Shabbat

First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3604 Chatham Road, Ellicott City, will be host for a Stephen Series Caring Ministry Workshop, a program designed to mobilize and train lay people to participate in caring ministry, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow. Participants will experience a sample of the training Stephen ministers (who are lay caregivers) receive, and hear presentations on "Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief" and "How to Care in a Distinctively Christian Way." The cost is $15; $50 for a group of four or more people from the same congregation.

ONE OF the most refreshing college basketball stories in many years is the recent announcement that Tamir Goodman, an Orthodox Jewish high school basketball star from Pikesville, has promised to play for the University of Maryland.The idea that big-time college basketball, which has been marred by scandal in recent years, would agree to be challenged by Tamir's value system is a notable development.However, some religion-related issues will arise from this union. For example, there is a question of whether Tamir could play basketball on the Jewish Sabbath.

While the rest of the world is fretting over Y2K, the so-called computer millennium bug, a national Jewish outreach organization is more concerned with what it calls J2K, the Jewish 2000 Problem.It is alarmed at statistics that indicate fewer than one-third of Jews in North America are affiliated with a synagogue or regularly observe the Sabbath, and more than half marry non-Jews.In response, more than 700 synagogues in the United States and Canada, including several in Baltimore and its suburbs, will welcome nonreligious or marginally religious Jews to attend their services tonight during Shabbat Across America.

The JokestersThe award-winning comedy team of Marianne Wittelsberger and Steve Bauer, also known as the Jokesters, will return home to Baltimore to celebrate New Year's Day at the Inner Harbor. The comedic duo have received a Cable Ace Award for "Best Comedy Show," produced more than 113 television episodes of their show "Jokesters" and performed for Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton. Bauer and Wittelsberger will perform their strolling show, "Comedy, Mime and Magic," for all ages Saturday.

Hillel rabbi to speak at Shabbat ServiceRabbi Rachel Hertzman, a campus rabbi for Hillel of Greater Baltimore, will speak at the annual Sisterhood Shabbat Service at 8: 15 p.m. today at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Ave.Information: 410-764-1587.Adams Chapel AME marks 15th anniversaryThe Adams Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will celebrate its 15th anniversary at 7: 30 p.m. today at the church, Garrison Boulevard and Egerton Road.Information: 542-6200.Three workshops planned at conferenceSweet Prospect Baptist Church Women's Ministry Month and Conference will feature workshops tomorrow.

THE SISTERHOOD of Beth Shalom Congregation will hold special Shabbat services in honor of the Women's League for Conservative Judaism -- an organization of individual sisterhoods in the Conservative movement -- at 8 p.m. Friday and 9: 30 a.m. Saturday at the synagogue, 8070 Harriet Tubman Lane.Sisterhood members will join their president, Jane Goldberg, in conducting Shabbat services.Having a woman lead services in a Conservative synagogue is no longer unusual, Goldberg says.She is a member of Kolot B'Kedushah, a national group of Conservative women judged qualified to lead services.

Emmanuel Christian to hold sunrise Easter serviceEmmanuel Christian Community Church will have a sunrise Easter service for members of three congregations and the public at 6 a.m. tomorrow at the church, 800 Carrollton Ave.The service will include members of First Christian Community Baptist and Garrison Boulevard United Methodist churches.Judith Rosenkranz to speak at Shabbat serviceJudith Rosenkranz, president of the Women of Reform Judaism, will speak at the annual Sisterhood Shabbat Service of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation at 8: 15 p.m. Friday.

Installation Shabbat to be held FridayTemple Isaiah will hold its Board Installation Shabbat on Friday. Shabbat services begin at 8:30 p.m. in the temple sanctuary in the Oakland Mills Meeting House.Susan Wakshul will be installed as president of the congregation; Michael Baker is executive vice president; Jeff Dreifuss is financial vice president; Ellen Cohen is membership vice president; Donna Kaplan is religious vice president; Rochelle Eisenberg is secretary; and Rohne Schwartz is treasurer.

Traditionally, Jewish women have had limited roles in many congregations, but increasingly they are moving to the forefront.That will be the case this weekend when, for the first time in Beth Shalom Conservative Congregation's 23-year history, two women will read from the Torah during Shabbat services.Prior to this, the only time females had read from the Torah at Beth Shalom was during bat mitzvahs, rituals that mark the religious coming of age of a girl, said the congregation's Rabbi Kenneth L. Cohen.

Members of Beth Shalom Synagogue exchanged greetings of "Good Shabbas" as they welcomed Shabbat with candles, song and blessings Friday."May the merciful one bless all of us together with the blessing of peace," about 30 people prayed.Twice a year, the Taylorsville congregation gathers at a table laden with challah bread and bottles of sweet red wine to celebrate Shabbat with the traditional Friday evening dinner for Jewish families.After Joyce Wiener lighted the candles that signified the beginning of the Sabbath, Rabbi Seymour Essrog promised "an eating experience" and instructions that would be "everything you ever wanted to know about Shabbat."

The Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, offers the following events this month: * "Decorating 101," the first in a three-part series with April Force Pardoe, at 7 p.m. tomorrow. The program, titled "Make Your Room Happy," covers elements of good design and the secrets of creating happy rooms. * "Happy Birthday, Bach!" A performance by the Raphael Trio in celebration of the composer's 324th birthday is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday. * The Howard County Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation will sponsor a showing of Life in Occupied Palestine, by Anna Baltzer, at 1 p.m. March 29. Admission is free.

Input sought for Police Department The public will have the chance to comment on the Baltimore County Police Department's performance at an information meeting this month as part of an assessment examination by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Comments must address the department's ability to comply with commission standards for re-accreditation. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Baltimore County Public Safety Building, 700 E. Joppa Road, Towson.

Every Friday for years, Linda Burstyn had been serving the same Shabbat meal of challah bread, matzo ball soup, chicken, a vegetable, a starch and, if there was company, gefilte fish and dessert. Her family liked the meal, and the Jewish tradition. Burstyn generally thought it wasn't so bad for them. But she also knew it was a big meal and maybe there was room to make it a little different and a little more healthful. The Pikesville mom wasn't sure exactly what to change, however, without sacrificing the integrity of the dinner or upsetting her husband, kids and the relatives and friends who liked what they had been getting at her table.

Jewish Family Fun Fest set Sept. 9 The third annual Howard County Jewish Family Fun Fest - with roving entertainment, family relay events, a teen klezmer band, a Moon Bounce, crafts and a firetruck - will be held from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Meeting House, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia. The cost is $10 a family through Aug. 31; $15 a family from Sept. 1 and at the door. There may be an extra charge for some events. Food, including ice cream and dinner, will be available for purchase.

Ellicott City native Beck to perform Ellicott City native Sara Beck will perform at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia's One World Coffeehouse at 7 p.m. Aug. 25. Beck, who lives and works in Nashville, Tenn., is a graduate of Centennial High School. Her husband, Park Chisolm, will join her in the show, as will Dan Buchner of the Kactus Boys. The concert will be held at Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Admission is $12. Information: 410-381-2000.

First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3604 Chatham Road, Ellicott City, will be host for a Stephen Series Caring Ministry Workshop, a program designed to mobilize and train lay people to participate in caring ministry, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow. Participants will experience a sample of the training Stephen ministers (who are lay caregivers) receive, and hear presentations on "Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief" and "How to Care in a Distinctively Christian Way." The cost is $15; $50 for a group of four or more people from the same congregation.

Shabbat of Conscience to be held tomorrow Beth Shalom Congregation, 8070 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia, will observe a Shabbat of Conscience at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow in support of the Global Days for Darfur, an international initiative organized by Save Darfur Coalition and other charitable, nongovernmental and other organizations. "The Torah obligates us not to stand idly by while the blood of our neighbor is being spilled," Rabbi Susan Grossman said. She will discuss the situation in Darfur during the service.

Interfaith families to be topic Sunday The Interfaith Family Discussion Circle of Columbia Jewish Congregation will meet from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Sunday at Oakland Mills High School in Columbia. The topic will be "Identity Dilemmas in Interfaith Families: The Challenges and Rewards of a Dual Heritage." Members will talk about the dilemmas, rewards and challenges faced by children, parents and grandparents in interfaith families. Everyone is invited to join in the discussion. Information: 410-730-6044.

Covenant signing to be celebrated Christ United Methodist Church will honor the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Columbia Cooperative Ministry Covenant at a 10 a.m. worship service Sunday. It will be held at Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way. The covenant, which was signed Jan. 23, 1977, at The Mall in Columbia, was an agreement between three Protestant denominations -- United Methodist, Episcopalian and Presbyterian USA -- and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore to cooperate on ecumenical and interfaith projects, said the Rev. Marilyn Newhouse, pastor of Christ United Methodist.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- Eddie and Ellen Goldberg moved from Baltimore 12 years ago. Aaron and Rosalie Friedmann left just a few months ago. But both couples have maintained their memberships at Beth El Congregation in Park Heights. And neither would have missed the chance yesterday to visit here with Rabbi Mark Loeb. "I want to welcome you to the southern extension of Beth El," said host Arnold Feldman, drawing laughter from the crowd of about 100 gathered in a banquet room. Then he said the Motzi, the Hebrew blessing over the bread, and these longtime members - some of them now retired to Florida, others just wintering here - began the joyful business of catching up with their synagogue and with one another.