| Supporting Our Community During the Federal Government Shutdown
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is closely monitoring the needs and concerns of our community members as the federal government shutdown continues. We know that thousands of our friends, families, and neighbors in the DMV region are facing an unsettling period of stress, anxiety and economic instability. If you are seeking assistance or stress relief, our list of available resources and services is being regularly updated as local needs emerge and evolve.
| |
| | |
Small Moves, Big Dreams: A Message from Gil Preuss
Last Wednesday, the building that will house the new Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum was wheeled down the block to its new home on 3rd and F Street, NW. Set to reopen in 2021, the museum will tell the story of Jewish Washington’s past while encouraging audiences to consider their role in shaping the future of Jewish life here in the nation’s capital. It plans to draw on the past as a way to deepen our understanding of who we are and who we want to be in the years and generations to come. And the museum is not the only local institution in our community looking towards the future. Across the area, emerging and established organizations are helping Jews of all ages to breathe new life and relevancy into Jewish identity and tradition.
| | |
| | |
As featured in the Washington Post: A Bat Mitzvah Girl Debuts a New Way for Blind Jews to Participate in an Ancient Tradition
In Jewish Greater Washington, deepening our understanding of who we are begins with listening to each distinct voice. The inclusion of ALL members of our community is a vital component of what shapes our institutions and organizations. As Rabbi Ruti Regan, an Autistic Rabbi and Rabbinic Disability Scholar in Residence of Matan explains, “Judaism teaches us B’Tzelem Elohim, All are Created in God’s image, but it is the disability inclusion community that teaches us to mean it.“ In this week’s Washington Post, a spotlight on Greater Washington Jewish community members Batya Sperling-Milner and her mother, Aliza Sperling-Milner, highlights the beauty of a truly inclusive Jewish community in action. Mazel tov to Batya and her family, and to the Ohev Sholom congregation, on Batya’s bat mitzvah and on their transformative advocacy work.
| | |
| | |
Is The Margo & Yoram Cohen Family Israel Engagement Fellowship right for the teens in your life?
Start by reading about the meaningful experience of IEF alumna Allison Feinberg in the Washington Jewish Week, to learn more about this free, eight-part program for teens in grades 10-12. Participants will explore the trends on college campus and how Israel fits into broader conversations, and do so with guidance and insight from Federation’s congregational shlichim (emissaries) at Shaare Torah, B’nai Israel Congregation, or Beth Sholom Congregation. Convinced? Encourage the teens you know to register for one of the Spring 2019 Maryland IEF cohorts, presented by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and JCRC of Greater Washington. But hurry – registration closes January 31!
| | |
| | |
Acting as a Force for Good in the World: Tips for Volunteering with Kids on MLK Day of Service
Want to know the secret to a kinder, more compassionate world? Start setting the example when your children are young. To instill a sense of empathy, you can engage in volunteerism as a family to role model a generosity of spirit, time, and materials. Children often learn these in school, but as a family, you can take these lessons outside of the classroom. The upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service is a great place to start. In Washington Parent, Federation’s Sarah Rabin Spira, Manager of PJ Library and PJ Our Way, shares tips on how to make the most of your family volunteer project, avoid common mistakes, and help your child gain lifelong compassion and an understanding of human dignity.
| | |
| | |
Our Values, Our Aspirations: the Jewish Communal Conversation Continues
As this week proved, snow and ice are no match for the Jewish community and our passion for deep learning and conversation! Despite the storm, more than 200 members of our local community gathered in Northern Virginia this week for an open conversation with the esteemed Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, the second public lecture in our Federation partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. Together, we explored questions of how American and Israeli Jews relate to each other. In addition to those who attended in person, more than one thousand tuned in virtually via-the livestream on Facebook. Read more about the conversation in the Washington Jewish Week.
| | |
|
