Category: Youth & Education

Through a new endowment with the Jewish Community Foundation of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Rhea Schwartz is investing in Jewish summer camp—helping more children experience what shaped her so profoundly. Her support recognizes both the cost for families and the realities camps face in maintaining safe, welcoming facilities.

Jewish Life, Lived Every Day

Rhea Schwartz grew up in a home filled with Jewish life.

Raised in Brooklyn, her childhood was shaped by family, culture, and everyday experience. Yiddish filled the room, spoken by her grandparents, parents, and their friends. “My family wasn’t very religious,” she says, “but we were very Jewish.”

Where Belonging Took Shape

That feeling of belonging took its fullest shape at Jewish summer camp.

For ten summers, camp was where Rhea felt most at home—living in bunks, singing on Friday nights, and forming friendships that would last a lifetime. Several of those summers were spent at a small Jewish camp in the Catskills, owned and operated by her parents and their closest friends. It was an experience that shaped not only her childhood, but her understanding of what Jewish community can be.

The Power of Camp, Long After Summer Ends

Decades later, those connections endure. Long after the camp itself closed, former campers still find each other—organizing reunions, maintaining friendships, and staying connected through an active online community.

“That tells you how powerful camp can be,” Rhea reflects. “It creates Jewish family.”

How Community Is Sustained

After moving to Greater Washington for law school, Rhea became involved in the local Jewish community through the JCC, a place she believed was essential to Jewish life in the nation’s capital. Through that involvement, she came to better understand the broader Jewish communal landscape, including the role Federation plays in strengthening Jewish life across the region.

“I wasn’t raised as a Federation kid,” she says plainly. “But once I understood what Federation does, I wanted to learn more.”

That learning led her to years of involvement on Federation committees, deepening her understanding of communal responsibility. Her own lived experience—especially camp—ultimately shaped how she chose to give back.

Showing Up When It Matters Most

Rhea’s commitment to Jewish life didn’t begin with camp—and it doesn’t end there.

Earlier, in 2017, she and her late husband, Paul Martin Wolff, established the Rhea S. Schwartz and Paul Martin Wolff Emergency Fund through the Jewish Community Foundation of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, designed to ensure resources are available when unbudgeted local or global emergencies arise.

Since 2022, the fund has been activated to respond to urgent needs, including support for Jewish summer camps after fire-related damage and, more recently, assistance to the Capital Jewish Museum following last year’s antisemitic attack.

For Rhea, this kind of readiness reflects the same values she learned early on: that Jewish community means showing up for one another—both in moments of joy and in moments of need.

Ensuring Belonging for Generations to Come

With the Foundation, she found a partner who helped her turn a deeply personal chapter of her life into a lasting commitment, shaped by what mattered most to her: supporting both the children who attend camp and the camps that make those experiences possible.

For Rhea, the impact of camp goes far beyond summer fun.

“It’s like the first time I went to Israel,” she explains. “I remember thinking, I don’t have to be conscious of being Jewish.”

At camp, she says, children experience a rare kind of ease: being fully themselves without explanation. Whether it’s joyfully welcoming Shabbat, forming close friendships, or simply living Jewishly without standing out, camp offers a sense of comfort that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

“Jewish camp removes the element of uncomfortableness,” she says. “You belong.”

Looking Ahead to What Comes Next

When asked whether she considers herself a philanthropist, Rhea hesitates. “Not really,” she says, smiling. “A do-gooder, maybe.”

What matters most to her is what comes next. The idea that children—perhaps for the first time—will experience Jewish summer camp because of her investment is deeply meaningful.

When asked how it would feel to hear stories of children attending Jewish summer camp for the first time because of her support, Rhea doesn’t hesitate. Her face lights up.

“I hope you’ll come back and tell me those stories,” she says. “That would be great.”

For Rhea Schwartz, camp was never just a place. It was where Jewish identity felt natural, joyful, and secure. And now, through her generosity, she’s helping ensure that same sense of belonging is passed on, one summer at a time.

Carrying What Matters Forward

Her story is one example of how Jewish experiences can inspire action that strengthens Jewish life across our region.

Thinking about how your giving can endure for generations?

Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) invites us each year to ask a hard but necessary question: who feels fully welcomed into Jewish communal life and who still encounters barriers, even when our intentions are good?

When values outpace systems

In recent years, our community has begun to confront an uncomfortable truth., While many Jewish organizations deeply value inclusion, good intentions alone are not enough to create access, especially for young adults with disabilities. Inclusion requires skills, systems, and sustained commitment.

Learning what inclusion requires

That realization came into focus in 2023, when we partnered with Matan, a national leader in disability inclusion in Jewish life, to conduct a communitywide assessment. Matan works with Jewish organizations across North America to build the tools and confidence needed to create truly inclusive communities. One finding stood out clearly: Jewish professionals wanted to be inclusive of people with disabilities, particularly young adults, but many did not know how to translate that desire into practice.

That insight became a turning point.

Turning learning into action

In response, we launched the Lieberman Fellowship for Jewish Organizations Serving Young Adults, a yearlong cohort learning experience (2024–2025) led by Matan. The fellowship focused on moving organizations from intention to implementation, helping teams rethink policies, practices, and culture through an inclusion lens. At the conclusion of the learning year, participating organizations, along with one additional congregation, received grants to turn learning into action through concrete inclusion projects.

This JDAIM, we pause to take stock of progress at the projects’ midpoint. What we found was encouraging—not because the work was finished, but because it is becoming more thoughtful, more systematic, and more honest.

What’s changing across our community

Across the region, organizations are shifting away from ad hoc accommodations toward intentional, systems-based approaches to access. Some are redesigning how people request accommodations or improving digital and physical accessibility. Others are investing in staff training, inclusive employment pathways, peer support, or relationship-centered spaces like Shabbat tables and social programming. Again and again, we are seeing that small but deliberate changes—clear communication, accessible tools, sensory supports—can dramatically expand participation and belonging.

That progress has not come without challenges. Many teams underestimated how long it would take to coordinate across departments and partners. Staff transitions and technology limitations slowed timelines. In some cases, organizations intentionally slowed decision-making to ensure solutions would be sustainable and meaningful rather than rushed. These challenges are real, but they also reflect a growing sophistication in how our community understands inclusion: not as a quick fix, but as long-term work that must be built to last.

Inclusion, in action

Each organization is approaching inclusion differently, shaped by its mission, audience, and capacity. Together, these efforts reflect a shared shift toward more intentional and sustainable access.

Inclusive employment and workforce pathways

• Adas Israel is piloting a supported employment program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, envisioning a multi-year pathway to meaningful, paid work and vocational growth.

Accessible spaces, programs, and experiences

• Bender JCC is investing in accessible fitness equipment and assistive listening devices, alongside hosting sensory-friendly cultural programming.
• Edlavitch DCJCC repaired hazardous entryways and launched a visibility campaign highlighting accessibility across programs.

Digital communications access

• GatherDC transformed its community calendar to include accessibility information, mobile usability, and screen-reader tools, changing how thousands of young adults find Jewish experiences.

Peer support, community design, and belonging

• B’nai Israel Congregation is pairing a young adult inclusion peer program with accessible communication training for staff and lay leaders.
• OneTable supported hosts creating intentionally inclusive Shabbat tables, including spaces centered for autistic and Deaf/ASL communities.

Data-informed systems and long-term engagement

• Pozez JCC is building data-informed systems to track and strengthen engagement of neurodiverse young adults over time.

Training, capacity-building, and organizational practice

• Mem Global distributed social inclusion kits, launched accessibility microgrants, and is preparing to hire a Camper Care Director to support emotional and behavioral needs at immersive experiences.
• Sixth & I is preparing comprehensive social inclusion trainings for staff and volunteers serving young adults in less-structured Jewish spaces.
• Temple Rodef Shalom standardized its accommodation request process, shifting from informal responses to clear, transparent, and equitable access systems.

The lesson we’re carrying forward

Perhaps the most important lesson emerging from this work: inclusion is grounded in relationships, strengthened through training, and sustained by systems, not by individuals alone. When access is embedded into how organizations operate, it becomes part of communal life.

Beyond JDAIM

This JDAIM, we are not just raising awareness. We are witnessing growth—imperfect, iterative, and deeply committed. Our community is learning what it truly means to create Jewish spaces where young adults with disabilities are not merely accommodated, but genuinely welcomed, supported, and able to belong.

Ori is 23, and she carries something most adults twice her age still struggle to hold: the responsibility of representing Israel with honesty, heart, and humility—especially to kids. She’s one of 11 community shlichim (Israeli emissaries) bringing Israel to life across Greater Washington through Federation’s Shlichim Program.

Growing up in Moshavat Kinneret, a small community in northern Israel, Ori was surrounded by family, a strong sense of responsibility, and a beloved boxer dog she still misses. Before coming to Greater Washington, Ori spent two summers at a Jewish camp in upstate New York.

Teaching Israel in a Complicated Moment

Now living in Greater Washington, Ori spends her days with children, parents, and educators—teaching Hebrew, leading workshops, and helping our community deepen its connection to Israeli life and culture. But talking about Israel isn’t as simple as it used to be. She says it’s gotten harder in the last few years. Kids are asking deeper questions. There’s no single story to tell.

“I’m not saying Israel is perfect,” she says. “Like anything else, there are things that are good and things that are bad. I want to show them both sides.” Ori doesn’t pretend otherwise. She listens, brings her own questions, and creates space for kids to talk about Israel with curiosity, honesty, and care.

Pride Without Pretending

Ori loves teaching about Israel’s creativity—from everyday inventions to world-changing breakthroughs, like cherry tomatoes. “The best invention,” she says, laughing.

Through Made in Israel, an interactive Hands-on Israel workshop she leads, participants explore the Israeli innovations they’ve heard of and many they haven’t. They learn about the brilliant minds behind these inventions through games and challenges that spark curiosity and pride. Ori’s goal is more than just facts. She shows people that Israel is a place of ideas, impact, and imagination.

Teaching Joy, Too

For Ori, representing Israel isn’t only about navigating complexity—it’s also about sharing joy. She brings Israeli traditions into American Jewish life in ways that feel lasting and personal. “We’re not sitting sad and miserable in Israel—we’re happy,” she says. “We’re living.” That’s what she wants kids to see: that Israel is a home, full of celebration, tradition, and joy.

Ori’s work is part of a larger effort to build people-to-people connection through immersive, everyday experiences. Through Federation’s Shlichim Program, Israeli emissaries like Ori help bring Israel to life in schools, synagogues, JCCs, and more—creating personal, lasting moments of understanding and connection across Greater Washington.

Bringing Community with Her

Ori often talks about the community she grew up in—a kibbutz where kids moved freely, everyone knew each other, and life felt safe and shared. “It’s a very community-like place,” she says. “It’s a safe space… I really, really love it.” That sense of belonging is something she carries with her. And through her teaching, she hopes to help create more of that feeling for the children and families she meets here.

Leaving Something Behind

One of the biggest surprises for Ori has been seeing what Jewish life looks like outside of Israel. She didn’t know what to expect. But she’s found deep relationships, strong communities, and new ways of expressing Jewish identity that continue to shape her own perspective. Ori wants to bring more of Israel into Jewish spaces here, and she hopes the connections she’s made will last long after she leaves.

“I don’t want to just be a shlicha who came and left,” she says. “I want to leave something behind.”

Looking Ahead

When she thinks about the future of Jewish life in the U.S., Ori doesn’t hesitate. She hopes people feel safe being openly Jewish. She hopes for greater unity, more listening, and a community that remains a source of strength, even in uncertain times. Until then, she’s teaching, learning, and building relationships—one day, one conversation at a time.

Continue the Conversation at RE:Israel

Ori’s story reflects the honest, values-driven work of Israel education today—work that feels more urgent than ever. In the wake of October 7, educators, parents, and communal leaders are grappling with big, essential questions:

• How do we teach and talk about Israel with clarity and care?
• How do we support young people in holding complexity without letting go of connection?
• And how do we reframe Israel education for this new era, with tools that are honest, nuanced, and real?

These conversations will take center stage on Tuesday, February 24, at RE:Israel: Reflect. Reframe. Reconnect., a half-day learning experience for educators, communal professionals, lay leaders, and parents seeking thoughtful, practical engagement with Israel education in this moment.

We often think about B’nai Mitzvah as being about the moment when a child gets up, blesses and reads from the Torah, chants haftorah, gives a D’var Torah, and maybe even leads some of the prayers in synagogue. Scenes in film and TV, and perhaps our own experience with family and friends, reinforce the idea that, to become B’nai Mitzvah, this is what one must do. For the parent of a child with learning disabilities or other needs that make following this scenario impossible, marking the milestone might seem inaccessible.

The good news is that, according to Jewish tradition, the only thing that someone has to do to become an adult in the Jewish community is to turn 13 (or, traditionally, 12 for girls). And so, there are many ways to mark this milestone according to the needs of your child.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how change happens. What experiences or events have a unique and significant impact on a person’s life? What are the drivers or enablers that can move a community forward? What is needed to shift a trajectory, to address a problem, or seize an opportunity?

I am thinking about this because we live in a moment when we, as a Jewish people, are facing a series of challenges (and opportunities) as our world changes in significant ways. We therefore need to consider our approach when it comes to our work to build a vibrant Jewish community in the DMV.

For the past many years, we have worked hard to identify new programs or strategies that would bring people in. We have sought ideas from the community and funded a variety of new initiatives. And many of these initiatives have been successful. We have partnered with incredible local agencies and synagogues to create new initiatives and bring ideas to life. This work has been eye-opening and worthwhile.

I also want to explore what it might look like for this next period of Jewish life, if we shift our focus from continuing to source new ideas to scaling the initiatives that we know for certain achieve the objectives we have in mind—the ones that over years of study and observation have proven successful in building connection, identity, and community.

We know that Jewish overnight camp, youth groups, Jewish learning, immersive experiences, especially to Israel, Jewish day schools, and Shabbat dinners all achieve these goals. Moreover, and just as importantly, they are scalable. These may not be the only experiences that have such an impact, but channeling our energy and creativity into each of these six areas could yield tremendous results.

For example, there are currently 3,500 kids in Greater Washington who go to Jewish overnight camp. What impact might we have on the Jewish future if we doubled that number over the next ten years and another 3,500 children and teens experience the joy and community of camp? What if for the next decade, we focus on the proven wins in Jewish life—those things we know to be both high impact and scalable—and bring in many more people to these experiences?

We are currently debating and stress testing these questions internally at Federation and I want to share our thinking with you as part of that process. How does our list of impactful Jewish experiences strike you? Where do you see challenges with our approach? In what ways can the broader community contribute to Jewish engagement?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Through it all, know that our core objective remains the same: working together to build a community where everyone feels they belong, can connect deeply to others and the Jewish people, and inspired to shape our collective future.

More to come.

Families tell us stories of a sunrise tefillah (prayer) that sparks growth, new friendships that feel like home, and a sense of belonging that can’t be taught. And for many, financial support like our One Happy Camper grant is what makes that magic possible.

“One word: HUGE.”

For this two-parent working household, balancing synagogue dues, religious school fees, and the rising costs of Jewish life made camp feel daunting. The help they received made a real difference.

It also made an impression: when their ninth grader recorded a school video about an inspirational moment, they chose sunrise tefillah (prayer) at camp.

“I can teach them all the Torah I want,” the parent said. “But it is camp that inspires my kids.” “If we hadn’t received support, I don’t know if he could have gone.”

“If we hadn’t received support, I don’t know if he could have gone.”

That’s what one parent told us after being unexpectedly fired from their job without severance—a shock that left them searching for employment for months.

In that moment, camp felt completely out of reach.

But with support from Federation, camp, and their synagogue, their son spent a month at Ramah Poconos—a month they described as “pivotal.” He came home more connected to his Jewish identity, more grounded, and surrounded by deep friendships that carried him through a hard year.

The parent is still unemployed and already worried about next summer. But their gratitude is unmistakable: “I am so grateful for the generosity of the Jewish community, and will likely have to count on more support next year.”

“Financial aid is truly transformative.”

For another family, camp would have remained just a dream without support.

For their daughter, a summer at Capital Camps meant:

• her first taste of independence outside of home
• lifelong friendships
• belonging in a Jewish community
• emotional and spiritual growth
• discovering her strengths

As her parent put it: “Financial aid isn’t just a subsidy. It’s an investment in children, families, and the future of the Jewish community.”

“Camp would have been the first thing we had to cut.”

Another family shared that when the husband lost his job due to federal cuts, camp became the first thing they thought they’d have to remove from the budget.

But because of the grant they received, their children still experienced everything camp offers—confidence, leadership skills, connection, and identity-building.

“The support made it possible for our children to find a home within the Jewish community where they feel strongly connected and wish to give back.”

Making Jewish Camp Possible for Every Family

Jewish summer camp gives kids joy, independence, community, and identity.

It’s where friendships form in bunk beds, where confidence grows by the lake, and where Judaism becomes something kids feel proud of, not just something they learn.

And for so many families in our region, financial support is what makes that possible.

Make the magic of Jewish camp possible—whether for your family or another.

Apply for a One Happy Camper grant for up to $1,500 through December 31.

And if you’re in a position to give, your support can help another family send their child to camp. Donate today

One Happy Camper (OHC) is a need-blind first-time incentive grant sponsored by a partnership between Federation and Foundation for Jewish Camp. Federation supports over 220 first time campers attending 30+ camps across the country each year through OHC. Federation has distributed first-time incentive grants through One Happy Camper for over 15 years.

Since 2020, Federation also significantly allocates funds annually to 20+ camps for need-based financial aid scholarships for campers from Greater Washington.

Photo: Capital Camps & Retreat Center

Since August, something beautiful has been unfolding across the DMV: more than 120 families have said “yes” to Jewish connection with a PJ Library get together for young families. Some gathered in sukkot under the stars. Others lit Shabbat candles in costume before heading out to trick-or-treat. Still others braided challah, painted pottery, or welcomed old friends and new faces to celebrate a sweet new year.

Each one made Jewish life feel personal, joyful, and shared.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

No one waited to have the “perfect” house or the “right” Judaica. They just showed up—with apple cake, with s’mores, with grape juice, with laughter. One family, hosting for the first time, built their own sukkah and invited 16 people to fill it. “We’d never done this before,” they said. “But we wanted to create space for others who don’t have the room to build one.”

That’s the kind of ripple effect this program sparks. When one family opens their door, others feel more welcome to do the same.

Little Moments, Big Memories

From Halloween Shabbat to challah-braiding brunches, every event looked a little different. But the feeling was the same: warmth, fun, and connection. A group of moms gathered to paint pottery for Rosh Hashanah. One host filled their table with “everything apple” to celebrate a sweet new year. Another welcomed 31 people across state lines to share in Rosh Hashanah dinner, marveling as kids realized—some for the first time—that everyone in the room was Jewish.

And these memories? They stick. As one parent said, “The party was the best part of the holiday!”

Your Turn to Say Yes

If you’ve been waiting for a sign, let this be it. Light the candles. Bake the kugel. Invite someone new.

These gatherings weren’t fancy. They were real: challah and crafts, backyard sukkahs and break-fast bagels. What made them meaningful wasn’t the setup. It was the people around the table, and the joy of being together.

This kind of connection isn’t limited to holidays or host homes. It’s happening across our community through Federation events, local gatherings, and meaningful moments both big and small. If you’re looking for your next step, the Community Calendar.

And if you’re not yet receiving free Jewish children’s books from PJ Library each month, it’s the perfect time to sign up. Stories are just the beginning.

You don’t need a theme, a guest list, or a perfect table setting. Just start small. When you’re ready, your Jewish community will meet you where you are.

When Olivia Hazlett arrived in DC in 2020, “meeting people” looked like masked walks, outdoor coffees, and improvised Zoom hangouts. So, she started where she could:

“Hey, my friend’s hosting this thing—you should come.”

That simple line became a quiet mantra for how Olivia builds community: through warmth, curiosity, and a low barrier to entry.

It was simple, but it worked. And it mirrors something we now understand across Greater Washington: the desire for connection is high, and people show up when opportunities feel accessible and welcoming.

Today, Olivia is the Senior Mid-Atlantic Community Manager at Mem Global, a Federation partner, supporting 13 Moishe Houses from New Jersey to Charleston. She works closely with roughly 35 residents who rotate through one- to three-year terms, creating programs for their peers. Residents move on, but the relationships stay. “They always have a way to reach out,” she says.

This kind of grassroots leadership is a powerful example of what’s possible through our partnership with Mem Global, investing in the people and relationships that make young adult Jewish life thrive.

Her work aligns with a core truth about Jewish young adult life in our region: belonging grows through genuine relationships and consistent touchpoints, not one-off moments.

Where There’s a Gap, She Sparks Connection

Throughout her life, Olivia has stepped in where Jewish community needs a spark, leading with both initiative and heart

Over the years, Olivia has:

• started a local BBYO chapter because none existed in her area
• hosted two 50-person Jewish matchmaking events through Matchbox
• organized a 60-person ticket block for the Michigan–Maryland football game
• brought 25 people together for Shabbat at her apartment
• and stayed connected with former Moishe House residents well beyond their terms

If an idea brings people together, she’ll turn it into a gathering.

Why Young Adult Jewish Life Needs More Builders

Young adult life doesn’t follow a single script. “Some people are moving cities again, some are getting married, some are starting over. There are so many entry points,” Olivia says.

Her style blends:

• relationship-based engagement
• experience from the Springboard Fellowship
• social innovation training from the University of Pennsylvania
• and her participation in the M² Kehilot Fellowship, exploring how values inform daily practice

The result is a way of building community that reflects what we see across the region: people want to be more involved, and often need someone to lower the barrier to get there.

Rooted in Her Story, Driven to Create

Olivia grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, a small New England town. Her grandparents and extended family were active in anti-discrimination work. Being one of only a few Jewish peers taught her early on: if you want Jewish life, sometimes you have to create it.

That instinct fuels her work today and resonates across our community, where so many young adults are building new roots, new circles, and new expressions of Jewish life.

Bagels, Yoga, and a Life That Stays Connected

Away from work, Olivia fills her days with yoga, movies, new restaurants, time with friends, and—as she’ll tell you—a lifelong love of bagels. She likes having something each day that brings her into community, like planning Shabbat dinner with friends, going to yoga with a neighbor, or just stopping by a local café where she knows someone will say hi. It’s not a job requirement; it’s who she is.

Curious Paths and What Comes Next

At 27, Olivia is excited to keep growing in her career and finding new ways to engage the people around her. If she weren’t doing this work, she imagines she’d be somewhere in the world of travel or experiential education, bringing people together through shared experiences. For now, she’s exactly where she wants to be: helping young adults find their people, their place, and their path into Jewish life—and strengthening the fabric of Jewish Greater Washington along the way.

Stories like Olivia’s remind us that belonging starts with a simple invitation. If you’re ready for yours, our community calendar is full of opportunities to meet new people, show up, and find your place.

It was made possible by a partnership between the Rosh Pina, Mevu’ot Hermon, and Upper Galilee municipalities. But it didn’t happen in isolation. It’s part of something bigger: Homeward/Habaita, an ambitious, multi-partner initiative working to grow and strengthen communities in the Western Negev and Galilee through education.

With a $500,000 grant from our Israel Crisis Relief Allocations, that vision is becoming real.

In its first year alone, Homeward/Habaita:

• Recruited 374 new teachers through the Educators’ Communities project
• Reached 8,874 children and teens in the Western Negev through summer programs
• Supported the launch of 52 new education initiatives by local educators
• Helped 25 rural communities create new social and communal education frameworks
• Benefited more than 36,000 students across 89 communities

Beyond temporary relief, these efforts foster long-term belonging. The kind of connection that makes staying feel possible and coming back feel worth it.

In Ma’ale Yosef, where northern moshavim were hit especially hard by the October 7 attacks, local leaders prioritized education as the first step toward returning home. “The establishment of the education systems within the communities for elementary school children and teens is the first thing we set out to do,” said Tal Ohana, demographic growth project manager for the region.

Natalie Simhon, education department director and president of Moshav Even Menahem, added: “We were disconnected from our homes, disconnected from the ability to be together—and when we create an informal solution, we build a community, we create a sense of belonging.”

This is what your support makes possible: investments in the educators, schools, and programs that hold communities together—especially when everything else feels uncertain.

We’re deeply proud to be in this work with trusted partners in Israel. And we’re grateful to stand with our community here in Greater Washington, who help make all of this happen.

This is just one of the several long-term investments we’re making across Israel. Our growing partnerships with Kinneret Valley Cluster (KVC) and Kibbutz Re’im will help us reach even more communities with this kind of bold, local leadership.

There’s more than one way to slice an apple, bake a challah, or make someone’s day. And there’s definitely more than one way to make a difference.

Every gift to The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington helps someone feel more connected, supported, and seen—whether it’s a teen finding their place in Jewish life, a family getting help in a moment of crisis, or a community strengthened by safety and care.

Curious what your impact looks like?

Explore how your giving shapes Jewish life across Greater Washington:

• Security: Protecting our community and preparing for whatever comes next.
• Northern Virginia: Building connection and Jewish life across the region.
• Teens & Young Adults: Empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders.
• Camp & Education: Sparking lifelong Jewish learning and friendships.

This season, consider the difference you want to make, then choose the giving path that fits you best. Whether it’s online, through appreciated stock, your Donor Advised Fund, or a charitable IRA distribution, your generosity powers real impact across our region and beyond.

Because there’s no single way to build a strong, vibrant Jewish community. It takes all of us.