Avodah

Avodah means “sacred service” and is that pillar of Judaism when we share gratitude to the Holy One of Being for life, and express our yearnings as individuals and as a community for health, clarity and peace.

Shabbat Services
Most Shabbat mornings, we gather at our Rockville Center (1729 Wilmart Street, Rockville, MD). Members and friends gather for a reflective, joyful, musical and user-friendly service and Torah discussion. The service, which begins at 10:00am, is followed by a pot–luck vegetarian/dairy Kiddush lunch. Once a month we hold our Shabbat services at Sanctuary with an Open Shabbes! See our calendar for schedule and location of Shabbat Services. Shabbat Services are highlighted in light blue throughout the Calendar for easy identification.

Open Shabbes
Periodically we will hold services at Sanctuary Retreat Center (19520 Darnestown Road, Beallsville, MD) when the weather gets warmer. Again, the service begins at 10:00am Saturday and is followed by a pot–luck vegetarian/dairy Kiddush lunch.

Holiday Celebrations
We also offer services and gatherings for other major and minor Jewish holidays. Simchat Torah has become a very special time when we organize and lead services for the larger Jewish community. Other regular holiday events include a Sukkot Celebration, a Hanukah Party, a Tu Bishvat Seder and a freilach Purim Party. Most of these celebrations occur in Bethesda, Rockville or Silver Spring. We also communal Seders the first or second night of Passover. Join the Am Kolel email list to receive information when these events are scheduled. Shabbat & Holiday programs are highlighted in green in the Am Kolel calendar.

High Holidays with Kehila Chadasha
We have been most grateful to join with members of the Kehila Chadasha havurah community for the Yom Tovim. More than 1,000 individuals attend High Holiday services at Walter Johnson High School each year.