Thanksgiving 2011: Events around Jewish DC

Graphic courtesy of Weavers Free Clip Art

Graphic courtesy of Weaver's Clip Art

It’s that time of year again, when red and brown leaves fall from trees, friends and relatives make plans for road trips or plane rides, and Turkey, rolls and cranberry sauce are suddenly in short supply at the grocery store. Thanksgiving is less than a week away!

Though primarily a family holiday, there’s plenty of ways that the community can come together to commemorate the spirit of this American tradition. Check out what the DC Jewish community is up to!

Wednesday, November 23

A Holiday Meal for the Occupy Washington Movement
New York Ave. Presbyterian Church, 2 pm
Join this interfaith movement to support the Occupy movement and an American holiday.

Everything But the Turkey
DCJCC, 6:30 pm
Hope you got your tickets for this annual DC Jewish tradition to volunteer to make Thanksgiving more homey for those in need!

And an added bonus:

For Thanksgiving books with a Jewish twist, try the Adas Israel library! / photo taken by Rachel Mauro

Gobble, gobble! 😛

Upcoming Events: November 7-13

Shavua Tov! Below, I’ve compiled a list of Jewish events I’ve found to be going on next week. Please feel free to comment with any others, and I will add them. See you around town!

Through Sunday, November 13
JCC of GW Annual Book Festival

Monday, November 7

MTA Open House on Proposed Purple Line Project
http://www.jufj.org/event/mta_open_house_proposed_purple_line_project_0

Justice John Paul Stevens Reading
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=666&dispDt=11/7/2011%207:00:00%20PM

Har Shalom: Harvest of Books Fall Sale
jconnect

WJFF Year Round: 77 Steps
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/722168138?view=Detail&id=129902

Tuesday, November 8

An Overview of Jewish Liturgical Music
http://www.foundjs.org/calendar.php?evntId=597

Jewish Twenties and Thirties Single Seated Speed Dating
http://www.prosinthecity.com/jewishevents.php#DC_10439

Autumn Brews: A Seasonal Tasting with the Beer Activist
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=682&dispDt=11/8/2011%207:00:00%20PM

Israel Night: Evening Exchange with the Experts
http://www.jcouncil.org/site/Calendar/583067551?view=Detail&id=105121

B’nai Tzedek: The Grandparents’ Circle
jconnect

B’nai Tzedek: American Jewish Experience
jconnect

MCCA Benefit 2011
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/722168138?view=Detail&id=129581

Wednesday, November 9

(Un)secure Communities Forum
http://www.jufj.org/event/unsecure_communities_forum

Umberto Eco reading
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=670&dispDt=11/9/2011%207:00:00%20PM

Interfaith Couples
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=459&dispDt=11/9/2011%207:30:00%20PM

Gesher Day School Admissions Open House
jconnect

Fairfax Kollel’s Fall Session
jconnect

JSC: Jewish Cultures Around the Globe: Jews of France
https://www.google.com/calendar/render?eid=c2htOGp2cmFxMWxmM28zbGR2amYwYWN2Y2sgdW5ubHQyMzQyZTAwcWhuNGozY244ZWMwaTRAZw&ctz=America/New_York&pli=1&sf=true&output=xml

Thursday, November 10

Looking into Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
http://www.foundjs.org/calendar.php?evntId=600

MTA Open House on Proposed Purple Line Project
http://www.jufj.org/event/mta_open_house_proposed_purple_line_project_1

Beth El Visits the National Museum of American Jewish History
jconnect

JCCNV: Afternoon Lunch and Talk with Stephen Fried
jconnect

JCCNV: Book Club and Lovers’ Night with Sonia Taitz
jconnect

Special Briefing from The Agudah: Israel’s National LGBT Task Force
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/722168138?view=Detail&id=130045

Discussion of Tent Protests in Israel
http://www.yachad-dc.org/blog/?page_id=7

Friday, November 11

6th in the City Global Hunger Shabbat
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=636&dispDt=11/11/2011%206:30:00%20PM

Temple Emanuel: Tot Shabbat Service and Dinner
jconnect

Tifereth Israel: Carlebach Friday Evening Service and Dinner
jconnect

Theater J: Tea for Two—BEST FRIENDS
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/722168138?view=Detail&id=130101

We the People—Veterans Day
http://www.yachad-dc.org/blog/?page_id=7

Saturday, November 12

JCCNV Fall Fundraising Gala: A Night of the Arts
http://www.jccnv.org/events/2011/11/12/upcoming-events/jccnv-fall-fundraising-gala-a-night-of-the-arts/

HURT Acoustic Performance
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=692&dispDt=11/12/2011%209:00:00%20PM

Bikur Cholim Volunteer Appreciation Annual Dinner
jconnect

Beth El: Club 60 Gala
jconnect

Tifereth Israel: Israel, Egypt and the new Middle East view
jconnect

Sunday, November 13

Not By Power Home Energy Workshop
http://www.jufj.org/event/not_power_home_energy_workshop_ohr_kodesh

Challah Back Volunteer Training
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=689&dispDt=11/13/2011%2011:00:00%20AM

JSSA Hospice and Transitions Volunteer Training
jconnect

Temple Emanuel Brunch and Movie: Into the Arms of Strangers
jconnect

Tifereth Israel: Building Community One Family at a Time
jconnect

WHC: Boys of Steel: Creators of Superman
jconnect

UMD: Conference on Moses Mendelssohn, Jewish Enlightenment and Eastern Religion
jconnect

Politics and Prose: Gershom Gorenberg: The Unmaking of Israel
jconnect

JewishROC: Classic Kabbalah 101
jconnect

Tifereth Israel: Finding Gd on the Bus
jconnect

JSC: Make Your Own Kosher Sushi
https://www.google.com/calendar/render?eid=MWxscjBwNXY5YmxwZTZkYW5yZ2Y5ajc0OHMgdW5ubHQyMzQyZTAwcWhuNGozY244ZWMwaTRAZw&ctz=America/New_York&pli=1&sf=true&output=xml

Authors Out Loud: Joshua Levitt
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/722168138?view=Detail&id=129161

Emery Shelter Visit: November 2011
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/722168138?view=Detail&id=129990

Third Annual Jewish Community Hero Award Features Local Jewish Leaders

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Graphic courtesy of Discovery Education

Who do you know who should be honored as a Jewish communal leader? The Jewish Federations of North America ask this question for a third year with their Jewish Community Heroes project. Individuals were allowed to nominate their mentors until late September. Official public voting wraps up the night of Nov. 10, then a panel of varied judges (including our own Rick Recht!) will choose five finalists from 20 semifinalists in the A small team will choose from 20 semifinalists from professional and volunteers categories. The overall winner will be announced in December.

Now’s your chance to stand up for Jewish heroes in the DC area! Close to home, several inspiring leaders have already been recognized for their contributions to the Jewish world. Learn more about them here, and click on their profile pages for more info!

    • Daniel Ratner, Rockville, Md. AishDC board member and Shabbat hoster.
    • Judy Lowitz, Rockville, Md. Pediatric nurse, community/Israel volunteer, kidney donor.
    • Rabbi Reeve Brenner, Rockville, Md. Founder of Inclusionary Sports for kids with special physical needs.
    • Dr. Erica Brown, Silver Spring, Md. Washington-area adult classes teacher on Jewish subjects.

A hearty mazel tov to all of these amazing leaders…and it’s just the tip of the iceberg here, folks. Check out the full nominees page for much more!

Read years’ past coverage here and here.