TBANS Staff
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Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat
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Debbie Ezrin became Temple Beth Ami’s second Executive Director in November 2019. As the senior operating and administrative officer, she is responsible for the leadership and oversight of membership, building operations, finance, human resources, development, marketing, and programming/engagement. She serves as an ex-officio member of the Temple Board and Executive Committee. She is responsible for supporting the Board, committees, and staff in the strategic direction of the congregation, as well as all policies and programs of the Temple.
Prior to joining TBA, Debbie spent more than 25 years working for and with mission-driven organizations, where she developed expertise in nonprofit management, development, communications, volunteer management, board development, and strategic planning. Debbie and her family have been TBA members since 2005. She and her husband Mark have two children, Melanie and Jared, who celebrated their B’nai Mitzvah and confirmations at Temple Beth Ami.
TEST
February 2023
Meaning & Mensches: A Family Shabbat Experience
Fri. Feb. 3 (6:30pm)
NEW Friday Family Shabbat Celebration 6:00 pm – Preneg 6:30 pm – Service Machane TBA 3rd graders will be honored and will receive their Siddurs (Prayer books) Connect with other families Begin with “pre-neg” snacks, as well as adult and kid-friendly beverages. Enjoy the interactive discussion and family-oriented Shabbat service that focuses on life lessons in the Torah. Finish at TBA’s NEW Board Game Oneg. Enjoy hot cocoa and treats, along with plenty of board games to play. This NEW family-friendly Shabbat service is also designed to provide a meaningful…
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Tot Shabbat
Fri. Feb. 10 (5:30pm)
Tot Shabbat 5:30 – 6:00 PM Our service of music and stories for preschool-age students and families.
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Erev Shabbat Service
Refugee Shabbat
Fri. Feb. 10 (6:30pm)
Erev Shabbat - TBA Refugee Shabbat 6:30 PM Celebrate Shabbat with the signature music of our congregation and a sermon from our Rabbis. During this special service, hear from the Rabbi about Refugees from a Jewish perspective and learn about how TBA is helping in the community.
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Chapel Service
Sat., Feb. 11
10:30 am – 12 noon
All are welcome to attend the Chapel Service, held in the warm, intimate setting of the Chapel on the 2nd Saturday morning of the month. The Chapel service is in-person only and will be led by Rabbi Weiss. Service is followed by a kiddush.
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Spirit of Shabbat Service
Fri. Feb 17 (6:30pm)
Spirit of Shabbat 6:30 PM Sing your heart out with this entirely musical and spirited service
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How Beth Ami senior staff members think
(Chapter 1: Adult B’nai Mitzvah)
Dear Beth Ami Friends,
Every week, our senior professional team (Rabbi Weiss, Cantor Eschler, Kim Roberts, Paula Sayag, Janice Rosenblatt and myself) get together to talk about, well, all things Beth Ami. We look at upcoming holidays and programs (and those that have just passed), community engagement, the Jewish values we want to bring to each event or initiative we are supporting, and generally at how we can add value to your Beth Ami experience.
Usually, before something comes to the full senior staff, we work singly or in small groups on a concept. When it’s ready (being only half-baked) we bring it to the table for further discussion. The conversation often takes surprising twists and turns before we arrive at our final decision.
For example, every few years we offer an adult b’nei mitzvah process for those who were not able to become b’nei mitzvah when they were kids.
It should be simple, right? After all, we’ve done this before, just offer a class, pick a date and go.
Let me share with you a little story about the Talmud, or rather, Talmudic logic. A teacher describes a certain event to a student. It is late at night, and dark outside. Two thieves sneak into a house by crawling down the chimney, and when they are both in – one of them suddenly decides to wash his face. The teacher asks which one washes, the one who came down first or the one who followed?
Which do you think? Why?
The student thinks about it and says it was the first one, because he would be dirtier having gone down first.
The teacher compliments the student’s excellent reasoning skill, but the student is wrong – it is the other thief! The student thinks about it, and finally realizes what he had missed – that the second thief would have immediately seen how dirty the first thief was and then assumed that he too was dirty – so the second thief would wash. Excellent logic, right? Again, the teacher would complement the student, before informing him that this answer, too, is wrong. It is the first thief after all. So, the student thinks some more and realizes that any house worth robbing would have mirrors inside, and when the first thief saw himself in the mirror he would realize that he was dirty and wash. As you might have guessed by now, the teacher is just getting started, and it doesn’t really matter which thief it was. Rather, the exercise is about how to keep on looking for more angles to understand whatever we are studying.
THIS is how our senior team thinks!
Adult B’nei mitzvah is simple?
WRONG!
First, we need to consider what specific information our students would need for a meaningful and successful experience. This part is straightforward: they will need an Introduction to Judaism class to enrich and challenge their current knowledge of our tradition; they also will need to learn Hebrew and about how the prayer book is organized; and they will need time to prepare for a special service in which they become b’nei mitzvah together by chanting from the Torah.
Great! So, we sit down and schedule out a year of classes: 10 sessions of Introduction to Judaism taught by Rabbi Weiss and myself; 3 consecutive 5-session courses on Hebrew taught by Cantor Eschler, each one advancing the level of proficiency so that every student will feel confident; and several sessions for service prep. We looked carefully at the religious school calendar so that we could be present both for our adult students and our kids and we figured out an entire year’s program.
Yet how do we maximize the meaning and spiritual power of this process? We are still working on that, but, for starters, why not schedule the service to coincide with the Festival of Shavuot – the holiday in which we commemorate the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai? In the morning service we celebrate Torah with our confirmation class. Why not make the evening service special by celebrating our adult b’nei mitzvah?
Great, done, we are ready to go. Right?
Well …
What should we charge? This is after all a massive investment of resources. And what if we opened parts of the process to everyone? After all, the Introduction to Judaism class is also helpful for conversion students, interfaith couples considering a Jewish marriage, and anyone who is interested in learning more on an adult level. Plus, we regularly get requests for adult Hebrew classes. Wouldn’t it be great if we opened them up to the congregation?
Ok. So, we are going to make the Intro class and the Hebrew available to everyone. How do we explain which parts are just for adult b’nei mitzvah and which parts are for everyone?
Why, with a very complicated flyer of course!
“You are absolutely right,” says the teacher, “But that is not the answer!”
Don’t worry. We will have complicated flyers for you to read. However, we also thought it would be a good idea to share some information here in this article. Which is to say, we are happy to announce that we are offering an adult b’nei mitzvah class, which will start in September and culminate on Erev Shavuot, Saturday evening, June 8. The adult b’nei mitzvah fee will be $300 and will cover everything except for books. If you are interested, please let one of the clergy team know by September 1. We are also happy to announce that we are making the Introduction to Judaism Class (taught on Sunday mornings) and the Hebrew classes (Tuesday evenings) open to the entire congregation for a low fee. We hope that you will join us in learning and celebration. Please look for future announcements with more details, and in the meantime, we hope that you enjoy a relaxing and uncomplicated summer.
Warmly,
RGP
Debbie Ezrin became Temple Beth Ami’s second Executive Director in November 2019. She is responsible for membership, building operations, finance, human resources, development, marketing, and programming/engagement. She serves as an ex-officio member of the Temple Board and Executive Committee. She is responsible for assisting the Board, committee chairs and staff in the strategic direction of the congregation, as well as all policies and programs of the Temple and its affiliates.
Prior to joining TBA, Debbie spent more than 25 years working for and with mission-driven organizations, where she developed expertise in nonprofit management, development, communications, volunteer management, board development, and strategic planning. Debbie and her husband Mark have two children, Melanie and Jared, who celebrated their B’nai Mitzvah and confirmations at Temple Beth Ami.
Contact Debbie at Dezrin@bethami.org.
Shelly Lenkin Gordon joined the staff at Temple Beth Ami in 2002, after spending 13 years as the Youth and Program Director at Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, MD. A native Washingtonian who grew up in a synagogue-focused family, Shelly loves the challenges and rewards of working in the congregational setting. Early years spent at Jewish sleep away camps, teaching religious school and staffing Israel trips for teens ultimately led Shelly to pursue an M.A. in Jewish Communal Service from the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University. Shelly’s proud of having passed on her love of Jewish camping to her two adult children.
Shelly is enjoying her work as Immediate Past President of PEP-RJ, the partner affiliate group of the URJ for Program and Engagement Professionals. Stop by her office any time to help you create meaningful relationships and connections within our TBA community.
Shabbat
Service Descriptions
Please join us on Friday Nights at 6:30 pm in person or via Live Stream.
1st Friday Night of the Month:
Meaning & Mensches: A Family Shabbat Experience (6:30 PM)
Let the stories and lessons come to life as we explore how each week’s portion focuses on the growth and development of human character. This interactive service will provide families with wonderful food for thought and will be different each time as the portion and character trait of focus changes with the Torah. This is an hour-long service and best suited for elementary through high school-aged congregants and their families.
2nd Friday Night of the Month:
- Tot Shabbat
5:30 – 6:00 PM
Our service of music and stories for preschool-age students and families. - Erev Shabbat
6:30 PM
Celebrate Shabbat with the signature music of our congregation and a sermon from our Rabbis
3rd Friday Night of the Month:
Spirit of Shabbat (6:30 PM)
Sing your heart out with this entirely musical and spirited service
4th Friday Night of the Month:
Erev Shabbat (6:30 PM) – Masks Required
Celebrate Shabbat with the signature music of our congregation and a sermon from our Rabbis. To enable congregants who want to worship in the Sanctuary and are only able to do so if everyone remains masked, all congregants ages 2 and up must remain masked for this service now thru February 2023. The clergy may choose to remove their masks while actively leading during these services.
5th Friday Night of the Month:
Shabbat of Mindfulness (6:30 PM)
Experience the calm and peacefulness of Shabbat through this contemplative service
Shabbat Morning Sanctuary Service
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
On Shabbat mornings we often celebrate our B’nei Mitzvah students being called to Torah, as well as other lifecycle events (i.e. baby namings, auf rufs, etc.).
Shabbat Morning Chapel Service
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM 2nd Shabbat of each month ONLY
On the second Shabbat morning of each month, we will celebrate Shabbat in the warm, intimate setting of the chapel. This in-person only service may be clergy-led or lay-led.
Shabbat Afternoon (Mincha) Service
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
From October – April (usually held twice a month), we regularly celebrate our B’nei Mitzvah students being called to Torah along with other lifecycle events (such as baby namings, auf rufs, etc.).
Sunday Minyan
9:45 – 10:15 AM by Zoom
A lay-led minyan for our community members to say Kaddish. The Zoom link is shared by email every Friday since this service is currently led online only.
Upcoming Shabbat Services
High Holy Days 2020 - 5781
L’shana Tova Tikateivu
S’lichot
Saturday, September 12
Rosh Hashana
Erev Rosh Hashana
Friday, September 18
Rosh Hashana – 1st Day
Saturday, September 19
Rosh Hashana – 2nd Day
Sunday, September 20
Yom Kippur
Kol Nidre
Sunday, September 27
Yom Kippur
Monday, September 28
Service schedules will be posted soon,
but getting ready for the High Holy Days starts now…
Videos for the
High Holy Days!
We need your videos to make these
High Holy Days special,
click here for opportunities
and how to record and submit.
Helping you get ready for the High Holy Days
Basic Torah Trope
Audio Files
|
01 Sof Pasuk – Master Phrase |
02 Sof Pasuk |
03 Sof Pasuk |
04 Sof Pasuk |
05 Etnachta – Master Phrase |
06 Etnachta |
07 Etnachta |
08 Etnachta |
09 Katon – Master Phrase |
10 Katon |
11 Katon |
12 Katon |
13 Katon |
14 T’vir |
15 T’vir |
16 T’vir |
17 R’vi-i |
18 R’vi-i |
Special Torah Trope
19 Final Phrase |
20 Gershayim |
21 Munach L’garmay |
22 Kadma v’Azla |
23 T’lisha G’dola |
24 T’lisha K’tana |
25 Pazeir |
26 Zakef Gadol |
27 Y’tiv |
28 Munach, Zarka, Munach, Segol |
Trope Music Notation
| ||||||
|
Talit Blessing
| Page | |
| Shabbat Only Mishkan T’filah: | 72 |
| Mishkan T’filah: | 190 |
Please see your siddur for the English reading at the top of the page and the bottom of the page. 
Basic Haftarah Trope
Audio Files
29 Sof Pasuk – Master Phrase |
30 Sof Pasuk |
31 Sof Pasuk |
32 Sof Pasuk |
33 Etnachta – Master Phrase |
34 Etnachta |
35 Etnachta |
36 Etnachta |
37 Katon – Master Phrase |
38 Katon |
39 Katon |
40 Katon |
41 Katon |
42 T’vir |
43 T’vir |
44 T’vir |
45 R’vi-i |
46 R’vi-i |
HaftorahTrope-Special
018/06/BlessingsAfterHaftorah.pdf”]
47 Final Phrase |
48 Gershayim |
49 Munach L’garmay |
50 Kadma v’Azla |
51 T’lisha G’dola |
52 T’lisha K’tana |
53 Pazeir |
54 Zakef Gadol |
55 Y’tiv |
56 Munach, Zarka, Munach, Segol |
Blessings Before Haftarah
Blessings After Haftarah
Part 1 |
Part 2 |
Jennifer Smith, Development Manager
Please contact Jennifer for assistance with our Chaverware database, Machane/Kayitz/Gan Ami registrations, Yahrzeit notifications, purchasing plaques in our Memorial Alcove, and making donations to TBA.
TBA Cares Committee
To be a holy community, we need to be a caring community.
The TBA Cares Committee is the Temple’s internal caring community. We support members of our congregation during times of joy, need, and sorrow with compassion, respect, and confidentiality.
We provide services such as:
- Meals when needed
- Ordering Shiva fruit arrangments
- “Check in” calls during illness and after Shloshim
- New member welcome calls
- Condolence notes
- Transportation when requested and available
- A directory called “Resources for Easier Living” to assist congregants in finding diverse local services (more information below)
We recently received the following notes:
“I can’t thank you all enough for helping us out during this incredibly difficult time. I guess I didn’t know how good the boys and I had it with (wife’s name) cooking meals on a nightly basis. We both appreciate this so much and look forward to getting this whole ordeal behind us.”
“Thank you for the fruit arrangement in memory of my father. When you share a joy with a friend, it becomes two joys; when you share a grief, it becomes half a grief. (Yiddish proverb) The joy of memories of our Dad and Grandpa are multiplied by the family and friends who remember him; and our infinite grief has been halved by your expression of sympathy.”
Committee members also make follow-up calls weeks and months later to check in to offer continuing support if it is needed. This takes “person power” and we are always happy to have new members of the committee. Your commitment need not be time consuming – an interest in reaching out in some way is all that is necessary. If you can provide all or part of a meal, make a follow-up call, call a new member to say “welcome” or possibly offer a ride to Temple, please let us know! We truly wish to be of service and expand our help as we expand our number of helpers. A big thank you to those of you already in our “caring corps”!
Please do not hesitate to contact Evan Krichevsky with questions or concerns. Congregants who need the assistance of TBA Cares can always reach us at the contact listed above. We try to reach out first, but if you need us, please contact us.
Resources for Easier Living
The TBA Cares Committee has compiled a network of resources that have been used by other congregants. We requested descriptions of positive experiences involving care for all ages and a variety of needs. If you wish to give us further information or suggestions, please email Rhona Arbit.
Coffee House and Music Infusion Shabbatot
Coffee House Shabbat is a Culinary Crew supported Oneg.
Grab your mug and Oneg treats and sit back and enjoy a live performance following services!
Music Infusion Shabbat features an artist who will be a part of services and then present a mini-performance during the oneg.
Upcoming Coffee House Performers
- Adult B'nei Mitzvah Class
- Adult Education
- April
- Bitachon
- Broadway Buzz
- Broadway Buzz
- Brotherhood
- Coffee and Conversation 65+
- Coffee House
- Community
- Community of Action
- Critical Issues Forum
- Culinary Crew
- Cultural Arts
- Encore
- Events
- Family
- Food Film Fest
- Gan Ami
- Green Initiative
- Guest Speaker
- Hanukkah
- High Holy Days
- Holidays
- Israel Matters
- JBC
- Kehillah
- Live & Learn
- Love They Neighbor
- Love Thy Neighbor
- Machane Calendar
- Meet the Author
- Network and Nosh
- Next Dor
- Passover
- Picnic Shabbatot
- Pot Luck
- Purim
- Services
- Shabbat Programming
- Shabbat Services
- Shavuot
- Simchat Torah
- Social Connections
- Sukkot
- TBA Board Meeting
- TBA Cycling Club
- TBA Hikers
- TBA Players
- TBANS
- Tikkun Olam (Social Action)
- Tikkun Olam Committee
- Tisha B'Av
- Torah Study
- Tot Shabbat
- UPCOMING EVENTS
- WTBA
- WTBA
Choral Music
Come Sing With Us!
Music moves the spirit. It is central to our services and an integral part of all the joyous and solemn occasions we share. Beth Ami has singing groups for the young and the old, the experienced and the novice. Being part of our choruses helps you learn the music of our services, teaches you new ways to interpret and understand our liturgy, and explore the rich heritage of song that is part of our Jewish Tradition.
Please come and join one of our Choirs below, or if you have an idea for a new group let us know! For more information about any of our Choral Groups, please contact Cantorial Soloist Joshana Erenberg.
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Shir Ami, the Temple Beth Ami Choral Group, is a long standing musical institution here at Temple Beth Ami. We began in 1982, and still have many original members singing with us! It is composed of members of the Congregation who bring their love of singing and their voices to enhance our Jewish experience through music. (Hebrew and music reading are helpful, but not required.) Led by Cantorial Soloist Joshana Erenberg, Shir Ami welcomes new singers at any time. All that is required is a pencil and love of music. Join us!
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Kol Isha is TBA’s adult women’s choral group. This group grew out of Shir Ami during our 5771 Yom Kippur concert and has been flourishing ever since. Kol Isha focuses on singing beautiful choral arrangements for female voices only.
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Chai Ami, the Temple Beth Ami teen Choral Group, is composed of teen female members of the congregation who, with their enthusiasm and voices, bring a fresh contemporary sound to Jewish and secular music. Led by Cantorial Soloist Joshana Erenberg, the group has performed at several venues such as the Teen Choral Festival and has sung with great Jewish performers including Rick Recht. Chai Ami is always encouraged to think and sing outside the box. Some members even compose and arrange music for the group. The group is by audition only.
Gan Ami Registration Procedures
Thank you for choosing to register your child(ren) for Gan Ami!
For families who already have a ShulCloud account:
- Go to https://bethami.shulcloud.com.
- Go to “My Account”.
- Scroll to the bottom of this page and click on “Start School Enrollment.”
For new families who do not have a ShulCloud account:
- Click on this link to create a ShulCloud account: https://bethami.shulcloud.com/ganamiregistration
- Once you set up a passwod on that page, you will be instantly redirected to https://bethami.shulcloud.com.
- Go to the “My Account” menu bar and click on “My Family” in the drop-down menu.
- Click on “Edit Your Family” at the bottom right of that page.
- Go to the “Children” tab to add your child to your account. Remember to hit “Save Changes to Account” at the bottom of that page after you enter your child’s name.
- Click on the “My Account” link at the top of the page. Scroll to the bottom and click on the icon for “Start School Enrollment.”
- Follow the prompts and register your child!
Any questions? Contact our Director, Paula Sayag, pls@bethami.org, 301-762-5594.
Contact Gan Ami
Nursery School Office: 301-762-5594
Nursery School FAX: 301-610-5827
Office Hours:
8:30 am – 3:00 pm, M-F
School Hours:
7:30 am – 2:30 pm, M-F
Select a name below to send an email to:
Paula Sayag, Director
Emily Katz, Administrative Manager
Ellen Bortz, Special Projects Manger
TBANS KESHER PROGRAM
“Kesher” means “connection” in Hebrew.
TBANS values the unique qualities that each child brings to our community, and our goal is to provide the necessary support to promote each child’s success.
Our Kesher Team:
Meredith Polsky, Developmental Support Coordinator
Jen King, Speech Pathologist
Judi Lapidus, Occupational Therapist
Naomi Rubenstein, Social Skills Specialist
The Kesher Team provides a variety of services, including:
- Teacher consultations during which specialists focus on behavioral intervention or practical application techniques to facilitate children’s skill development.
- Ongoing meetings with parents to consider their child’s progress and discuss specific supports that may facilitate their goals for the school year.
- Coordination with outside service providers to create comprehensive and consistent treatment plans.
- Professional training to provide teachers the tools to achieve classroom specific goals.
- Screenings of students which include clinical observations, testing and reports of findings and recommendations to parents and teachers.
- Direct interactions with students in classrooms and/or in small groups to model, practice, or reinforce particular teaching strategies for targeted skills.
The ability to include these kinds of specialists on a nursery school staff is quite unique. Each child is benefiting tremendously from these experts’ knowledge and insights.
TBANS Inclusion Statement
At Temple Beth Ami Nursery School, we value the unique qualities that each child brings to our community. We do everything we can to create a learning experience that recognizes individual differences among children, while maintaining an intentional play-based educational approach. Our goal is to be a fully inclusive school. We welcome all children, including those with special developmental and/or health care needs. However, we recognize that some children may not be best served by our approach or structure, and in such cases, our school staff and parents work together to determine the best placement for each child.
“Kesher,” which means “connect” in Hebrew, is our program for providing support services for children. Professional therapists in a variety of fields provide consultation services to teachers, parents, and children. Kesher services are provided at no additional charge, though private evaluations and treatments are available for a fee.
TBANS is committed to building open communication and partnerships among our school, families and any outside providers supporting our students so that we can most effectively meet the needs of each child. We expect parents to inform their child’s teachers of any services the student is receiving, and we welcome and encourage those providers to visit our school to observe the child in the classroom setting. To aid in accommodating activities to meet all children’s needs, parents are required to share any existing IEP or IFSP.
All children at TBANS, with or without special needs, are honored by our policy that states that the welfare of the classroom as a whole takes precedence over the needs of an individual child. That is, a child with special needs may require and receive extra time and attention from the teachers, but this cannot be out of balance with the needs of the class as a whole.
Our program and our commitment to serving diverse learners in our community continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our students.
Early Childhood Shabbat and Holiday Celebrations
All services are scheduled to be held in-person in the building. Live stream will be available for all Sanctuary services.
TBANS Open/Close Schedule
Please refer back as this calendar is subject to change in response to health and safety guidance related to the pandemic.
January
19 Gimel and Dalet Classes Begin
February
02 Bet Classes Begin
15 Closed for Presidents’ Day
March
26-31 Closed for Spring Break, March 26-April 5
April
1-5 Closed for Spring Break
6 Gan Ami re-opens
May
17 Closed for Shavuot
31 Closed for Memorial Day
June
10 Last Day of Classes
Gan Ami Emergency Closing Policy
Use the following information if you think school may have an alternate schedule because of snow or other weather-related situations. For information on schedule changes, check your email and/or text messages for announcements from Temple Beth Ami.
Closings: If Montgomery County Public Schools close, then Gan Ami will adhere to MCPS’ decision to close for the first two days of a weather incident and will make an independent decision based on the conditions around our facility on the third day and after.
Delayed Openings: If Montgomery County Public Schools has a delayed opening for inclement weather, then Gan Ami will open at 9:30 am. There will not be any Early Arrival.
Early Dismissals: If Montgomery County Public Schools has an early dismissal due to inclement weather, then Gan Ami classes will end at their regular times, and AfterCare will contact you if it is necessary to close early.
We ask that you always use your judgment when weather is inclement. If you feel that driving is hazardous, please stay home, even if school is open.
Gan Ami may need to modify schedules for other types of emergency situations. Such changes may be made independent of MCPS decisions. Please check email announcements and/or text messages from Temple Beth Ami for pertinent details.
TBANS Listserv
TBANS_Talk, the Nursery School Listserv, is a private forum for sharing useful information and reminders. Please sign up so you can receive the latest news about Parent Committee events and other happenings in our school community. For TBANS parents only, please.
Sign up!
TBANS Parent Handbook
Temple Beth Ami Nursery School’s stellar reputation is due to our exceptional staff: 30 dedicated experts with a passion for helping each child reach his/her potential. Our teachers have worked here for an average of 15 years and they have a profound understanding of early childhood development and effective ways to promote each child’s progress. They carefully tailor activities to promote each child’s intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth. When you visit our school you will witness the joy with which teachers interact with children as children explore their world, extend their skills, express their curiosity, and gain confidence.
We Prepare Children for Success
Local elementary schools tell us our graduates are extraordinarily well-prepared for the rigors of today’s kindergarten classrooms. We help each child advance their language skills to express their curiosity and their opinions, interact effectively with peers and adults, take advantage of learning opportunities, and participate appropriately in a group setting. Through our program, children gain the communication, pre-math and pre-literacy skills, in addition to the social and emotional skills, necessary to excel in elementary school.
We Teach Children Jewish Values
Our school is grounded in the ideals of Reform Judaism. We emphasize the values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), Kavod (honoring elders and respecting peers), Hachnassat Orchim (welcoming guests), and Tzedakah (ensuring justice among all). We help our children understand the meaning of treating others kindly, creating a cooperative community, and controlling one’s impulses. Our sages taught that early childhood education provides the foundation for later life, for what is learned in early childhood is engrained firmly in one’s personality. We strive to ensure that the lessons we teach are those that set children on a clear path toward social and academic success.
We Make Learning Fun
Each day includes time to create with blocks, puzzles, dramatic play props, and art mediums to encourage inventiveness and problem-solving skills; group meetings to practice communication and planning skills; large motor activities to develop strength and coordination; snack time to promote independence and socializing; and quiet time to work on pre-literacy skills. Our children get to sing with our own favorite rock star “Cantor Larry” and participate in a weekly class with an expert in children’s fitness. They get to play in the ride room and explore the outdoors. Through every activity, children further their knowledge of their surroundings and their role in the world.
Our parents attest to the unique environment in our school, and the genuine joy, love and concern with which each child is greeted every day.
We’ve Grown but Stayed True to our Roots
Temple Beth Ami Nursery School (TBANS) began in 1989 in the Temple’s old building on Hurley Avenue. We opened our doors with about 40 children and 12 teachers in 6 classes, sharing space with our religious school and using buckets instead of sinks for hand washing. Our first director, Karen Greenberg, was also a teacher for the three year olds. Current staff members Karen Asman, Ellen Bortz, Marsha Diamond, Jill Finci, Laurie Galfond, Deena Klopman, Karen Kominsky, and Jody Rosenblum were parents of our first students. In fact, 18 of our current 24 staff members started working here because their children were TBANS graduates. This is the most reassuring, comforting place in the world, and no one ever wants to leave!
Our goal in our first years was to provide a safe, loving environment for our neighborhood toddlers to spend their nursery years and our families to get to know each other. As the years progressed, we maintained our commitment to safety and to creating a warm and welcoming environment. In addition, we have learned a lot about early childhood education, responded to the latest research on child development and implemented the best practices for facilitating the social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of two to four year olds.
In 1998, we moved to our own wing in the Temple’s new building, and we have expanded to serve 120 children with 21 teachers in eleven classes. We have been honored with the commitment of the Temple’s lay and professional leadership to the importance of early childhood Jewish education. We have been blessed with the resources necessary to create the highest quality educational environment and to secure the most knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated staff.
Our first director retired after 20 years to spend time with her own grandchildren! Our second director, Paula Sayag, began on July 1, 2009. Our outstanding feature remains our incredible teachers. We pride ourselves on our keen awareness of each child’s development, our skills for helping each child progress, and our concern for each child’s utmost success. We feel lucky to continuously meet the needs of our community’s families. No one ever wants to leave Temple Beth Ami Nursery School!
Paula Sayag - Director
Paula Sayag joined Temple Beth Ami as the Nursery School Director in July 2009. Paula earned a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in “Human Development in Education” and a BS from Cornell University in “Human Development and Family Studies”. She previously worked as the Early Childhood Specialist and Parenting Educator at the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning. Before that, some of her favorite jobs were teaching “Mommy and Me” classes, supervising university student teachers, teaching undergraduate courses in human development, and working for 9 years at a sleep-away camp. Paula was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has spent most of her life in Montgomery County, Maryland. Paula lives in Brookeville with her husband, Danny. They have three sons, Jonathan, Eitan, and Eric.
Sukkot
10/9/2022 Update:
Erev Sukkot will be celebrated inside due to the chilly forecast. Please enjoy your picnic dinner in the Kinneret and join us for a joyful celebration. Services will be in the sanctuary, followed by Oneg in the Sukkah with plenty of room in the Yarden to stay warm while enjoying a sweet treat.
Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning “booths” or “huts,” refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest. It also commemorates the 40 years of Jewish wandering in the desert after the giving of the Torah atop Mt. Sinai. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of Tishrei, and is marked by several distinct traditions. One, which takes the commandment to dwell in booths literally, is to erect a sukkah, a small, temporary booth or hut. Sukkot (in this case, the plural of sukkah) are commonly used during the seven-day festival for eating, entertaining and even for sleeping.
Sukkot, also called Z’man Simchateinu (Season of Our Rejoicing), is the only festival associated with an explicit commandment to rejoice. A final name for Sukkot is Chag HaAsif, (Festival of the Ingathering), representing a time to give thanks for the bounty of the earth during the fall harvest.
The Festival of Booths is a week-long festival that falls 5 days after Yom Kippur. It is a joyous festival and a welcome change of religious pace following the solemn days of prayer and introspection. The mitzvot for Sukkot are building and eating in the sukkah.
Simchat Torah & Sh’mini Atzeret
2022 Service Schedule
Both services will be in-person and live stream. Click here to join us by live stream.
About Sh'mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Immediately following Sukkot, we celebrate Sh’mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, a fun-filled day during which we celebrate the completion of the annual reading of the Torah and affirm Torah as one of the pillars on which we build our lives. As part of the celebration, the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue seven times. During the Torah service, the concluding section of the fifth book of the Torah, D’varim (Deuteronomy), is read, and immediately following, the opening section of Genesis, or B’reishit as it is called in Hebrew, is read. This practice represents the cyclical nature of the relationship between the Jewish people and the reading of the Torah.
Simchat Torah Concludes the fall festival season. The services focus on the conclusion and resumption of the annual cycle of Torah reading; we finish the last verses of Deuteronomy and begin with the first verses of Genesis. This joyous festival includes young and old joining together in hakafot, the procession of Torahs and flags.
Hanukkah (alternately spelled Chanukah), meaning “dedication” in Hebrew, refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Maccabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and “re-dedication” of the Temple in Jerusalem. The modern home celebration of Hanukkah centers around the lighting of the hanukkiyah, a special menorah for Hanukkah; foods prepared in oil including latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts); and special songs and games.
Purim
The Purim Project needs volunteers to help make it a success. Click the button below to take a look at our volunteer opportunity list to see where you can help bake hamantaschen, pack boxes or help with box pick up.
About Purim
Purim is celebrated with a public reading—usually in the synagogue—of the Book of Esther (M’gillat Esther), which tells the story of the holiday. Under the rule of King Ahashverosh, Haman, the king’s prime minister, plots to exterminate all of the Jews of Persia. His plan is foiled by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, who ultimately save the Jews of Persia from destruction.
The reading of the m’gillah typically is a rowdy affair, punctuated by booing and noise-making when Haman’s name is read aloud.
Purim is an unusual holiday in many respects. First, Esther is the only biblical book in which God is not mentioned. Second, Purim, like Hanukkah, traditionally is viewed as a minor festival, but elevated to a major holiday as a result of the Jewish historical experience. Over the centuries, Haman became the embodiment of every anti-Semite in every land where Jews were oppressed. The significance of Purim lies not so much in how it began, but in what it has become: a thankful and joyous affirmation of Jewish survival against all odds.
Purim Resources
Passover
April 15 – 22, 2022
Pesach, known as Passover in English, is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder (meaning “order”) and a festive meal; the prohibition of chametz (leaven); and the eating of matzah (an unleavened bread). On the fifteenth day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, Jews gather with family and friends in the evening to read from a book called the haggadah, meaning “telling,” which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings, and songs for the Passover seder. Today, the holiday is a celebration of freedom and family.
Schedule of Activities
Click on each item below for more details.
Shop online at WTBA’s Judaica Shop for all of your Passover needs!
Check out Temple Beth Ami Food Network for videos and recipes for Pesadik dishes created by our very own Culinary Crew!
Don’t feel like cooking this year?
Order a complete Passover dinner from:
Moti’s Pesach Menu
Occasions Caterers Passover Menu
Signature Caterers Passover Menu
Shavuot
June 4-5, 2022
Shavuot is the Hebrew word for “weeks” and refers to the Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which occurs seven weeks after Passover. Shavuot, like many other Jewish holidays, began as an ancient agricultural festival that marked the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. In ancient times, Shavuot was a pilgrimage festival during which Israelites brought crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, it is a celebration of Torah, education, and actively choosing to participate in Jewish life.
It is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot, such as cheese blintzes and cheesecake. While the origin of this custom is unknown, dairy dishes symbolize the sweetness of the Torah and the Jewish people’s nearing the land of “milk and honey.”
It is also customary to study the Torah during the night of Shavuot, in preparation for the revelation at Sinai the next morning. This late-night study session is called a Tikkun Leil Shavuot. Additionally, in many synagogues, Shavout is linked with confirmation, marking a milestone in our children’s formal religious education.
At Temple Beth Ami, Shavout is celebrated with an Erev Shavuot Service (which includes Yizkor and a late-night time of study and reflection) and a Shavuot Family Celebration.
2022 Service Schedule
All services will be held in the sanctuary and by live stream.
- Saturday, June 4 at 6:30 pm – Shavuot Service with Yizkor followed by a Tikkun Leil (study time with rabbis)
- Sunday, June 5, 10:30 am – 12 pm – Family Friendly Shavuot Festival Service
- Sunday, June 5, 11:30 am – 12 pm – Shavuot Pre-K Celebration with Cantor Larry
Everyone is welcome to join us on Sunday, June 5 from 12-1 for a complimentary pizza lunch plus the opportunity to purchase sweet treats from the Rocky Road Ice Cream Truck!
Jill Finci - Administrative Assistant
Jill Finci is a native Washingtonian and first heard about TBANS when she was looking for a preschool for her first child. She enrolled her daughter in 1989, the first year TBANS started. Many years later, after staying home to raise children, Jill answered an ad to be the TBANS Administrative Assistant. Now, Jill coordinates the inner workings of the school, monitoring the entrance, tracking all student records, informing parents about events and procedures, and more! Jill is the smiling face that greets children and families every day. Jill and her husband, Rick, have three children who all attended TBANS. Jill is an avid runner and enjoys watching the Capitals, and her favorite college sports teams, the UMD Terps and UGA Bulldogs!
Ellen Bortz - Special Projects Coordinator
Ellen Bortz has been on staff at Temple Beth Ami Nursery School since 1993, but actually has been part of the TBANS family, as a parent of sons Adam and Marc, since the day it opened it’s doors in 1989. A native of Great Neck, NY, Ellen and her husband Jon, met at University of Pennsylvania and after several years in Chicago, moved back to the east coast and to Montgomery County in 1986. Ellen’s first career was in account management with several large Advertising Agencies. After a few years as a stay at home mom Ellen returned to the work force, but this time she wanted to be close to her children! First as an assistant for 2 years, and then lead teacher in the Bets for 7 years, Ellen ‘graduated’ to the Dalets as an assistant from 2002 to 2013. Ellen enjoys her role as Special Projects Coordinator assisting the teachers and the school with all communications and documentation, as well as assorted other projects that come her way!
ShabbaTones Band
The ShabbaTones, unique among area synagogues, features a talented, acoustic electric band that enlivens services and festivals throughout the year. Comprised entirely of Temple members, the ShabbaTones play in a variety of styles appropriate to the occasion, from traditional to folk to rock ‘n’ roll.
Regular performances occur at the Picnic Shabbat services, Simchat Torah and at the Family Purim Shpiel. New instruments are always welcome, especially strings, woodwinds, and brass. Musicians should contact Cantor Eschler.
Critical Issues Forum Advocacy for Social Justice
Activities and Accomplishments 2015 – 2018
The mission of the Critical Issues Forum: Advocacy for Social Justice (CIF) is to advocate for solutions to societal issues consistent with Jewish values. Currently, CIF is focusing on food insecurity in Montgomery County and elsewhere in Maryland, where it impacts thousands of residents of all nationalities and ages.
CIF is comprised of Temple Beth Ami, Kol Shalom, and Adat Shalom and represents more than 1,750 households and three denominations of Judaism: Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist.
For more information, contact
- Jack Rosenthal, Co-Chair
- Steve Mandel, Co-Chair
Upcoming Critical Issues Forum Events
- Adult B'nei Mitzvah Class
- Adult Education
- April
- Bitachon
- Broadway Buzz
- Broadway Buzz
- Brotherhood
- Coffee and Conversation 65+
- Coffee House
- Community
- Community of Action
- Critical Issues Forum
- Culinary Crew
- Cultural Arts
- Encore
- Events
- Family
- Food Film Fest
- Gan Ami
- Green Initiative
- Guest Speaker
- Hanukkah
- High Holy Days
- Holidays
- Israel Matters
- JBC
- Kehillah
- Live & Learn
- Love They Neighbor
- Love Thy Neighbor
- Machane Calendar
- Meet the Author
- Network and Nosh
- Next Dor
- Passover
- Picnic Shabbatot
- Pot Luck
- Purim
- Services
- Shabbat Programming
- Shabbat Services
- Shavuot
- Simchat Torah
- Social Connections
- Sukkot
- TBA Board Meeting
- TBA Cycling Club
- TBA Hikers
- TBA Players
- TBANS
- Tikkun Olam (Social Action)
- Tikkun Olam Committee
- Tisha B'Av
- Torah Study
- Tot Shabbat
- UPCOMING EVENTS
- WTBA
- WTBA
Core School Day Program
| Transitional Bets | 3 day Bets | 4 day Bets | 5 day Bets | 4 day Gimels | 5 day Gimels | 5+2 Dalets | |
| Tuition | 2900 | 5600 | 6470 | 7420 | 6710 | 7710 | 9000 |
| Member Discount | 2540 | 4980 | 5780 | 6580 | 5940 | 6870 | 8020 |
Tuition is based on school enrollment for TBANS school year, from the first day of school in September to the last day of school in June. Tuition may be paid in 10 installments, July 1 – April 1. Members are billed on regular monthly Temple bills. Non-members can pay through monthly direct debit (which requires the Direct Debit Form submitted to the Temple bookkeepers) or will be billed in two installments (due July 1 and December 1). Temple accounts must remain current for a child to remain enrolled in school. Sibling Discount: 5% off younger child’s tuition (does not apply to other fees).
Early Arrival, 7:30 – 9:30 am, Monday- Friday
Pre-registered: $12.00 per day; registration occurs 3 times per year.
Drop-in: $15 per day. Available with prior approval from TBANS Office to confirm space availability.
Afternoon Activities, End of core school morning – 2:30, Monday-Friday
| Per 1 Activity (one day per week) | Session Fee (3 sessions/year) |
| Tuition | 260 |
| Member Discount | 230 |
Aftercare Services
Temple Beth Ami offers an Aftercare from 2:30 – 6:00 pm , Monday-Friday.
3 days/week: $4100 per year
4 days/ week: $5150 per year
5 days/week: $6000 per year
TBANS Package, 7:30 am – 6:00 pm, Monday – Friday
Full-time students may attend 7:30 am – 6:00 pm, Monday – Friday for a total cost of $18,225 for the school year. Sibling Discount does not additionally apply.
Activity Fee This is an annual fee, paid with your tuition bill in July.
Transitional Bets: $90
3 day: $100
4 day: $120
5 day: $140
Dalets: $150
Welcome to our 30th School Year!
Temple Beth Ami Nursery School is a welcoming and inclusive Reform Jewish community, passionate teachers nurture and enrich the lives of our children and families in a joyful learning environment.
At Temple Beth Ami Nursery School (TBANS), children acquire skills for positive, life-long social and emotional development. Teachers encourage curiosity, questioning, and a love of learning so that each child builds a solid foundation for continued school success.
As a learning community of educators and parents, we teach by providing children with opportunities to interact, explore and problem solve through intentional and creative play.
Are you looking for a Nursery School? Find out why parents love TBANS!
Our monthly updates give you a great snapshot of our community!
Read our Director’s Latest Monthly Thoughts
Read our article in the Latest Chadashot Newsletter
Read our Latest LINK Parent Committee Newsletter
We are proud to introduce our newly written LINK Framework for Early Education at TBANS. The Framework expresses our specific goals for TBANS students, delineating the skills that we work to help each child build during their time in our school, as they prepare for future social and academic success.
Read about TBANS in the URJ article “How to Reframe the Doorway into Jewish Life”
Use the following information if you think school may have an alternate schedule because of snow or another emergency situation. For information on closings, check your email for announcements from Temple Beth Ami and listen to local media for information on Montgomery County Public Schools decisions.
Closings: Temple Beth Ami Nursery School will adhere to Montgomery County Public School’s decision to close for the first two days of a weather incident. Beginning on the third day, Temple Beth Ami will make an independent decision based on the condition of our facility. Check your emails for updates.
Delayed Openings: If Montgomery County Schools have a delayed opening, Early Arrival will begin one hour late at 8:30 am. TBANS regular classes will start on time at 9:30 am.
On MCPS Delayed Opening Days, TBANS will provide drop off service at the entrance to the nursery school from 9:20-9:40. If you choose, you may pull up to the curb, and our staff will escort your child to class. Please take advantage of this option only if your child is ready to exit your car into the care of a TBANS staff member without difficulty that will hinder the flow of traffic.
Early Dismissal: If Montgomery County schools announce an unscheduled early dismissal, all TBANS classes will end at 1:00, and no afternoon activities will be held. Aftercare may stay open till 5 pm at the latest, conditions permitting. Please stay alert to emails for updates.
We ask that you always use your judgment when weather is inclement. If you feel that driving is hazardous, please stay home.
Judi Lapidus - Kesher Occupational Therapist
Judi Lapidus has been a pediatric occupational therapist since 2004. She graduated from Columbia University’s Programs in Occupational Therapy with a specialization in pediatrics, and developed her foundational skills working with children in a hospital setting and in a sensory integration gym. There she found her true calling to improve the lives of children who suffer from sensory modulation disorder, developmental delay and handwriting issues.
Prior to occupational therapy, Judi was the director of a preschool and a preschool teacher for ten years. The blending of education and occupational therapy has afforded Judi the unique ability to understand the complexity of academic needs and the importance of strong sensory processing skills to create the building blocks for success.
Meredith Polsky - Developmental Support Coordinator
Meredith Polsky has worked in the field of Jewish Special Education since 2000, when she founded Matan, a national non-profit organization. She is an advocate, author, presenter and practitioner. In 2017, she was awarded “The Covenant Award,” the most prestigious national award for being an outstanding Jewish Educator. Meredith holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Bank Street College, a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University and a Graduate Certificate in Early Intervention from Georgetown University. She lives in Gaithersburg with her husband and three children, all of whom are TBANS graduates.