Celebrate Purim in 5777!

Esther scroll / photo courtesy of wikipedia

Purim starts on March 11, a festive holiday of rejoicing, yet again, in the fact that we (the Jews) have survived an attempt at persecution. Though not as noticeable to the outside world as, say, Chanukah, it is definitely as fun—allowing people of all ages to dress up, eat special sweets, and wave noisemakers called groggers as the Megillah (book of Esther) is read out enthusiastically.

…but you don’t have to wait until the 14th of Adar to dress up as your favorite Biblical character, or at least to get down. Enjoy these local offerings of Purim-related festivities leading up to and encompassing this holiday weekend!

Wednesday, March 8
Young Adults Pre-Purim Happy Hour
https://youngleadership.wufoo.com/forms/rzxnq4b09q133o/

The Max Ticktin Annual Latke-Hamentaschen Debate
jconnect

Purim Weekend
Washington Hebrew Congregation’s Purim at the Oscars, Purim Lock-In, Purim Carnival
http://www.whctemple.org/purim

Adas Israel’s The World Upside Down Purim, Purim Pajama Party, Breakfast Reception and Rooftop Party, Sing-Along, Costume Parade and Carnival
http://adasisrael.org/purim/

Tikvat Israel’s Purim Celebration, Nosh ‘n’ Spiel, On the Persian Carpet: A Purim Broadway Revue, Puppet Production Family Celebration
http://tikvatisrael.org/events/purim-services-maariv-megillah/

Friday, March 10
Tot Purim @ Temple Shalom
jconnect

Saturday, March 11
Pride of Purim: A Queer Masquerade
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1601753210?view=Detail&id=153143

Grogger and Glow: A Purim Celebration
https://www.sixthandi.org/event/grogger-glow-purim-celebration/

Bethesda Jewish Congregation’s Purim Spiel: Thank God I’m a Country Jew
http://bethesdajewish.org/event/adult-purim-spiel/

Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim’s Purim Pajama Jam
https://www.htaa.org/event/purim-pajama-jam.html

Sunday, March 12
EDCCJCC Purim Carnival
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1601753210?view=Detail&id=153100

Temple Shalom’s Purim Puppet Show and Carnival
jconnect

Bender JCC Purim Party
http://www.benderjccgw.org/event/purim-party-2/

Adat Shalom’s Purim Palooza
jconnect

PJ Library and various sponsors present sensory friendly Purim celebrations
https://youngleadership.wufoo.com/forms/r1n1dtzs0s44me6/

DC High Holiday Classes 5775!

Apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah/ photo courtesy of Gather the Jews

L’Shanah tova! A new year is again upon us–and my favorite holiday. 😀 If you are looking for tickets to attend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, I suggest this Gather the Jews post and J-Connect.

The local area also offers classes to inform and get you in the spirit! I’ve gathered up a few offerings from Sixth & I and the local Jewish community centers. Please leave others in the comments!

Tuesday Evenings/Wednesday Afternoons
Texts from Last Night,6pm & 12:15 pm, Sixth & I
http://www.sixthandi.org/event/text-last-night/2014-09-02/

Sunday, September 7-Tuesday, September 9
Hebrew Boot Camp, 5, 7 & 7 pm, Sixth & I
http://www.sixthandi.org/event/hebrew-bootcamp/

Sunday, Septmeber 7
High Challah Day Baking, 3 pm, DCJCC
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/577179616?view=Detail&id=145941

Dive Into the New Year, 3:30 pm, JCCGW
http://www.jccgw.org/event/dive-into-the-new-year/

Sunday, September 14
Apple Picking for Rosh Hashanah, 1:30 pm, JCCNV
http://www.jccnv.org/events/2014/09/14/upcoming-events/growing-jewish-families-pj-library-special-event-apple-picking-for-rosh-hashanah/

Top Nosh: High Holiday Edition, 3 pm, DCJCC
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1267546827?view=Detail&id=145121

May you have a sweet new year!

Save a piece of local Jewish culture in Mount Vernon

The 415 M Street mural / photo courtesy of JHSGW

As Jewish American History Month draws to a close, and amidst more distressing news of Jewish communities abroad, I thought this might be a good time to highlight a local effort to save a piece of our religious culture.

The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington has set up a donation page, hoping to raise at least $20,000 to remove and preserve the only known synagogue mural in Washington, DC.

The property at 415 M Street was purchased 100 years ago by the Young Men’s Hebrew Association, an organization, which ultimately grew into the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington. (Full disclosure: I interned two years ago at JHGW, where I organized the archival papers pertaining to local JCCs, starting with YMHA at this address. My favorite artifact was a bound book of brochures and programs from 1918-23).

The property was then sold to the Hebrew Home for the Aged, which now exists as the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, and Orthodox congregation Shomrei Shabbos, which painted the mural 90 years ago. From there, the property belonged to a couple of churches, and will be converted to condominiums later this summer.

As amazing as it is to consider the varied history of this one house, to say nothing of the rest of DC, it would be a shame for this meaningful staple of Jewish presence in DC to be lost. Please do what you can to donate and/or spread the word! In the mean time, check out this short documentary film about the property by former resident Stephanie Slewka.

DC High Holidays Tickets and Classes 5773!

Always on the go? Download smartphone apps that allow you to count down to Rosh Hashanah!/ photo taken by Rachel Mauro

Hello! As usual, if you are looking for tickets to attend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services in the DC area, you might want to check out EntryPoint DC for discounted, young professional tickets and JConnect for synagogues offering tickets to non-members. Enjoy!

Not so sure what all this Jewish New Year hoopla is all about? The local area also offers classes to get you educated and in the spirit! Here are some offerings:

Sunday, September 9

Sweet New Year Challah Baking, JCCGW, 3 pm

The Power of Forgiveness, DCJCC, 3 pm

Sweets for Your New Year, DCJCC, 7 pm

Tuesday, September 11

Healing for the New Year, DCJCC, 7 pm

Wednesday, September 12

If You Have the Apples, We Have the Honey, DCJCC, 8 pm

Thursday, September 13

Take and Bake Honey Cake, DCJCC, 7 pm

Sunday, September 16

You’re the Apple of My Eye, Honey, JCCNV, 10 am

Wednesday, September 19

Yom Kippur: Letting Go, DCJCC, 8 pm

Thursday, September 20

The Mystery of Yizkor: Binding the Living to the Dead, DCJCC, 7 pm

L’shanah tovah and may you have a sweet new year!

Summer Internship at the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington!

Sifting through the Society’s holdings on Jewish Community Centers in Washington, DC / photo taken by Rachel Mauro

Perhaps in tandem with Shavuot (studying old documents? OK, it’s a stretch :P), I’m pleased to check in with the news that I’ll be spending much of my summer at the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, cataloging records spanning 100 years having to do with the Jewish Community Centers in the Washington area. I’m so excited to learn more about the storied histories of the JCC of Greater Washington and the DCJCC!

Beyond archival duties I’ll also be helping out in the Society where I can, including writing entries on their blog. Check out my inaugural post, chronicling a lecture by Interpretive Programs Manager David McKenzie on Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Jewish Community.

And with school cooling off for a little while, I plan to be back here a bit more, too! Stay tuned for new features this summer, and chag sameach!

Upcoming Events: February 6-12

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!

Monday, February 6

Respect DC Coalition
http://www.jufj.org/event/respect_dc_coalition_meeting_3

Labor Seder Planning Meeting
http://www.jufj.org/event/labor_seder_planning_meeting_2

DC Noontime Series with D.C. Office of Planning Director Harriet Tregoning
http://www.jcouncil.org/site/Calendar/1908283572?view=Detail&id=105401

Locally Grown Festival: Hot and Cold
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1549410653?view=Detail&id=131206

Tuesday, February 7

The Honorable Mayor Vincent Gray 2012 State of the District Address at Sixth & I
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=749&dispDt=2/7/2012%207:00:00%20PM

2012 Annapolis Advocacy Day
http://www.jcouncil.org/site/Calendar/1908283572?view=Detail&id=105261

AU: Cleaner, Greener, Better: Israeli Innovation in Greentech
jconnect

Beginner Espanol Winter 2012
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1549410653?view=Detail&id=131601

JSC: Folklore about the Binding of Isaac
https://www.google.com/calendar/event?eid=aHFtZWtjczlnbjQxc21rOTVxdGk4dXBjNDhfMjAxMjAyMDhUMDAwMDAwWiB1bm5sdDIzNDJlMDBxaG40ajNjbjhlYzBpNEBn&ctz=America/New_York&gsessionid=OK

Tuesday, February 7- Wednesday, February 8

Tu B’Shevat in the District; check it out!
https://jewishdc.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/tu-bshevat-around-dc-5772/

Wednesday, February 8

Lilith Salon: What’s in a Hyphen?
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=733&dispDt=2/8/2012%207:00:00%20PM

B’nai Tzedek: The Last Jews of Yemen Exhibit
jconnect

Chabad of Silver Spring: Third Annual Gala Dinner
jconnect

Tifereth Israel: Israeli Movie Night—Beaufort
jconnect

Thursday, February 9

The Shakshuka Master: Top Chef, Israeli Style
http://www.jccgw.org/articlenav.php?id=754

All the Single Ladies Reading
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=727&dispDt=2/9/2012%207:00:00%20PM

Friday, February 10

Sixth in the City Shabbat with Rick Recht
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=728&dispDt=2/10/2012%206:30:00%20PM

Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy: My Grown Up and Me
jconnect

JCCGW: Shabbat Shalom Play Group
jconnect

Ohr Kodesh: Tot Shabbat
jconnect

B’nai Israel: 20s and 30s Shabbat Service and Dinner
jconnect

Saturday, February 11

Our City Film Festival
http://www.jufj.org/event/our_city_film_festival_1

Sunday, February 12

Kemp Mills: Special Needs Event
jconnect

Tifereth Israel: Newish Jewish Inventions—Adaptation and Invention
jconnect

CESJDS Graduation
jconnect

Olam Tikvah: Israel on Campus
jconnect

B’nai Tzedek: Family Game Night
jconnect

Torah School of GW: Chinese Auction
jconnect

Tifereth Israel: Yiddish as a Living Language
jconnect

Locally Grown Festival: The Prostate Dialogues
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/262014463?view=Detail&id=131208

Emery Shelter Visit: February 2012
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/262014463?view=Detail&id=131501

Upcoming Events: January 30-February 5

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!

Monday, January 30

Labor Seder Planning Meeting
http://www.jufj.org/event/labor_seder_planning_meeting_1

ROC-DC Worker’s Rights Protest
http://www.jufj.org/event/join_roc_dc_workers_rights_protest

Tuesday, January 31

Magen David Sephardic Congregation: MK Haim Amsalem speech
jconnect

Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 9

ReelAbilities Disabilities Film Festival
http://greaterdc.reelabilities.org/

Wednesday, February 1

Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day 2012
http://www.jcouncil.org/site/Calendar/1706674880?view=Detail&id=105064

Author Talk: Michelle Delaney and Paul Gardullo
http://www.jufj.org/event/author_talk_national_portrait_gallery_michelle_delaney_and_paul_gardullo

Dylan Ratigan Reading
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=713&dispDt=2/1/2012%207:00:00%20PM

B’nai Tzedek: Hazak Lunch with Imam Faizul Khan
jconnect

J-Fed: Senior Nutrition Review Group
jconnect

North Virginia Hebrew Congregation: The Story of David
jconnect

JSC: Israelis, Arabs and the Arab Spring: Perceptions of the Other
https://www.google.com/calendar/render?eid=anE1YWZqNGMwdG83aHB2cThwbzZ0YXVya29fMjAxMjAyMDJUMDAwMDAwWiB1bm5sdDIzNDJlMDBxaG40ajNjbjhlYzBpNEBn&ctz=America/New_York&pli=1&gsessionid=b6CxlvMjx7oA7fGY9z6g0Q&sf=true&output=xml

JSC: Jewish Voters and the 2012 Election
https://www.google.com/calendar/render?eid=bWd1aHRobTZoaTcwOG9kN2g5MDYzYmZuZGtfMjAxMjAyMDJUMDAwMDAwWiB1bm5sdDIzNDJlMDBxaG40ajNjbjhlYzBpNEBn&ctz=America/New_York&pli=1&sf=true&output=xml

Thursday, February 2

People’s Prayer Breakfast
http://www.jufj.org/event/peoples_prayer_breakfast

JCCGW: Rockville Open House for LGBTQQI Jewish Teens
jconnect

Hunger Action at the 16th Street J
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1114261262?view=Detail&id=131324

Friday, February 3

Four Chaplains Day Commemoration
http://jhsgw.org/programs/

Friday Night Shabbat Service with MesorahDC
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=421&dispDt=2/3/2012%206:30:00%20PM

Beth Ami: Shira Kline in Concert
jconnect

Temple Shalom: Shabbat Family Service and Dinner
jconnect

WHC: Inclusion Awareness Shabbat
jconnect

Adas Israel: L’Dor V’Dor Shabbat
jconnect

YP@AI Shir Delight
https://www.wizevents.com/register/register_add.php?sessid=2407&id=1304

Temple Emanuel: Storah Telling Shabbat
jconnect

Saturday, February 4

Saturday Morning Shabbat Service with MesorahDC
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=422&dispDt=2/4/2012%209:30:00%20AM

B’nai Tzedek: Shabbat Yeladim
jconnect

Tifereth Israel: Family Service
jconnect

Ohr Kodesh: Torah Tots, Interactive Service for Families
jconnect

Temple Emanuel: Pajama Havdalah and Social
jconnect

Kemp Mill/AFI: “Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story” screening
jconnect

Jonathan Bliss, piano
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=662&dispDt=2/4/2012%208:00:00%20PM

GLOE: Electile Dysfunction with the Kinsey Sicks
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1114261262?view=Detail&id=128722

GLOE: You Had Me At Shalom: Jewish LGBT Speed Dating
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1114261262?view=Detail&id=131121

Sunday, February 5

Sixth & I Running Club
http://www.sixthandi.org/EventDetails.aspx?evntID=710&dispDt=2/5/2012%2010:00:00%20AM

WHC: Amram Scholar Series Speaker Professor Jacques Berlinerblau
jconnect

Beth El: Ages and States with Judith Viorst
jconnect