DC Chanukah Happenings 5779!

Chanukah Menorah/ photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The winter holidays are upon us, and Chanukah is on the early side this year! The holiday begins on the evening of December 2 and it lasts until December 9. It’s almost time to fry those latkes and kindle the menorah lights! Check out these local events happening around town, and feel free to add more in the comments. Chag Sameach!

Wednesday, November 28
Hipster Hanukkah Holiday Market
Etsy in real life, plus other fun things!
6:30 pm, Foundry United Methodist Church

Sunday, December 2
Celebrate Chanukah with Makers Day at the J
Children’s crafting event for the holiday!
10 am, Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia

Make Room for the Latkes 2018
Family fun event with a focus on interfaith families!
10:30 am, Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital

Chanukah at the Ellipse
American Friends of Lubavitch starts off the holiday season with this annual ceremony on the White House lawn.
4 pm, The Ellipse

Monday, December 3
Family Chanukah Party
Candle lighting, holiday food, story time and crafts!
5:30 pm, Bender JCC

Wednesday, December 5
Light up the Night! Community Menorah Lighting
Light candles, sing songs, enjoy entertainment!
5:30 pm, Mosaic District

Hanukkah Happy Hour (Off) the Hill: Time Hop Edition
Annual young adult soiree with an ‘80s/’90s theme, drinks, food specials and surprises. Plus a clothing drive!
6 pm, Decades

My So-Called Jewish Life
Not entirely Chanukah-related, but the 10th annual presentation of autobiographical stories from Story District.
7:30 pm, Sixth & I

Thursday, December 6
Oh Gaydel, Oh Gaydel!
Celebrate the holiday with the LGBTQ Jewish community!
6 pm, Pitchers DC

Sunday, December 9
Hadar: Beyond the Chanukkiah
Morning workshops on various aspects of Jewish education around the holiday.
10 am, the Broadmoor

Sunday, December 16
Zemer Chai Holiday Concert
According to their website, this festival of lights will be filled with songs of justice, compassion and freedom of religion
6 pm, Kennedy Center

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DC High Holidays Classes and Events 5779

Apple picking is a common tradition around Rosh Hashanah / image courtesy of GetDrawings.com

L’shanah tova! A new year will be upon us in under a month—and with that, my favorite holiday. 😀 Bring on the apples and honey!

For tickets, Jconnect has in depth detail concerning fees, schedules and more for DC and area MD and VA synagogues. Gather DC focuses more specifically on young adults, and has links to services and other activities to help this cohort connect.

Washington also offers classes and events to inform you and get you in the spirit of high holidays! I’ve gathered up a few offerings from Sixth & I and the Edlavitch DCJCC, JCCNV, the Bender JCC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Lots of apple pickings this year. 😛 Please leave others in the comments!

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Wednesday, September 5 and Wednesday, September 12
Hit Refresh: Preparing for the High Holidays, 7 pm, Sixth & I
https://www.sixthandi.org/event/hit-refresh-preparing-for-the-high-holidays/

Sunday, September 9
A Taste of Apples and Honey: Community Apple Picking, 2:30 pm, JCCNV
https://www.jccnv.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&category=Adults&refno=188636
Days of Awe-some: Exploring Rosh Hashanah, 4 pm, EDCJCC
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/625270278?view=Detail&id=154662

Wednesday, September 12
Rosh Hashanah Pick ‘n Picnic, 10:30 am, Bender JCC
https://www.benderjccgw.org/event/pick-n-picnic/

Thursday, September 13
Cheers to a Sweet New Year with Young Leadership Donors, 6:30 pm, JFGW
https://www.shalomdc.org/event/ylgivingthankyouevent/
The Unkosher Comedy Tour: Confessions, 7 pm, EDCJCC
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar?id=154677&view=Detail

Sunday, September 16
Pick with PJ: Apple Picking Event, 10 am, JFGW
https://www.shalomdc.org/event/pickwithpj/

DC High Holiday Classes and Events 5778

Apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah/ image courtesy of wikipedia

L’shanah tova! A new year will be upon us in under a month—and with that, my favorite holiday. 😀 Bring on the apples and honey!

For tickets, J-Connect has in depth detail concerning fees, schedules and more for DC and area MD and VA synagogues. Gather DC focuses more specifically on young adults, and has links to services and other activities to help this cohort connect.

Washington also offers classes and events to inform you and get you in the spirit of high holidays! I’ve gathered up a few offerings from Sixth & I and the Edlavitch DCJCC, JCCNV and the Bender JCC. Please leave others in the comments!

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Wednesday, September 6
The Beauty of Sephardic High Holidays, 7:30 pm, Sixth & I
https://www.sixthandi.org/event/16737/

Thursday, September 7 and 14
Ten Steps Toward Teshuvah, 7:45 pm, Sixth & I
https://www.sixthandi.org/event/ten-steps-toward-teshuva/

Sunday, September 10
Repentance, Forgiveness, Personal Change: Entering the Days of Awe with Mechon Hadar, 2 pm, EDCJCC
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1163557695?view=Detail&id=153547

Sunday, September 10
Fall into the Holidays, 2 pm, JCCNV
http://www.jccnv.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&category=Upcoming%20Events&refno=187939

Monday, September 11
Go Creative for the Jewish New Year!, 2 pm, JCCNV
http://www.jccnv.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&category=Adults&refno=187988

Tuesday, September 12
High Holiday Sampler featuring Joan Nathan and her new cookbook, King Solomon’s Table, 7 pm, Bender JCC.
http://www.benderjccgw.org/event/high-holiday-sampler/

Wednesday, September 13 and 27
Take on Yom Kippur, 6 pm, Sixth & I
https://www.sixthandi.org/event/take-yom-kippur/

Sunday, September 17
Community Apple Picking, 1 pm, JCCNV
http://www.jccnv.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&category=Upcoming%20Events&refno=187945

Wednesday, September 20 (Erev Rosh Hashanah)
Day of Awe-Some: Exploring Rosh Hashanah, 4 pm, EDCJCC
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/1163557695?view=Detail&id=153548

Thursday, September 21 (Rosh Hashanah)
Apples and Honeys, 10 am, Bender JCC
http://www.benderjccgw.org/event/apples-honeys/

Sunday, September 24
Apples for Everyone, 11 am, EDCJCC
http://thejdc.convio.net/site/Calendar/932959594?view=Detail&id=153551

Saturday, September 30 (Yom Kippur)
I am Sorry Day, 10 am, Bender JCC
http://www.benderjccgw.org/event/im-sorry-day/

May you have a sweet new year!

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!