Rabbi Search

Dear Friend,

The Rabbi Search Committee is excited to let you know that we have invited Rabbi Samuel Gelman to visit Bnai Shalom of Olney this coming weekend. His fiancé Naima Hirsch will be joining him for the visit. 

Due to the parameters of our covid restrictions right now, most components of his visit will be virtual, but we are striving to create meaningful and personal ways to let Rabbi Gelman interact with the community.

A congregational survey will be sent out after the visit but feel free to share your thoughts via email at Rabbisearch@bnaishalomofolney.org

We hope you will join us for the following services and programs as we welcome Rabbi Gelman and Naima to our congregation for the weekend.

Schedule of congregational events:

Friday 1/14

• Friday 5:15pm ECS and K-2 parent Schmooze 
• Friday 5:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Sing-A-long
• Friday 6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Services* Please note the earlier start time. This is a onetime change to help respectfully accommodate the busy schedule planned for Rabbi Gelman

Saturday 1/15

• Saturday 9:15am- Shabbat Morning Services via Zoom 
• Saturday 12:00pm- Virtual Kiddush Lunch and Schmooze- at the conclusion of services feel free to eat your lunch and schmooze with your fellow congregants and Rabbi Gelman via zoom
• Saturday 1:00pm- Congregational Q&A -This will be conducted via zoom. We are requesting that all questions be submitted in advance. Please submit any questions you have for Rabbi Gelman no later than Thursday at noon to Laurie.Blumstein@bnaishalomofolney.org
• Saturday 5:30pm-7:00pm Havdalah- join us as we usher in the new week with prayer and song. Feel free to bring your candles and spices, and join us in the BSO parking lot or via zoom. Weather ​permitting, we can relax around the fire pits after the conclusion of Havdalah

Sunday 1/16

• 9:00 am Minyan
• 10:30 am Study Session with Rabbi Gelman
• 12:00 pm​ Parking Lot Meet and Greet- come meet Rabbi Gelman between 12:00-1:00 as you swing by BSO for the Tu B'shvat and MLK activities

Please note that for everyone's safety, masks are required at all in person outdoor events regardless of vaccination status.

   
                             
  
    
Rabbi Samuel Gelman

Samuel Gelman is a fifth-year Rabbinical Student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is receiving his ordination as a Rabbi and a Master's Degree in Sacred Music this coming May. Samuel has long been passionate about Judaism and the Jewish world. He received his BA from Princeton University, where he majored in Near Eastern Studies, specializing in Israeli History. After graduating, he served as the Youth Director/Social Justice Coordinator for Temple Emanu-El in Providence, Rhode Island, where he is most proud of his work in coordinating help for Syrian refugees and reestablishing the youth theater group. Samuel currently is the Rabbinic Intern at the Jewish Community Center of Paramus, where he helps conduct services and run holiday programs, as well as teach adult education classes. When Samuel is not writing a d'var Torah or creating a lesson plan, he can be found hiking, working on his latest play, or practicing the guitar.