| CELEBRATING JEWISH DISABILITY AWARENESS, ACCEPTANCE & INCLUSION MONTH (JDAIM)
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Photo courtesy of Federation partner Jewish Foundation for Group Homes
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| | Our celebration of JDAIM continues throughout February! Together, we can foster a more inclusive Jewish community that recognizes the value, dignity, and capabilities of each and every individual. Sign up for events and volunteer opportunities on Jconnect, advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, and explore resources to make your organization more inclusive.
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| | | Flourishing in Jewish Day School
Sulam
When you meet Elana Orlofsky, you quickly learn that she is a sweet, bubbly, and friendly teenager. She is also a successful student of Sulam’s Shearim program—a special education program tailored to meet the needs of students with learning differences. Throughout her school years at Berman Hebrew Academy, Elana has been challenged and guided to push all the boundaries that are sometimes unintentionally created by society, and has become a contributing member of her school community and a valued and respected classmate to her friends. Get to know Elana.
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| | | MOST™ Program Opens Door to Adulthood Through Virtual Spaces
Jewish Foundation for Group Homes
Bridging the gap between the completion of secondary school and joining the adult workforce can be a challenge for young adults with disabilities. That’s where Federation partner the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes Sally and Robert Meaningful Opportunities for Successful Transitions (MOST™) Program comes in. Utilizing new and existing partnerships, MOST™ has been able ensure a continuity of services in spite of challenges created by the pandemic, and create engaging opportunities in an entirely virtual world. Read more about the program.
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| | | My Piece of the Puzzle: Inclusion and its Impact on Israeli Society
Pozez JCCNV and Federation's Community Shlichim (Israeli emissaries)
Join Federation Shaliach (Israeli emissary) to Pozez JCC, Shy Ashkenazi, in conversation with Jenna Elbaz, Founder and CEO of My Piece of the Puzzle. Learn how this unique Israeli non-profit organization integrates children with special needs with youth at risk by providing opportunities to learn, socialize, and work together. Register today.
» Thursday, February 18 | 2:00 PM
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COMMUNITY NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS
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| | | The Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Tzedek DC, Federation's Lawyers Division and many additional partners
Join the JCRC for the next session in their brown bag lunch series: The Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, featuring Amy Marshak, Senior Counsel at Georgetown University Law Center's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and former clerk to the late Justice. Register today.
» Thursday, February 18 | 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM
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| | | Jews of Color: American Jews, Race, and History
American University Center for Israel Studies
As the American Jewish community responds to the upheavals of 2020 and delves into its own multicultural, multiracial composition, it is also grappling anew with its complex identity. Hear from a philosopher, a historian, and a rabbinical student who draw on their research and their own life experiences to explore both the vibrancy and the challenge of a diverse American Jewish community. Register for the event.
» Monday, February 22 | 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM
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VIRTUAL EVENTS AND RESOURCES
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| Purim Carnivirtual
PJ Library
Celebrate Purim as a family with a virtual carnival of games! Join Main Stages to lead an interactive family game night. Costumes are optional and this event is geared towards ages five to nine. Register today!
» Sunday, February 21 | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
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| The Triumph of Life: A DC Lecture Series with Rabbi Yitz Greenberg
Federation, Hadar, and Adas Israel Congregation
Join Hadar and Adas Israel Congregation for a three-part lecture series with Rabbi Yitz Greenberg on “The Triumph of Life: An Interpretation of Jewish Religion." This series will explore how the value of life shapes the Torah's message—to both the Jewish people and the world at large—to transform nature and society in order to sustain life. Register for the event.
» Sundays, February 21, 28, and March 7 | 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Federation is proud to support this initiative with an Impact grant. Visit shalomdc.org/innovation-and-impact to learn more about this and other communal programs made possible by our investments in impact and innovation.
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| First Annual Jewish Fertility Support Summit
Svivah and I Was Supposed To Have A Baby
Hear from a panel of women leaders from 11 major fertility organizations and featured sponsors for a better understanding of those experiencing infertility and/or pregnancy loss and how to better support them. Register today.
» Monday, February 22 | 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
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VOLUNTEER & BE A FORCE FOR GOOD!
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| Find your perfect volunteer opportunity below, or visit Federation’s Jconnections for more ways to be a force for good in our community.
• Student Musicians Wanted
Student musicians wanted to join UNMUTE, a student musician group in Maryland, to share your love and music talents with senior residents in assisted living facilities.
• SHARE from a Distance
Sign up to become a pen-pal or send cheerful notes and artwork through the JCA Heyman Interages® Center intergenerational programs.
• Sensory Beanbags
Help provide developmental tools to residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the pandemic.
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| | | Need support? Call 703-J-CARING: The Jewish Community Support Line
Federation, JSSA, and the 703-J-CARING Support Line Partner Network of human service organizations are here for you. Call (703) J-CARING (703-522-7464) to connect with a professional ready to assist you. Serving residents of DC, MD, and Northern VA, support is accessible Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM and all calls are confidential.
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