Thank you for participating in our Oneg program. The most important part of this duty is to enjoy the experience. The following is an excerpt from the Oneg Assignment letter each congregant receives within 6 months of their assignment.

" For each Oneg, we assign three families to greet fellow worshipers and offer Shabbat wine and challah. Given the size of the congregation, you will only be asked to help once every few years. You are receiving this letter now because your turn is coming up within the next six months. Please find your date on the attached schedule. If you cannot come that night, please contact someone else on the list and switch with them. Then inform Betsy Sill in the Temple office of the switch. Betsy can be reached at 301-340-6818 or by e-mail at bks@bethami.org. This is this only letter you will receive (a reminder appears on the weekly listserv). "

Responsibilities: leave the service after Kaddish is recited and go into the social hall, uncover the platters of food that are already set out; pick up a tray of wine (which is red) or juice (white grape juice) to offer as people enter the Oneg. As soon as all the wine /grape juice is served, please place any extra wine in the walk-in refrigerator in the kitchen – do not set it down on the tables or leave it out in the kitchen. If you need assistance during the Oneg (more punch, paper goods, etc), contact a custodian. At the end of the Oneg, please take the remaining food into the kitchen. Prepare and cover one tray for Torah study (Saturday morning) and cover any other remaining food and put both trays in the walk-in refrigerator. The custodians will clean up any remaining empty dishes and trays at the end of the evening.

"It is important that you come on your assigned (or switched) date. Serving as an "Oneg Maven" is an easy and fun opportunity to meet other Temple families, and helps to make Beth Ami a warm and welcoming place for all who worship with us. By greeting our fellow congregants, we can each have the opportunity to perform G'milut Hasadim - a good deed. I look forward to your joining us at Shabbat services, and to your participation in this wonderful congregational tradition."