<lst>To have an item listed free in The Potomac Almanac, send mail to 10220 River Road, Suite 303, Potomac, MD 20854, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos encouraged. If you have any questions, call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6457.
Brown Bag Daytimers Forum on Wednesday, June 7 at 12 p.m. at Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Guest speaker Joshua Block, spokesman and director of media affairs, AIPAC, will discuss "Israel in the Mind of the Media." Call 301-299-7087. Free.
Widows and widowers of any age and religious background are invited to a Mass commemorating deceased spouses and friends on Sunday, June 4 at 12:30 p.m. at Pastoral Center, 5001 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville. Dinner, which is $17.50, will follow. Checks must be received by May 29 and can be sent to: Post Cana to Rita Sewell, 2904 N. Leisure World Blvd., #403, Silver Spring, MD 20906. Call 301-438-3241.
Enjoy a Sephardic Shabbat Service and Dinner on Friday, June 9 starting at 6 p.m. at Congregation B'nai Tzedek, 10621 South Glen Road, Potomac. Cost $25/adults; $10/child. RSVP to Missy at 301/299-0225 ext. 304 or mschwartz@bnaitzedek.org.
Shalem Institute, 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, is offering a Women's Quiet day on Saturday, May 20 from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Benedictine Pastoral Center, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow. $45/person. Ann Kulp will lead the event. Call 301-897-7334 or visit www.shalem.org.
"Ancient Wisdom To Guide a Modern World: From Sinai to Cyberspace — The history and Development of Jewish Law and Tradition." Intriguing and Inspiring Adult Education course starts in May at Chabad Shul of Potomac. Membership not required. 11621 Seven Locks Road. Course Fee $79. Visit www.MyJLI.com or call 301 983 4200 Ext, 11 for additional information.
Geneva Presbyterian Church will be a sponsoring a "Crafts and Treasures Sale" on Saturday May 20 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The proceeds of the yard sale will benefit the summer youth mission trip to Oak Hill, W. Va. Crafters interested in a table may call 301-424-4346. Located at 11931 Seven Locks Road Potomac.
Judaism, Physics & God. Join Rabbi David Nelson as he explores how the language of science can be used to generate new religious language, and how that language impacts on our religious lives. The lecture will be held Tuesday, May 9, from 8-10 p.m. There is no fee. At Congregation Har Shalom; 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-299-7087, ext. 2315.
Work and Volunteering on Thursday, May 11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at JSSA's main office, 6123 Montrose Road Rockville. Featured Speakers: Viktoriya Lotkina and Shade Ojibe, JVS Career Services, Hedy Peyser, Hebrew Home, and Sam Rosenbaum, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. For registration or information, contact Alan Shakin, 301-816-2645 or ashakin@jssa.org.
Join Rev. Jan Lookingbill of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Rabbi Leonard Cahan of Congregation Har Shalom as they explore the Book of Ruth on Sunday, May 21, from 7-9 p.m., at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 7730 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda. Free. Call Har Shalom at 301-299-7087, ext. 2315.
"From Whence Came the Rabbis?" Explore the theories of the history of rabbinic Judaism and look for clues about the origins of the rabbinic movement with Rabbi Janet Ozur Bass on Tuesday, May 23, from 8-9:30 p.m. at Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Rd., Potomac. The fee is $8. Call Har Shalom at 301-299-7087, ext. 2315.
Bethesda Jewish Congregation will hold an open house on Friday, May 19 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event will include refreshments along with a celebration of the Sabbath and descriptions of other unique BJC services (including our all-musical Sabbath service) Share a nosh and meet BJC’s spiritual leader, director of education and other members. BJC is committed to including young children during Tot Shabbat, religious school and social action projects. This unique, trans-denominational, independent congregation serves Jews from traditional to liberal religious backgrounds, interfaith couples and their families. Located at 6601 Bradley Boulevard, Bethesda. Call 301-469-8636.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bethesda will hold its second annual community festival on Saturday, May 20. This 10 a.m.-4 p.m. event offers food and fun for everyone, from the very young to the young at heart. Bob Brown Puppets will be back this year with a 10:30 a.m. performance that will give festival-goers a ringside seat at a Chinese circus. St. Luke's is located at 6030 Grosvenor Lane in Bethesda. Visit www.StLukesBethesda.org.
The Jewish Social Service Agency's (JSSA) summer social skills program runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon from July 11 - Aug. 3. Cost is $450 with registration by April 15; $500 after April 15. Located at 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Visit www.jssa.org.
The following is a list of ongoing classes and events presented by the Jewish Social Service Agency:
* Girl Talk: Middle School Group. In this group, girls will have the chance to discuss difficulties, academic pressures, family, self-esteem and decision-making. Wednesdays at 5 p.m., 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-263-2633 to register.
* Strong Girls, Smart Women. High school girls will learn to strengthen the critical competencies and skills needed to successfully master the transition to young adulthood. Topics include self-esteem, body image and depression. Tuesdays at 6 p.m., 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-816-2633 to register.
* Guy Talk. In this therapy group, boys ages 14-16 will discuss such topics as self-esteem, peer pressure, family dynamics and handling emotions. Thursdays at 6 p.m., 11B Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg. Call 301-816-2633 to register.
* Dr. Dan G. Shapiro’s Raising Your Challenging Child: A Parent Training Program. This unique program is designed to help parents understand the source of their child’s challenging behavior and what to do about it. Parents are provided proactive strategies for raising pre-school through elementary school-age children with temperaments and developmental differences. Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m., 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-816-2633 to register.
*Future Planning For Family Members of Individuals With Disabilities: Services In The Jewish Community. Families will learn all about services to support independence and well being for adults with disabilities; supported housing, social and psychological services, recreational opportunities, and vocational services from a variety of Jewish area agencies. Monthly evening sessions, Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-816-2633 to register. Free of Charge.
* Family Support Group for parents and family members of children with disabilities. Meets monthly on the third Tuesday evening at Jewish Social Service Agency Main Office, 6123 Montrose Rd., Rockville. Free of charge. Call 301-816-2633 to register.
* You and Your Aging Parents for adult children with aging parents. Monthly evening sessions. Call 301-816-2633 for date of upcoming session. Located at 6123 Montrose Rd., Rockville.
* Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Monthly daytime sessions. Call 301-816-2633 for date of upcoming session. Located at 6123 Montrose Rd., Rockville.
The following is a list of upcoming classes and events presented by the Congregation Har Shalom:
* “Back to the Sources,” Thursdays, through April 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Jewish texts have shaped Jewish life and thought throughout the ages. Study a tractate of Mishnah, the code of Jewish law compiled in the Third century, CE, from beginning to end. No Hebrew required. There is no fee for members. Non-members contact the rabbis’ office.
* Israeli Dancing on Wednesdays, year round from 8-10 p.m. Energize your body and soul under the watchful eye of long-time instructor Ben Hole. There is no fee for members and those under 18. For non-members, it’s $5 per class.
Unless otherwise indicated, all classes are held at Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-299-7087 ext. 2315.
Jewish Social Service Agency sponsors Support Group for Bereaved parents. Ongoing group for parents grieving the death of a young or young adult child. Monthly in Rockville, dates and times TBA. Free of charge. Call 301-816-2683. Located at 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville.
Jewish Social Service Agency sponsors Support Group for Newly Widowed Spouses. Ongoing group for those bereaved in the last year. Second and fourth Wednesday of every month, 9:30-11 a.m. Free of charge. Call 301-816-2658. Located at 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville.