ZooMinyan.org to volunteer.

Please make a donation toward dinner and/or bring a potluck contribution (veggie/dairy) -- details below.

---
The Details:
Next Friday night, July 30
Shmoozing plus set-up: 6:30pm
Rockin' Kabbalat Shabbat -- 7:00pm sharp!
Followed by Ma'ariv, dinner, singing, drashing, more shmoozing....

At the home of Deborah and Shalom Flank

For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email info@ZooMinyan.org.

ABOUT DINNER (it's not just a pot-luck!)

We will have main courses from Siena's! Kosher, lots of dairy plus at least one non-dairy option, all veggie, and all yummy! Vegetable lasagna, eggplant parmesan -- send in your requests

For shabbat dinner, the community provides some hearty entrees. You can:

1. Contribute to the kitty to help pay for the entree AND / OR
   
2. Bring a side dish, salad, or desert as a dairy / veggie pot-luck contribution.
   

Don't worry about whether your kitchen is kosher (or “kosher enough”), everyone gets to contribute. But please be prepared to explain what's in your dish, to help people avoid allergy or kashrut issues.

If you're worried about whether you'll be able to eat at Zoo Minyan, there is always a critical mass of pot-luck contributions with a heksher or cooked in someone's heksher-only kitchen. There are always hekshered challot and grape juice, plus the entree is hekshered. And you'll get to know people as you ask who brought which dish.

Questions? Ideas? Want to help? Need the address or directions? Write back to Fridays@ZooMinyan.org.

Shabbos is coming!

-------

For more FRIDAY NIGHT INFO, get all the details here. And for upcoming Friday night dates & Shabbat Morning dates, check the Zoo Minyan Google calendar (yep, it's there, just to your left, top of the page) as updates unfold.

Thank you

Thank you to our T-shirt sponsor donor - we appreciate your stepping forward to support Zoo Minyan's continued participation and visibility.

Todah Rabah!

Scholarship Funds Still Available /NHC Summer Institute

(message from National Havurah Committee)
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Scholarship Funds Still Available

Join hundreds of other participants from across North America in creating a joyful grassroots community August 2-8, 2010 at Franklin Pierce University's beautiful Rindge, New Hampshire campus. Request a scholarship grant when you register online.

Please click here to register now.

NHC Summer Institute - Work-study

(message from National Havurah Committee)
---

Work-study Position Available

A work-study position has recently become available for the National Havurah Committee Summer Institute 2010. The participant can attend the Institute for $400 plus NHC dues, and participate fully in the rest of the program in exchange for driving a 10 foot panel truck to and from Institute from Philadelphia. The driver must be able to leave Thursday, July 29th from Philadelphia and will return Sunday, August 8th.

To apply for the truck driver position call the Institute office (215-248-1335) or email institute@havurah.org.

Sponsor T-shirt (in honor of a Simcha?)

Greetings Zoo-Minyanite,

Zoo Minyan is looking for $36 to keep our name on the NHC Summer Institute t-shirt. (National Havurah Committee)


As a T-shirt sponsor, our name joins dozens of other havurot, minyanim, shuls, synagogues, and grassroots Jewish communities on the back of the shirt.

Many Zoo Minyan folks attend the National Havurah Committee Summer Institute each year. (You should consider attending this year!)

Perhaps you're moved to donate in honor of someone or something in your life. Perhaps in honor of a Simcha.

There's a deadline, so please act now.
email yes@zooMinyan.org

Many thanks for considering it!

Shavua Tov.

------
WHAT **IS** SUMMER INSTITUTE?
check out http://www.havurah.org/ or
email info@zooMinyan.org for more information.

also: Sunrise 10 Commandments!

For Shavuot, we'll be helping lead the Sunrise service and reading the 10 Commandments.
(and don't forget the all night Tikkun, or afternoon BLINTZfest, details below.)


Come hear the 10 Commandments
at Mt. Sinai and join the Sunrise / Hashkamah
service at 5 a.m. Wed.

Arrive at 5am, or be a Tikkun participant during the night - all are welcome!

LOCATION:
Adas Israel - 2850 Quebec St. NW

for more info contact
info@zooMinyan.org

Shavuot: Tikkun 5/18 - BlintzFest 5/19

Dear Zoo-Minyanite,

***Tikkun Leyl Shavuot***:
as we approach the 40th day of counting the Omer, Shavous and the giving of the torah are almost upon us. And the great joy of receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai is preceded by the uplifting night of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot, a night of study and community (that continues late and for some can go all night!)

Of the many communities offering Tikkunnim the night of May 18th, Zoo Minyan will be lending it's support to the Adas Traditional Minyan in Cleveland Park. if you would like more information --or would like to lead or co-lead a sessions on the topic of your choice after midnight--, contact info@ZooMinyan.org.


***MAY 15th***:
Zoo Minyan will *not* be meeting after all on May 15, and the community wishes a hearty Mazal Tov to Becca Rosen & Zach Teutsch on their aufruf and upcoming Chuppah.


***BLINTZfest***:
Blintz Fest at Deborah and Shalom's - 1st Day of Shavuot -- 5pm, May 19
-----------------------------
Come join Shalom & Deborah for their Annual Shavuot Blintz Fest!
Sleep to your hearts content on the 1st day of Shavuot and then come by starting at 5pm.
Blintzes come fresh from Grandma's heirloom blintz pan - you are invited to bring toppings. If you are in the mood, other Hekshered potluck items are welcome but certainly not required. Eat Bubbelah eat!

TIME: 5 p.m. through ???

LOCATION:
At Deborah and Shalom's house in Woodley Park. For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email Blintzes@ZooMinyan.org


No RSVP necessary (but always appreciated) - yes@zooMinyan.org

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Shavuot Tov!
(like Shavua Tov - get it???)

Cancelled - Sat. April 24th

Alas, we have not enough leyners for this week's Double Parsha Torah reading.
so this Sat. April 24 Zoo Minyan is canceled.

next Zoo Minyan -- May 15th Bamidbar - A fresh start in the desert.

sorry for disappointment this week.

NOTE: if you are a leyner, please consider signing up now to leyn May 15.


Good Shabbos to all.
Shabbat Shalom.

Halfway from Egypt to Sinai - Sat. April 24

This shabbos we'll be halfway through the 50 days of the Omer, balanced between Egypt and Sinai. A good time to move from looking back over our shoulders, and start lifting our eyes to the mountain. Except Am Yisrael didn't know they were heading to Sinai! What surprises and revelations lie in front of *us*? Come join Zoo Minyan for davenning, Torah reading, lunch, and learning, this coming shabbos -- you never know where your next Sinai will be found.

---
if you can tell us you're coming we'd appreciate it, but RSVP is never required
==================

(updated: 4/20/2010)
Location below

Zoo Minyan is meeting this Sat.

We'll be gathering for davenning, lunch, shmoozing, singing, etc., next Saturday in Woodley Park (within walking distance of the Zoo, as is Zoo Minyan custom) at Deborah and Shalom's house.

Want to volunteer to lead something for davenning, or add something to enrich our kavannah (we call them davenning treats, i.e. creative tidbits, not actual food ;) Schlep a sefer torah, or bring some Zoo Minyan veggies? Write back to info@ZooMinyan.org.

For Leyning there are aliyot available (please sign up if you can!)...use self-service leyning spreadsheet, or email leyning@ZooMinyan.org.


The Details:

Zoo Minyan
Saturday, Parshat Parshat Acharei-K'doshim, 24 April
10am sharp, with a rockin' Psukei d'Zimrah
Pot-luck dairy/veggie lunch -- main courses especially appreciated

At the home of Deborah Hittleman Flank and Shalom Flank. For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email info@ZooMinyan.org

Shabbat Shalom

REMINDER... April 16 - Fri. night Zoo Minyan

Just a reminder:

• Cleveland Park,
  
• home of Rabbi Gilah Langner & David Dreilich.

-----
(Consider donating to the Sienna's catering "kitty")
-----

Details below - Shabbos is coming!

What happens at Fri. night Zoo Minyan?

Here's a description of some Spiritual & Physical aspects of a Fri. night Zoo Minyan.

For the *Physical*,
>>> see below for details about dinner -- it's not just a pot-luck!
For the *Spiritual*,
>>> here you go...

A few things to expect (besides the unexpected)

• Creative rituals and Kavanot
  

For example: To add sweetness from the week to shabbat, we will pass around the kiddush cup during kabbalat shabbat. For each of the mizmorim (psalms, corresponding to each of the days of the week), a few people at a time will share something from their week to add to our overflowing cup of joy.

• Nigunim

Both soulful and spirited tunes, with lots of repetition and space to sink into the melodies. (Sometimes, you don't really start singing a good melody until you've been singing it for 20 minutes!)

• Nusach shivyoni
  

Davenning leaders will be using our photocopied siddurim with egalitarian language (see the Guide for the Perplexed). Other siddurim will also be available, and everyone is welcome to daven from their own siddur. Certain kinds of cacophony / pluralism create their own harmony.

• Raza d'Shabbat ("the mystery of shabbos")

Between Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv, where Nusach Sefard has a passage from the Zohar and Nusach Ashkenaz has a passage from the Mishnah, we will have a (three minute) drash. Drawing on the text of the tefillot (or parshat shavua or other relevant texts), we aim to provide kavannah for davenning and for our entry into shabbos.

About Dinner

We will have main courses from Siena's! Kosher, lots of dairy plus at least one non-dairy option, all veggie, and all yummy! Vegetable lasagna, eggplant parmesan -- send in your requests.

For shabbat dinner, the community provides some hearty entrees. You can:

• Contribute to the kitty to help pay for the entree,

AND / OR

• Bring a side dish, salad, or entree as a dairy / veggie pot-luck contribution.
  

Don't worry about whether your kitchen is kosher (or “kosher enough”), everyone gets to contribute. But please be prepared to explain what's in your dish, to help people avoid allergy or kashrut issues.

If you're worried about whether you'll be able to eat at Zoo Minyan, there is always a critical mass of pot-luck contributions with a heksher or cooked in someone's heksher-only kitchen. There are always hekshered challot and grape juice. The entree is hekshered, and (for the l'mehadrin) heated while double-wrapped. And you'll get to know people as you ask who brought which dish.

Logistics

Helping out:

1. Picking-up dinner entrees from Rockville
   
2. Schlep siddurim, pot-luck plates & utensils, and benchers
   
3. Helping to organize set-up and clean-up
   
4. Leading Kabbalat Shabbat
   
5. Raza d'Shabbat: Kavanah / Torah between Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv
   
6. Leading Ma'ariv
   

Write back to Fridays@ZooMinyan.org to help out!

******************************************************************

Any questions, about this or anything else, please contact info@ZooMinyan.org.

Fri. night Zoo Minyan - April 16

Now we are free! As we emerge from Pesach, make plans to join Zoo Minyan Fri. night, April 16, for a tune filled joyful Erev Shabbat.

We'll have spirited songful Davening and delicious dinner (catered entrees from Sienna's). This time we'll be in Cleveland Park, at the home of super-hosts Rabbi Gilah Langner & David Dreilich. (Zoo Minyan will be davenning there, and then we'll combine for dinner with Ruach Minyan who will arrive after their separate davenning.)
We're seeking davenning leaders, and there's always room for davenning treats, special niggunim, etc., just write back to Fridays@ZooMinyan.org to volunteer.

Please make a donation toward dinner and/or bring a potluck contribution (veggie/dairy) -- details below.


The Details:
This Friday night, April 16
Shmoozing plus set-up: 6:15pm
Rockin' Kabbalat Shabbat -- 6:45pm sharp!
Followed by Ma'ariv, dinner, singing, drashing, more shmoozing....

At the home of Rabbi Gilah Langner & David Dreilich

For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email info@ZooMinyan.org.

ABOUT DINNER (it's not just a pot-luck!)

We will have main courses from Siena's! Kosher, lots of dairy plus at least one non-dairy option, all veggie, and all yummy! Vegetable lasagna, eggplant parmesan -- send in your requests

For shabbat dinner, the community provides some hearty entrees. You can:

1. Contribute to the kitty to help pay for the entree AND / OR
   
2. Bring a side dish or salad as a dairy / veggie pot-luck contribution.
   

Don't worry about whether your kitchen is kosher (or “kosher enough”), everyone gets to contribute. But please be prepared to explain what's in your dish, to help people avoid allergy or kashrut issues.

If you're worried about whether you'll be able to eat at Zoo Minyan, there is always a critical mass of pot-luck contributions with a heksher or cooked in someone's heksher-only kitchen. There are always hekshered challot and grape juice, plus the entree is hekshered. And you'll get to know people as you ask who brought which dish. Questions? Ideas? Want to help? Need the address or directions? Write back to Fridays@ZooMinyan.org.

===========
This week, Challah for Shabbos!
Next week, Zoo Minyan!
Shavua Tov!!

-------

For more FRIDAY NIGHT INFO, get all the details here. And for upcoming dates, check the Zoo Minyan Google calendar (yep, it's there, just to your left, top of the page).