News & Events

Other News

The High Holidays Are Coming Soon!

Information & signups

We look forward to celebrating the High Holidays with you, whether you join us online or in person, or some of each. Reservations for in-person participation will open Sunday, August 16, at 10:30 AM (note correction from previous message). Links for online participation will be published before the holidays, with no RSVP required.

If you haven't yet, please go to the High Holiday page for the complete schedule, as well as signups/order forms for memorial plaques, holiday greetings, listings in the Yizkor/Memorial Booklet, lulav & etrog sets, home sukkah kits and more. The first deadline is Friday, August 14!

If you placed a Mahzor order with us already, the bulk order has just arrived after some delay, and you will be contacted soon about pickup dates & times. We will have a few extras available; check the High Holiday page for details.

Our building may be (mostly) closed, but our community is open!

All updates and information concerning Beth Emeth activities and procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak, including information to access online services and procedures to keep us safe as we slowly re-open for in-person services, are consolidated in a single section of the website at bethemeth.org/covid-19.

Also, please note that we are still collecting the mail every day. If you would like to come to the building for any reason, please make an appointment with the person you would like to see, otherwise please email office@bethemeth.org to make an appointment.

Do You Need Assistance in This Difficult Time?

Congregation Beth Emeth (CBE) wants to help any member who is in need of assistance as the Coronavirus/Covid-19 situation continues to cause economic disruptions and layoffs, as well as difficulty with errands for those at high risk.

• For those self-isolating, the CBE Caring Community's volunteers can help by running errands such as grocery shopping and medication pickups. Please take a look at the sign up genius below and let us know if you need assistance or if you can help out others. Sign up at bit.ly/cbecaring-coronavirus, or if you prefer, contact Executive Director Melissa Heifetz or Rabbi Mina.
• If you have been affected economically, we have some limited funds available to help members with immediate expenses. Please contact Melissa Heifetz or Rabbi Mina -- all information in this regard is confidential.

Reserve Seats for In-Person Minyanim & Shabbat Services

Reservations open each week on Sunday at 10:30 AM and close the following Wednesday at noon, for the week's Wednesday evening minyan, Erev Shabbat and Shabbat Morning, and Sunday morning minyan.

We look forward to seeing you if you are able to join us for in-person services over the coming months! In order to maintain distancing we must limit attendance at in-person services, so we have created an online reservation system that will be updated each Sunday at 10:30 AM for the following week's services. Information about requirements and policies is also at this link.

Please note that each first-time attendee must complete & return (or bring) a completed waiver form. Also, before coming to Wednesday & Sunday minyanim you are asked to complete a self-screening, including taking your temperature (screening will be done at the door on Shabbat). If you have any questions about reservations, please contact office@bethemeth.org.

And if you prefer to join us online, please continue to use the links in the weekly e-newsletter and on the website.

Volunteers Needed for In-Person Services

Can you Volunteer to be a Greeter, Usher, Screener or "Zoom Gabbai" at in-person worship services? Each role is carefully planned to maintain distance and maximize safety. Role descriptions and signups are at bethemeth.org/service-volunteers. If you have questions or prefer not to sign up online, please contact office@bethemeth.org.

BEECC Registration for 2020-21 is Open 

Are you looking for a creative, stimulating environment where your child can explore, learn and grow? Half- and full-day options available for ages 2-5, with Mom & Tot program for 1-2 years. Register your child before March 31 and we’ll waive the $100 registration fee! Help us spread the word about BEECC; invite your friends and neighbors to visit us at www.beecc.org for more information, or to email beeccinfo@bethemeth.org to schedule a tour.

Seeking Half-day, In-person Teachers & Assistants for BEECC

Congregation Beth Emeth's BEECC preschool will be opening their doors on September 8th and are looking for some enthusiastic, innovative & passionate teachers who love children for the 2020-2021 school year. The BEECC teacher position is 5 mornings a week (8:45AM-1:30PM), beginning August 31st, working with ages 2-5 in our Reggio-inspired program. All CDC, VA Health department and State Guidelines will be implemented and followed for the safety of our children and staff. Please spread the word!

In addition BEECC is looking for teaching assistants (could be college-aged) to join each classroom as an extra set of hands.

Please reach out to Robin at robin@bethemeth.org for more information

New! Online Gift Shop Affiliate ModernTribe

Shop Online Today

While the Marilyn Rosenberg Judaic Shop is your first choice for quality gifts and Judaica as well as stellar personalized service, sometimes you want to order online -- especially when the shop is closed due to the pandemic! Enter our new affiliate program, whereby the Sisterhood Gift Shop receives a commission whenever a shopper uses our special link to order. Check out ModernTribe today!

Learn to Chant the Haftarah

Please contact David Cerny if you are interested in learning how to chant the Haftarah. We need at least 4 participants to start a class. You must be able to read Hebrew; knowledge of Torah trope would be helpful, but is not necessary. Additional information will be provided to those expressing interest.

Online Logins & Profiles – Important Reminders

• If you are logging into Shulcloud for the first time, please use the member access instructions to update your login (all members already have an account), and be sure to use the email address that received the email login invitation; that's what we have on file for you. If you aren't sure which email address to use, contact susan@bethemeth.org.
• We need your help to confirm your profile information, yahrzeits, etc. and fill in the blanks! The most frequently-used areas are listed on the same page, with brief instructions.

Annual Back-to-School Drive

For Backpacks and Other School Supplies

Cornerstones' annual drive will look a bit different this year. Even while school is online, many children will need a backpack to transport study materials, laptops, etc. to grandparents and other caregiver's locations as well as to stay organized. At the same time, Cornerstones has asked for donations that would allow flexibility to purchase other school supplies if they prove to be more needed. With this in mind, we are encouraging two options:

• You can donate online or mail a check, made payable to Cornerstones, at 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210, Reston, VA 20190. Please note in the comments section that your donation is for the Back-to-School Drive and that you are from Congregation Beth Emeth. 
• You can order one or more backpacks from Cornerstones' Amazon and Walmart wish lists, and they will be shipped directly. Please mention in the comments that you are from Congregation Beth Emeth.

Adult Program Committee is Looking For Volunteers!

The Adult Program Committee, co-chaired by Lori Kraden and Lynn Mayer, is looking for additional members to help plan both virtual and in-person events for the 2020-21 calendar year. The committee is meeting virtually for no more than 1 hour each week during August; then beginning in September, we will move to meeting monthly and maybe less often (still virtually). If you are interested, please email Lori and Lynn at adult-programs@bethemeth.org