Yahrzeits
February Yahrzeits
We join you in remembering your loved one on the day of their Yahrzeit.

February 7 - Lee Baruch, Mother of Eileen Harahan
May their memory serve as an inspiration and comfort.
Congratulations, 2021 Shoreshim Graduates!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021 GRADUATES!
Daniel Schmuckler is Manhattan-bound!
Daniel graduated from JMU in Harrisonburg, Virginia this May with a BS in Applied Physics and minor in Robotics. He will be moving to Manhattan in August to begin a Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering at Columbia University.
Shane Woldow, outstanding in his field!
As you might have guessed from the picture, Shane is off to study a career in music. He’s accepted an Academic Scholarship and Percussion Scholarship at Belmont University in the heart of “music city” Nashville, Tennessee. He’s majoring in Performance with minors in Music Business and Songwriting.

Alana Hull looks to a future helping kids!
Alana graduated from Virginia Tech, where she majored in Clinical Neuroscience. During her college years she volunteered as an EMT and continues on as a Chaplain for the Christiansburg rescue team. She will be starting medical school at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke this summer and hopes to enter the field of pediatric medicine.
Samantha Joyce is moving on, but not so far from home!
Now that she’s graduated from Herndon High School, Sam is heading to Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall. She’ll choose a major after exploring the exciting options that VCU offers.
Cassie Dallas , marching into the future!
Cassie will be heading to UVA this fall. She’s planning to continue music through the UVA marching band, but hasn’t chosen a major yet.
Home
Welcome to Shoreshim Jewish Community
celebrating our 46th year!
We are all heartbroken and left without words to adequately describe how we feel about the unspeakable tragedies in Israel and the ongoing loss of life in the region. We pray for peace, Shalom, as we pray for all innocents who have lost their lives or been injured.
Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya-aseh shalom, aleinu v’al kol Yisrael
May the one who creates harmony above, make peace for us and for all Israel and for all who dwell on earth.
Friday, October 20, 6pm – Shabbat Dinner, Service, and “Jeopardy-Style” Jewish Trivia
The High Holidays are now over. The new year began
with a wonderful opportunity to join together as a community of old friends and new faces.
We’re planning lots of events for the rest of 2023, including Book Club, Movie Club,
and cultural field trips.
If you would like to be informed of upcoming events at Shoreshim Jewish Community,
please call and leave a message at 703-493-1114
or email us at info@restonshoreshim.org
Someone will get back to you to provide details about attending one of our events.
We have a list of Frequently Asked Questions to introduce you to our community.
Click here for the FAQs
Shoreshim means ROOTS
Our deeply rooted Jewish values include:
Chesed – caring, kindness
Kahilla – community
Tzedakkah – social justice
Tikun Olam – a responsibility to help heal the world in which we live
If you have just two minutes, this video from the lovely people at Cornerstones, the faith-based group serving our local community, describes how the organization works to help vulnerable families, with contributions from the Shoreshim congregation. We’re so proud to be a part of their activities!
Our Annual Community One-day Retreat was a Great Time
The Shoreshim retreat was held at the Clagget center in Adamstown, MD once again this year, on April 29. Rabbi Ben Shalva led us in morning prayer and surprised us with scandalous 10th and 11th century poems on the topic, “Love, Sex, and Death – Hebrew Poetry from the Spanish Golden Age.” Needless to say, we will be talking about the poem of Moses Ibn Ezra (1055-1135) for years to come!
We shared walks, meals, games, and even a Jewish silent auction! The auction was run by the other Jewish community retreat happening at the Clagett Center that weekend. What a surprise! Meeting up with old friends truly rounded out a wonderful, sunny day!
What Shoreshim is about...

Shoreshim is a “shul without walls,” a vibrant and friendly havurah – a group of Jews who gather to facilitate Shabbat and holiday prayer services, and to share communal experiences. We are a participatory community that crafts creative and spiritual activities led by members or by area Rabbis with whom we work closely. By choice, we do not own a building and, for over 40 years, have met at venues in the Reston area.
Our members live in Northern Virginia and come from a wide range of Jewish traditions – Orthodox, conservative, Reform, Nontheistic, Humanistic. Our membership includes those raised as Jews, Jews by choice, and interfaith families. We are open to all who want to connect with Judaism, including traditional families, couples, individuals, and people of all gender identifications.
Let's Get Cooking!
Some say food is love. Well, we love food.
Tasty treats are a basic element of many Shoreshim events and our community has a number of fine cooks willing to share their best recipes.
Check out the Shoreshim Recipe Corner.
