Kesher+Israel+-+the+Georgetown+Synagogue

=Congregation Kesher Israel - The Georgetown Synagogue= 2801 N Street NW | Washington D.C. 20007-3340 | Office: (202) 333-2337| Website: [|www.kesher.org]



**About Kesher Israel's LHIP Project:**
The mission of Kesher Israel’s Shul Without Walls program is to educate on Jewish topics leveraging the resources of Washington, DC, coordinating across the shul’s different constituencies in such a way that creates a toolset for people to execute collaborative programming on an ongoing basis.
 * Mission Statement:**

Our program "Shul Without Walls" takes advantage of Kesher's location in D.C. an area full of meaningful sites, many of which provide messages compatible with Jewish middot. A series of "treks" to local sites will be paired with activities, lessons, and/or lectures highlighting the Jewish significance of the specific locations, integrating adult, childrens, and family-based learning. Examples might include a trek to the National Arboretum for Tu B'Shvat, a trek to the Albert Einstein Memorial to discuss traditional Judaism's interface with modern science, or a trek to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian to discuss B'reishit through different eyes.
 * Project Summary:**

Sarah Shapiro
 * Shul Without Walls Program Manager:**

Miriam Stein, Associate Program Officer, Partnership for Jewish Life & Learning Avi West, Director, Elster Resource Center and Master Teacher, Partnership for Jewish Life & Learning
 * Shul Without Walls Educational Consultants:**

Shoshana Danon-Perkins, Kesher Israel Administrator
 * Shul Without Walls Administrative Support:**

Advisory Committee members were nominated by members of the LHIP Grant Writing Committee based on their role in the shul and area of expertise. The role of the SWW Advisory Committee is to serve as an advisory body on all aspects of the project, and to provide benchmarks, feedback, and resources to Program Manager, Sarah Shapiro. Additionally, Advisory Committee members were selected to represent various shul demographics (single adults, young couples, young families, families with older children, empty nesters) and various areas of expertise (museum education, Jewish education, Kesher knowledge/historical perspective, etc.). Members of the Advisory Committee will be assigned to serve as liaisons (one per Trek) to provide preparatory and on-site support to Trek Coordinators and the Program Manager as needed.
 * Shul Without Walls Advisory Committee:**
 * Dave Sloan (parent of young children, former Kesher Board Member, DC Resident extraordinaire)>
 * Alisa Schrier (parent of older children, Kesher Board Member)
 * Al Altschul (Kesher Board President, empty nester)
 * Clare Goldwater (parent of young child, professional Jewish educator)
 * Zev Slurzberg (single adult, professional museum educator)
 * Rabbi Barry Freundel (Congregational Rabbi, parent of older children)
 * Sharon Freundel (Rebbetzin, professional Jewish educator)
 * Elanit Jakabovics (part of young couple, Kesher Board Member)
 * Rachel Hellman (single adult, professional educator) - resigned 11/09 due to personal reasons

In addition to recruitment through Kesher communications (email, weekly newsletter and announcements), Trek Coordinators were nominated by members of the SWW Advisory Committee. Nominated individuals were contacted by Advisory Committee members (in person, phone and email) and encouraged to fill out a Trek Coordinator Interest Survey on Survey Monkey. Over 20 people responded and of those, the following signed on to be Trek Coordinators. They participated in a 4-hour training seminar developed by Program Manager, Sarah Shapiro and Associate Program Officer from the Partnership for Jewish Life & Learning, Miriam Stein. Those who could not attend the training received one-on-one review of the materials in preparation for their Trek. All training materials can be found in the "Materials Relating to Systemic Change" section.
 * Shul Without Walls Trek Coordinators '09-'10:**
 * Clare Goldwater (August)
 * Miriam Stein (September)
 * Dino Feigelstock (October) - rescheduled for '10-'11
 * Becky Zimmerman (November)
 * Mindy Levin (December)
 * Olimpia Nowicka Sulla (January)
 * Marcela Sulak (January)
 * Adina Lav (February) - cancelled
 * Diana Schemo (March)
 * Rosa Alonso (April)
 * Candace Nachman (May)
 * Carole Huberman (June) - rescheduled for '10-'11
 * Jennifer Bradley (TBD)
 * David Epstein (as needed)

**Publicity and Marketing Materials:**
Kesher Israel is an incredibly unique congregation. With only a rabbi and part-time administrator, the programmatic, fundraising, and marketing operations are driven by the Board of Directors and other dedicated lay leaders. Historically, this results in piece-meal programming and limited (if not entirely non-existent) branding. Through Shul Without Walls, Kesher has been exposed to and embraced a more formal branding, publicity and marketing plan that is in the process of being implemented on a shul-wide scale. Kesherites have been overwhelmed by the professionalism of Shul Without Walls publicity and programming and the shul is modeling it's Centennial Celebration marketing plan after that established by Shul Without Walls.
 * Shul Without Walls Logos (designed by Alon Cohen)
 * With Kesher/LHIP Bug large | medium | pdf ]
 * Without Bug large | medium | small | pdf]
 * Shul Without Walls Vinyl Banner
 * [[image:11.8_022.jpg width="371" height="318"]]
 * Shul Without Walls Lanyards and Name Badges
 * [[image:IMG_0636.JPG width="88" height="345"]]
 * Trek Coordinator Recruitment Email
 * "The Wire: Biking the Eruv" Posters
 * "Fighting Fair: Personal & Political Ethics of War" Posters
 * "Restoring Hanukkah: Beyond Dreidels Donuts" Flyer
 * Email Publicity August] September] October] November] December] [January] [March]
 * Kesher Israel Listserve
 * Kesher Kids Listserve
 * Kesher Israel Website
 * DC Minyan Listserve
 * GesherCity eNews
 * Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah Listserve
 * Kemp Mill Listserve
 * Jewish Primary Day School Listserve
 * Adas Israel Gan HaYeled Preschool Listserve
 * Washington DCJCC Preschool Parent Listserve
 * Georgetown Moms Listserve
 * Social Media Publicity
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Kesher Israel Bulletin [September] December]
 * Reflections on November Trek, Fighting Fair: Personal & Political Ethics of War

**Educational Materials and Documentation:**

 * **Shul Without Walls Advisory Committee Agendas & Meeting Notes**
 * June 29, 2009
 * July 22, 2009
 * September 24, 2009
 * [|November 23, 2009]
 * February 2, 2010

> Our first "beta" Trek served to bring together potential Trek Coordinators while developing and testing out the processes needed to plan a Trek. We explored two very different memorials: Jefferson and FDR. We learned about the leadership styles of each President while discussing how they were memorialized. That discussion was paired with a chevruta text study on Moshe Rabbeinu and his role as a leader of the Israelites. The program concluded with participants brainstorming what a memorial to Moshe would look like and how it compared to those memorials we has explored previously.
 * **Leadership Models & Memorials (August)**
 * Attendance: 22 adults, 5 children
 * Program Planning Worksheet
 * Text Sheet
 * Feedback Survey Summary
 * Lessons Learned
 * August Trek Photo Slideshow (please allow a moment to load)
 * media type="custom" key="4984375" width="160" height="160"

> While Kesher congregants are invited annually to gather at the Potomac River for the Tashlich ceremony on Rosh Hashanah, traditionally, it has not drawn a critical mass of participants. In order to encourage community participation as well as deeper understanding in the tradition, Shul Without Walls held it's September Trek in the hour and a half leading up to Tashlich. The themes of Tashlich and the tossing of sins was paralleled with a unique Georgetown landmark: the C & O Canal. At the Canal, a Park Ranger spoke about its history and function in our community and the country and its impact on commerce and trade. The Trek Coordinator then used Jewish text to link the idea of the journey to our own spiritual growth represented in the casting of our sins. After hearing from the Park Ranger, children discussed what is worth throwing away for good versus altering in order to serve another purpose (both in a tangible sense and spiritual one). The group then proceeded around the Potomac River to participate in more meaningful Tashlich experience. > > Though postponed until spring due to two rain cancellations, October's Biking the Eruv program is packaged and ready to go. It combines the bike-ability of DC with the unique characteristics of our city's eruv and the communal implications of the demarcation. Kesher's Rabbi Barry Freundel, an authority on eruvim and the driving force behind the DC eruv, will speak on some of the finer Halachic details while overlooking the eruv from across the Memorial Bridge. Following a three mile bike ride to Hain's Point, the participants will then engage in a text study to understand how eruv binds a community both practically and spiritually. The children, those who biked and those who met up separately at Hain's Point, will participate in an interactive activity exploring maps, the purpose of eruv and what falls inside and outside of it. We look forward to a non-rainy spring day!
 * **Journey From Here to There: Physical & Spiritual (September)**
 * Attendance: 30 adults, 12 children
 * Program Planning Worksheet
 * Text Sheet
 * Feedback Survey Summary
 * Lessons Learned
 * [Trek on Rosh Hashanah - therefore, no photos!]
 * **The Wire: Biking the Eruv** (October - RAINED OUT, WILL RUN IN '10-'11)
 * Program Planning Worksheet
 * Children's Program Lesson Plan
 * Text Sheet
 * Bike Route
 * Directions
 * Eruv Booklet

> The November Trek, held on the Sunday before Veteran's Day, and paid tribute to some of the ethical dilemma's we encounter in situations leading up to and within war as well as celebrated the experiences and ethical struggles of Jewish United States Veterans. Participants visited two statues of famous American war veterans and did a chevruta text study on just causes of war and just conduct in war. At the same sites, the children created a list of "Rules for Fair Fighting", role played micro and macro examples and then made thank you cards for the veterans who would be speaking at the museum. The group continued on to the National Museum of Jewish American Military History where they were presented with the personal experiences of a Jewish Iraq War veteran and a Jewish Vietnam Veteran followed by an opportunity to look around the museum. After presenting their rules for fighting and their cards to the adults, the children participated in a museum scavenger hunt and military uniform dress-up.
 * **Fighting Fair: Personal & Political Ethics of War** (November)
 * Attendance: 32 adults, 9 children
 * Program Planning Worksheet
 * Children's Program Lesson Plan
 * Text Sheets Just Cause for War] Just Conduct in War]
 * Recommended Additional Reading/Listening
 * http://www. americanjewisharchives.org/ aja/aje/section-3.php? category=c
 * http://podcast.foundjs.org/ category/topic/war-and-peace/ (bottom two podcasts)
 * http://crdc.gmu.edu/docs/j_ limitsofwar_and_cr.html
 * Feedback Survey Summary
 * Lessons Learned
 * November Trek Photo Slideshow (please allow a moment to load)
 * media type="custom" key="4984475" width="160" height="160"

> The December Trek focused on some of the deeper meanings of Hanukkah by linking the story of the rededication of the Beit Hamikdash to the oldest synagogue in Washington, DC. Kesher Rabbinic Intern, Ya'akov Trump, spoke about place-consciousness and Hanukkah from the bimah on Shabbat, adding a tie-in to Sunday's Shul Without Walls Trek and inviting congregants to check out the museum on their own. Due to space limitations, the off-site Trek was open to Kesher families with children ages three and up. At the Small Museum, the participants learned about the story of Hanukkah and the rededication of the Beit Hamikdash as well as the history and unique transport of the original Adas Israel building. They then created tzedakah box replicas of the synagogue while the older children did a scavenger hunt exploring the synagogues unique architecture. In order to appeal to all Kesher families, we invited families and children under three to a Hanukkah Sing-a-Long where the kids learned about the Hanukkah story, Judah Maccabee, Jewish candles, and lots of fun Hanukkah songs. All families then joined together for pizza and latkes at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, another restored shul in the DC area.
 * **Restoring Hanukkah: Beyond Dreidels and Donuts** (December)
 * Attendance: 46 adults, 46 children
 * Program Planning Worksheet
 * "A Synagogue Story" Lesson Plan
 * Small Museum Scavenger Hunt
 * Hanukkah Sing-a-Long Song Sheet
 * Feedback Survey Summary
 * Lessons Learned
 * December Trek Photo Slideshow
 * media type="custom" key="5050293"


 * **Weekend of the Woman (January)**
 * For the January Trek, Shul Without Walls collaborated with Kesher's Women's Rosh Chodesh Tefilla and Study Group for a weekend long trek celebrating art, women and creativity. On Shabbat morning, Rebbetzin Sharon Freundel spoke from the bimah about women’s influence on the Exodus. On Shabbat afternoon, the Women’s Tefilla and Study group held their regular monthly service and study session, learning about “The Original Desperate Housewives: Women of Bereshit.” On Sunday afternoon, Kesherites gathered at the National Museum of Women in the Arts for a private guided tour of the museum ( the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to recognizing the contributions of women artists), a text study with Rebbetzin Freundel about Jewish women’s poetry through the centuries, and a poetry reading by Kesherite Marcela Sulak. Children and their parents received their own private tour of the museum and a lesson in origami, the ancient Chinese art of paper folding. Each family received a book of Jewish Origami Instruction to take home.
 * Attendance: 46 adults, 46 children
 * Program Planning Worksheet
 * Text Sheets
 * Feedback Survey Summary
 * Lessons Learned
 * January Trek Photo Slideshow


 * **From Psalms to the Second Inaugural: The Jewish Roots of Abraham Lincoln's Greatest Speech (March)**
 * Attendance:
 * Program Planning Worksheet
 * Text Sheets

April Program Planning Worksheet [|Text Sheet]

>>
 * **Botanic Blessings (May)**
 * Attendance: 11 adults, 2 children
 * Program Planning Worksheet
 * Text sheets

**Materials relating to systemic congregational change**:
Prior to Shul Without Walls, Kesher programming, though rich in content, lacked any formal processes and documentation and completely rested on the shoulders of the volunteer planner. Through Shul Without Walls, Kesher is working to establish systems and processes for developing, implementing and evaluating programming that will be utilized throughout all shul programming in a collaborative and constructive manner. The use of collaborative tools for Shul Without Walls planning, such as Google Docs and Survey Monkey, have already been adopted by other shul programs and the shul's largest programmatic venture, Kesher's Centennial Celebration, is using the processes and documentation of SWW as a model.
 * [|LHIP Project and Proposal]
 * [|LHIP Seminar Presentation](6/7/09)
 * [|Shul Without Walls Trek Coordinator Recruitment Email] (7/13/09)
 * [|SWW Trek Coordinator Interest Survey] (7/13/09)

SWW Trek Coordinator Training (8/30/09) The Shul Without Walls project began with a groundbreaking (for our community) intensive training for those volunteers who would be leading Treks and members of the Advisory Committee. In the spirit of Shul Without Walls, the training was held outside of the congregational walls (which have limited space for such activities).
 * [|Trek Coordinator Training Agenda]
 * [|Nametags]
 * [|Training Folder Labels]
 * [|Diadic Encounter]
 * [|Graphic Organizers]
 * [|Instructional Strategies]
 * [|Middot]
 * [|Program Planning Worksheet]
 * [|Theme and Programmatic Components]
 * [|Trek Coordinator Checklist]
 * [|Trek Coordinator Role]
 * [|Trek Coordinator Timeline]
 * [|An Exercise in Interpretation]
 * [|Trek Coordinator Training Evaluation]
 * Feedback Survey Summary
 * Trek Coordinator Training Photo Slideshow (please allow a moment to load)
 * media type="custom" key="4984571"


 * LHIP 2009 Mid-Year Report (12/17/09)
 * SWW Mid-Year Report
 * Updated Objectives Grid
 * Updated Budget


 * Shul Without Walls Trek Coordinator Mid-Year Evaluation and Planning Breakfast (2/21/10)
 * Agenda
 * Trek Overviews

**ABOUT KESHER ISRAEL**

Rabbi Dr. Barry Freundel has been the spiritual leader of Kesher Israel: The Georgetown Synagogue for the past eighteen years. He received his smicha from Yeshiva University and his Phd. from Baltimore Hebrew University where he serves as as Assistant Professor of Rabbinics and has served as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Maryland, an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University, and a Consultant to the Ethics Review Board of the National Institute of Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Rabbi Freundel is also head of the conversion committee of the Rabbinical Council of America.
 * Rabbi Dr. Barry Freundel**

Rabbi Freundel is Vice-President of the Vaad of Washington and is very involved in community issues in the Greater Washington area. He is regarded as a resource and authority on eruvim, and has assisted in their construction in a number of cities, including Washington. He is the author of Contemporary Orthodox Judaism's Response to Modernity published by KTAV in 2003 as well as numerous scholorly articles

Rabbi Freundel can be reached by emailing rabbi@kesher.org.

The current board of directors was elected at the annual meeting in June 2008 and will serve until June 2010. The current synagogue leadership is:
 * The Kesher Board**

President Alfred Altschul First Vice President David Levin Second Vice President Elanit Jakabovics Treasurer Mark Isakowitz Financial Secretary Corresponding Secretary David Barak Recording Secretary Sisterhood President Shana Siesser Director Dan Brandenburg Director Matthew Horowitz Director Rella Kaplowitz Director Alisa Schrier Director Miriam Stein Director Ken Weinstein

To contact the board, please email the corresponding secretary at board@kesher.org, and your concerns will be forwarded to the appropriate board members.

Past Presidents: Gary Winters Baruch Fellner Dr. Bernardo Hirschman

Trustees: Jerome Chapman David Epstein Sheldon Wiesel