Leib Kaminsky My burgeoning love of the environment began during a 1978 Muppets’ television special. It featured Buffalo Springfield singing “For What It’s Worth,” parodying the original song using Muppet animals. The song’s refrain: “Everybody stop! Hey! What’s that sound? Everybody look what’s going down” brought a connection of my values (the love of wildlife) Continue Reading »
In this article Rabbi Steinlauf shares his reflections on the Jewish Identity Institute that he initiated and developed. The Jewish Identity Institute just completed its first year with three cohort groups. Please take a moment to read this article and learn more about the Jewish Identity Institute. ____________________ At first, it could have been just Continue Reading »
All of us at Kol Shalom are saddened and sickened by the violence that has unfolded in Our Nation’s Capital. At a time when there are so many people suffering in a pandemic, this should be a moment of national unity and healing. Instead, a culture of division has led to this historic attack on Continue Reading »
We want to give a special thank you to our wonderful members Shofar blowers – Darón & Char Freedberg Photography – Lewis Schrager Video recording – Sari Kaye
With only five percent of the world’s population, the United States has 25 percent of its prisoners. In per capita terms, our nation incarcerated eight to ten times as many people as other western democracies. The burden falls overwhelmingly on minorities. In this talk, Alan Elsner will examine the roots of this dysfunctional system, the Continue Reading »
By analyzing the leadership skills of seven recent US presidents, KS member Michael Eric Siegel seeks to de-mystify the elements and dynamics of effective presidential leadership and help citizens assess presidential candidates. Siegel shows that presidential leadership is exercised by real, flawed human beings, and not by superheroes or philosopher-kings beyond the reach of scrutiny Continue Reading »
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A discussion on anti-Semitism, discrimination, and threats to religious liberty led by Kol Shalom member Michael Lieberman. Michael will share insights and observations on the current state of anti-Semitism, religious liberty, and civil rights in the United States — and prospects for progress as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and move towards the 2020 elections. Continue Reading »
Every year on Yom Kippur afternoon, Thomas L. Friedman of the New York Times and Ambassador Dennis Ross of the Washington Institute stand and reflect on Israel and the state of the world. This year, when all bets are off, Yom Kippur comes early (without the fasting, but with plenty of reflection) as Ross and Continue Reading »
The Jewish Identity Institute at Kol Shalom Congregation welcomes Mr. Thomas Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and a weekly columnist for The New York Times, to discuss how his Jewish identity guides his career. Kol Shalom Congregation of Rockville (9110 Darnestown Road, Rockville, MD, 20850) announced today the next lecture in its Jewish Identity Continue Reading »