December 2025
No matter how you spell it, the holiday begins
Sunday evening, December 14!
Welcome to the website for the Riderwood Jewish Community (RJC). The RJC invites you to experience our warm and vibrant Jewish life at Riderwood Village. The RJC was established to provide a focus for the spiritual, cultural and educational activities for all Jewish residents. All are welcome to participate. Please be sure to check the print or electronic version of the monthly RJC BULLETIN for a complete write-up and contact information for all our events and programs. Keep up with any last minute changes via RJCFLASH.
If you are thinking about making Riderwood your new home and would like additional information on the Riderwood Jewish Community, please send an email message to RJC@RiderwoodLife.com, Attention: Terrie.
Shabbat Services
Shabbat evening services are conducted in the Riderwood Chapel on the second and fourth Friday evenings of each month. They are led by Rabbi Robert Goldstein and Cantorial Soloist Shari Feldman. These services are broadcast on Channel 1971. The prayer book we use is the Reform Gates of Prayer, and a Torah portion is read in Hebrew and English. An Oneg Shabbat follows, providing a special time to mingle with friends and meet new neighbors.
Shabbat evening services are now being recorded and archived by the Riderwood television station. To access previous services, please click here.
Shabbat morning services are conducted in the Riderwood Chapel on the first and third Saturday mornings and are lay led. The prayer book we use is the Conservative Siddur Sim Shalom and a kiddush typically follows. Services are held on alternate weeks from the Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday evenings. Please note these services are not recorded.
Click here for a pdf of Highlights of Gates of Prayer siddur which is used for Shabbat services. In order to achieve the best copy available, and as knowledge permits, you may adjust your printer settings as follows: From the pdf, select the printer icon and a box will come up. Select: Print on both sides of paper; Flip on short edge; Click on Landscape (under Orientation). Then click Print. Your copy should look the same as the prayer books we use in the Chapel and the type should be the same size.
RJC Calendar
Click here to see a listing of this month’s events. Please keep current with postings on RJCFLASH for the most up-to-date information on any event
Opportunities to Connect, Share and Learn
RJC Presents
This special program is usually held on the second Sunday of each month. This event presents speakers, movies and musical groups that feature Jewish themes of current or historical interest. For further information, contact Joan Bardach.
Education Forum
Step into a season of discovery with the Education Forum! Twice each month — on the third and fourth Wednesday afternoons — Riderwood transforms into a vibrant hub of exploration, learning and connection. Whether you’re passionate about history, curious about contemporary issues, or anything in between, there’s something here for everyone. Curious about what’s coming up? Click here to view our Winter Programs at a Glance. For further information, contact Marsha Bokman. We can’t wait to see you!
Torah Discussion Series with Rabbi Goldstein
Join Rabbi Goldstein for a series of enlightening discussions on the Torah and how its messages resonate in contemporary life. Discussions typically take place in the Chapel, twice each month on Thursday mornings. No advance reservations or rsvp’s are necessary.
Music, Discussion & Prayer Program at Arbor Ridge Led by Reb Lisa Levine
Reb Lisa Levine, well known to many RJC members as Reb Lisa, offers a weekly program of music, discussion and prayer on Tuesday mornings at Arbor Ridge in the Garden Room. Though intended primarily for members in Arbor Ridge, all are welcome to attend. Reb Lisa will also be available to meet with individual residents on an appointment basis.
Exploring Judaism On-line with Rabbi Helen Plotkin
Join Rabbi Helen Plotkin on-line for an insightful and lively discussion group covering diverse topics in Judaism. The theme for this year’s sessions will be “Learning to Be God.” The group will explore episodes in which the Bible or its traditional interpreters seem to suggest that God learns something from experience with humans and the world. This class is held twice a month on Thursday afternoons. To get the Zoom link, contact her at helen@mekomtorah.org.
Rabbi Helen is the founding director of Mekom Torah, a pioneering Jewish learning project in the Philadelphia area and also the co-founder of the Swarthmore College Center for the Study of Classical Jewish Texts, also known as the Beit Midrash. She is a popular teacher at Philadelphia-area schools, temples and retirement communities.
RJC Book Club
The RJC Book Club meets monthly, usually on the fourth Saturday afternoon of each month. Members discuss books of Jewish interest. Book suggestions for future discussion are very welcome. Please send them to Amy Greenwood or Ellen Simsohn. Everyone is welcome to attend any and all meetings!
RJC Choir
Do you like to sing? Do you appreciate the Shabbat liturgy? If so, please consider joining the newly-formed four-part a cappella (unaccompanied) choir. They help lead the congregation in joyful song at Friday evening services, typically once a month. Rehearsals are held on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in the Village Square Music Room. The repertoire will be predominantly in Hebrew using the Shabbat liturgy. As our music reflects the meaning of the text, we hope that as the congregation learns the melodies, congregants will sing with us. If you are interested in participating, please contact John Planer.
RJC Chavurot
There are several exciting chavurot (plural of chavurah) here at Riderwood. Examples include:
Dovrei Ivrit – Hebrew Speaking Chavurah: Two levels of Hebrew speakers (beginners and intermediate/advanced) each meet once a month on a Monday evening. Contact: Don Goelman or Barbara Ridberg.
Israel Study Group: Meets twice each month on a Monday afternoon. Contact Bob Saks or Alan Goldberg for further information.
Monday Discussion Group: Looking for a great and inspiring way to spend two Monday mornings a month? You’re invited to join an engaging, small group discussion on Jewish thought and prayer. The group meets in the apartment home of Joan Bardach. Please contact her if interested.
Mussar Chavurah: Mussar is a Jewish spiritual practice developed over hundreds of years that involves study and discussion of various personal traits with the aim of leading a more ethical and mindful life. Examples of the traits (midot in Hebrew) are: generosity, patience, courage, humility, gratitude, and compassion. We meet monthly as a group; and in pairs throughout the month. For more information, contact Lew Priven.
Tikkun Olam Chavurah: With fellowship and informal study of relevant Jewish wisdom, we are focused on how we can help create a better world for ourselves and future generations. Current projects include three areas of interest: voting issues, environmental issues, and Israel study with an eye toward facilitating balanced discussions about Israel. Contact: Loretta Vitale.
Ramon Hadassah has been part of Riderwood for many years. However, at this time, it is temporarily suspending its activities. We appreciate everyone who has participated in and contributed to our programs. If you are interested in helping to revitalize the group, please contact: GreaterWashington@Hadassah.org
Volunteer: Meet New Friends, Do Good!
Everyone is encouraged to play an active role in the RJC. The high quality of RJC events, programs and services is made possible through the volunteer efforts of our members. Come volunteer, make new friends and help make exciting things happen in our community! Check out the list of possibilities here.
RJC BULLETIN
The BULLETIN is published at the beginning of each month and distributed via e-mail or print version to each Jewish resident. It is the source of information about Jewish events and activities at Riderwood. Print copies are also available at the Riderwood Sales Office at Town Center and at the Pastoral Ministries Office at Village Square.
RJCFLASH: The Quickest Way to Communicate
RJCFLASH, a free email group, has been created as a vehicle for quickly notifying RJC members of urgent events and issues of immediate importance to the Riderwood Jewish Community. In recognition of the purpose of the group — just-in-time communication to RJC members — the name of the group is RJCFLASH. Please download the ground rules and instructions for joining the group here.
RJC Donations Information
The Riderwood Jewish Community is pleased to accept and acknowledge donations designated for our General Fund or for one of our several Special Purpose Funds. All of these donation opportunities are meaningful ways to note milestones such as the memory of a loved one, get-well wishes, a birthday, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, congratulations on an achievement, or other occasion you wish to commemorate. Click here for information on all these giving opportunities. Click here for a Donations Form.
RJC’s 25th Anniversary History
Ever wonder what Jewish life was like here at Riderwood in its earliest days? With fewer than 60 people compared to over 500 today, it was surely not the same! However, some of our bedrock programs that we hold dear today were started very early on – programs and events such as twice-a-month evening Shabbat services, RJC Presents and informative educational offerings.
In conjunction with Riderwood’s upcoming 25th anniversary, we have prepared a historical narrative of our own RJC history. It was based upon a history written 10 years ago by then-resident and board member Irving Slott (z”l) as well as extensive research by past board president Suzan Wynne. Suzan prepared a detailed chronology that builds upon Irv’s and brings our history up to date. We deeply appreciate all that Irv and Suzan did to make our current narrative possible. Click here to read.
Administration
The Riderwood Jewish Community was established in 2000 with the opening of the Riderwood community. It has a Constitution and Bylaws and is administered by an all-volunteer board. Officers are elected at the annual meeting held each December.
RJC Board meetings usually take place at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month in the Craft Room at Montgomery Station.
RJC membership is open to all. Annual dues are $100 per person per calendar year. Please consider becoming involved to make this organization even better! You may download the current dues form here.
This web page is updated monthly in conjunction with the publication of the RJC BULLETIN. This page was last updated November 28, 2025. To contact the web page editor, please email Leslie at RJC@RiderwoodLife.com Contact information for any resident can be found in the Riderwood Resident Directory, available at your front desk or online at MyErickson.
Important Documents You Can Use
For a complete list of RJC officers, board members and rabbis, please click here. Contact information for the rabbis may be found each month in the RJC BULLETIN.
For the Constitution and Bylaws (all one document), click here. This document was approved by the membership on December 12, 2022.
For the Operations Handbook, an overview of responsibilities of each officer and committee chair, click here. Please note it is 75 pages long.
Other News You Can Use:
Bikur Cholim of Greater Washington
Bikur Cholim offers a friendly visitors program to both independent living and Arbor Ridge residents; operates a kosher food pantry at Holy Cross Hospital and Adventist Medical Center-White Oak; and runs a free loan program of durable medical equipment.
To inquire or to make a donation, contact Leah Snyder, Services Coordinator, and the daughter-in-law of RJC members, Jerry (z”l) and Rose (Ronni) Snyder. Leah can be reached at (202) 331- 4481 Monday – Wednesday from 9 – 5 or register at http://www.bikurcholimgw.org/services
Being Prepared for the Journey’s End (2022 edition)
While none of us like to think about death – for ourselves or a loved one – we all know it is inevitable. To assist you with the many considerations in planning a Jewish funeral, and with gathering important information you should have on hand for your family, the Riderwood Jewish Community has just completed a report specifically written for Jewish residents of Riderwood. You may obtain a copy of this 14-page paper from Reverend James Bell in the Pastoral Ministries Office. Or, you may choose to print it yourself by clicking here.