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Holidays in Greater Washington

A young woman holding a Havdalah candle for a group of children to hold their hands up toward

Shabbat

Unplug, reflect, and welcome rest with resources and ideas for making Shabbat your own—solo or with community.

Learn more about Shabbat:

A group of people sitting at a table for a Passover seder

Purim to Passover

Celebrate courage and freedom with Purim parties, megillah readings, Passover seders, and family resources.

Learn more about Purim and Passover:

A man holding a microphone for a teen reading the Torah

Shavuot & Beyond

Mark the giving of the Torah with learning, late-night gatherings, and hands-on activities for all ages.

Learn more about Shavuot:

A man holding a toddler and a shofar

The High Holidays

Reflect, reconnect, and renew your spirit with community events for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah.

And sweeten the New Year with Sunflower Bakery’s Rosh Hashanah treats—round challahs, honey cakes, and more.

High Holiday Resources

Sukkot: September 25– October 2, 2026

Sh’mini Atzeret & Simchat Torah: October 2–4, 2026

A little boy looking at a menorah sitting by a window

Chanukah & Giving

Light the menorah, share stories, and explore the power of giving through programs and family-friendly celebrations.

Learn more about Chanukah:

Seasonal Observances

These observances reflect the rhythms of the Jewish year, weaving together care for the earth, remembrance, resilience, and celebration of Jewish peoplehood.
Tu B’Shevat

Celebrate the birthday of the trees with rituals and programs that honor nature, sustainability, and renewal—through fruit tastings, outdoor activities, and learning for all ages.

Learn more about Tu B’Shevat:

Lag B’Omer

Mark a joyful pause in the Omer with bonfires, outdoor gatherings, music, and community programs that highlight resilience and connection.

Learn more about Lag B’Omer:

Tisha B’Av

Pause to reflect and remember with readings, learning, and community programs that explore loss, resilience, and the enduring strength of the Jewish people.

Learn more about Tisha B’Av:

Yom HaShoah

Honor the memory of the six million with commemorations, survivor testimony, and educational programs that bear witness and reaffirm our shared responsibility to remember.

Learn more about Yom HaShoah:

Yom HaZikaron

Remember Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism with solemn ceremonies and moments of reflection that honor sacrifice and collective memory.

Learn more about Yom HaZikaron:

Yom Ha’Atzmaut

Celebrate Israel’s independence with music, food, culture, and community gatherings that mark resilience, creativity, and the ongoing story of the Jewish people.

Learn more about Yom Ha’Atzmaut:

Community programs and events for the holidays

  • Stories of Liberation and Freedom: Then and Now

    Specific location and additional details will be shared with registrants after the registration deadline.

    Explore the Passover story—from Egypt to liberation—through ancient and modern texts that grapple with slavery, plagues, and freedom. Join a welcoming learning session to reflect on oppression, resilience, and what liberation means for us today.

    RABBINIC PERSPECTIVES: Why Does God Hate Yeast?

    Zoom Webinar 9915 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg, MD, United States

    This session will explore the issues surrounding one of the central, widely accepted values of Pesach: the prohibition against consuming foods and drinks produced through leavening. While these consumables are most often associated with bread products, they also include items such as beer. The common element is yeast, something humans tend to enjoy and appreciate, but which, in the biblical narrative, is viewed quite differently.

    Free

    AJC’s 34th Annual Ambassadors’ Seder

    Washington, DC* Washington, DC*

    Join the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Washington, D.C. Region for the 34th Annual Ambassadors’ Seder on March 25, 2026, and take a seat at the table with ambassadors, diplomats, U.S. […]

    $250

    Upcounty Tot Shabbat

    Congregation Or Chadash 24800 Kings Valley Road, Damascus, MD, United States

    Celebrate Shabbat with songs, stories, crafts, and tasty treats! Perfect for kids ages 0-6 and their families. Welcome to interfaith families, LGBTQ+ families, and families of every shape and story!

    Free

    18th Annual National Rainbow Seder

    Edlavitch DCJCC 1529 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC, United States

    Join the National Rainbow Seder, one of the nation’s largest and longest-running Passover seders for the queer Jewish community and its allies.

  • WHC Community & 2239 Passover Seder

    Washington Hebrew Congregation 3935 Macomb St, NW, Washington, DC, United States

    Gather with friends, neighbors, and loved ones to celebrate the story of liberation, resilience, and hope at our annual Community Passover Seder!

    $65

    Second Night Passover Seder – Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community

    Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community 1729 Wilmart Street, Rockville, MD, United States

    Join us for a warm, welcoming Second Night Seder that blends tradition, conversation, and community. Together we’ll retell the story of the Exodus through ritual, song, and shared reflection—making space for questions, multiple perspectives, and meaningful connections to our lives today. Whether this is your first seder or your fiftieth, all are welcome at the table.

    $15

    Second Night Passover Seder at Kol Ami

    Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington 4444 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA, United States

    Celebrate Passover in community at Kol Ami Second Night Seder, led by Rabbi Bruce Aft and Ari Jacobson.

    $12 – $36