Shabbat

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Open house set for Shabbat at Columbia Jewish The Columbia Jewish Congregation will hold an "Open House Shabbat" at 8 p.m. Sept. 7. Everyone is invited to learn about the Friday evening Shabbat service, which will be explained as the service proceeds. Rabbi Sonya Starr and Cantor Jan Morrison will lead the service and answer questions. The congregation holds regular Friday evening services in Room 100 of the Meeting House, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia. A new and prospective members brunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept.

Shepherd of the Glen to hold sixth annual media sale Sept. 7, 8 Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church, 14551 Burntwoods Road, Glenwood, will hold it sixth annual media sale from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 7 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 8. About 10,000 books, as well as compact discs, videos, records, cassettes and computer software, will be for sale. Hard-cover books are $1; paperbacks, 50 cents. Romance novels, sold by the box, cost $3. Children's books sell for 50 cents. Prices will be discounted after 2 p.m. Shepherd of the Glen will apply to the Aid Association for Lutherans Insurance Co. for matching funds up to $800, to be donated to the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary.

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.

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.

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.

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.