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Building Community & Civic Life: A Fourth of July Message from Gil Preuss
As a Jewish leader in Greater Washington, the topics of community and responsibility come up often in my conversations. During the past few months of Federation’s strategic planning process, these issues have been at the forefront of our work in defining the role Federation can and should play. This seems especially pertinent to American Jews as we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July in an America where the volume and intensity of our civic discourse has left many of us feeling overwhelmed.
Read Gil’s full message »
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Unconventional Family Havdalah Celebrates Message of Inclusion and Self-Acceptance
On Saturday, June 16, more than 70 families gathered at Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, MD to enjoy Drag Queen Story Time and Havdalah. The PG-rated event, co-sponsored by The Jewish Federation, PJ Library®, Temple Shalom, the Kurlander Program for GLBTQ Outreach & Engagement (GLOE) at the Edlavitch DCJCC and Kids Academy at Temple Shalom, included making jewelry, designing costumes, a mitzvah project and reading books about acceptance and being true to who you are. “The decision to have the show in the sanctuary was meant to show that sacred spaces are meant for everyone,” said Rabbi Rachel Ackerman. “The fact that we could do the performance on the bimah is not just welcoming, but a validation that we all belong here.”
Read more and enjoy photos from Drag Queen Story Time and Havdalah »
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Welcome Rabbi Gil Steinlauf, Federation’s New Scholar-in-Residence!
The Federation team warmly welcomes our newest member, Rabbi Gil Steinlauf, who will provide high-level learning in a Jewish context, be a thought partner as we move the community forward, and provide Jewish insight and depth to Federation initiatives. Rabbi Steinlauf is a nationally recognized spiritual leader who innovatively combines bold vision and grounded wisdom to steward and evolve communities and organizations. He is widely respected for his success in re-envisioning the nature of Adas Israel, DC’s largest and oldest Conservative synagogue, and has pioneered a national paradigm shift that lifts up innovative modes of study and exploration of meaning as central in synagogue and organizational life. We look forward to benefitting from his passion and leadership.
Get to know Rabbi Steinlauf »
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