WHC Challah Bake
2026-01-20 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, United States
For the first time in nearly a decade, the scent of fresh dough and warm community spirit will fill the halls of Washington Hebrew Congregation! All are invited for an evening that mixes tradition, connection, and a little bit of flour-dusted fun. Each participant will make two loaves, one will head home with you — ready to bake, freeze, or show off proudly on social media. The second will be frozen, later baked at the Temple, and delivered to members who could use a little extra love: individuals recovering from illness or surgery, families who have recently experienced a loss, or those celebrating joyful new beginnings, like the arrival of a baby.
Whether you join us to learn, to laugh, to taste, or to give back, we invite anyone in the greater D.C. area to roll up your sleeves and dough something delightful as part of this joyful community experience. Come for the challah — stay for the warmth it brings.
Cost is $50 for WHC members; $60 for non-members, and includes a WHC Challah Bake apron!

Introduction to Judaism at Temple Rodef Shalom
2026-01-21 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Beginning Wednesday, January 21 at 7:00 PM, Introduction to Judaism offers an 18-week journey into Jewish beliefs, holidays, texts, history, and culture. Ideal for interfaith couples, spiritual seekers, those exploring conversion, and anyone eager to deepen their Jewish learning. Classes meet Wednesday evenings, 7:00–8:30 PM, at Temple Rodef Shalom, led by Rabbi Alexandra Stein and Cantor Allen Leider.
https://templerodefshalom.shulcloud.com/form/introduction-to-judaism-winter-spring-2026.html

CESJDS Board Meeting
2026-01-21 19:30 - 22:00 UTC | Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, 1901 E. Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD, 20852, United States

Temple Emanuel Global Mitzvah Sock Hop Concert
2026-01-22 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | MD
TEMPLE EMANUEL GLOBAL MITZVAH SOCK HOP CONCERT
Saturday February 7, 7-9:30, Temple Emanuel,
101101 Connecticut Ave., Kensington, MD301-942-2000
Featuring The Rock-A-Sonics
Proceeds will support the ongoing program of small grants by the Global Mitzvah project to fight poverty and injustice around the world.
Light snacks, desserts, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included!
Tickets: 1/$25 ; Family/$40
https://temd.shulcloud.com/form/GMSockHop2.0

Navigating Grief and Finding Healing: Understanding Loss in Later Life
2026-01-22 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual, Virtual, Virtual
Join us virtually for the first of four sessions in our Mental Health series in 2026.
Dr. Daniel Burow, clinical director, Sailor Health will lead this workshop to offer older adults a supportive space to explore the experience of grief and loss.
Participants will learn how grief may show up emotionally, physically, and socially, and how it can change over time. The session will normalize grief as a natural part of life, highlight how losses in later life (e.g., loved ones, health, independence, identity) are often cumulative, and provide tools for coping and reconnecting with meaning and community. Through discussion, reflection, and practical strategies, participants will discover healthy ways to cope with loss and live a full life.
1.5 CE credits for social workers

Play Board Games with JUFJ
2026-01-22 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | MD
Nobody should have their housing depend on a lucky roll of the dice. But what would it look like if it did? Join JUFJ’s DC Housing Justice Working Group for a housing-themed board game night at Board Room. We’ll have regular board games, and our very own original JUFJ tenants’ rights board game. Have fun and learn about what it takes to have a safe, affordable home in DC.

The Lessans Family Literary Series: One In Six Million
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Bender JCC of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road,, Rockville, MD, 20852, United States
Join us in honoring International Holocaust Remembrance Day with author Amy Fish, as she shares the gripping true story behind her book, One in Six Million. In 1942, an infant was found alone in war-torn Poland—her only identifiers a name and birthdate. Raised by a loving family but haunted by unanswered questions, Maria spent decades wondering who she truly was.

Comparative Religions Class
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Temple Emanuel, 10101 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD, 20851, United States
Five-session series for anyone high-school aged and older. In-depth exploration of faith traditions that surround us, including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam.
Paul Berman, who has taught comparative religion to Temple Emanuel eighth graders for over 30 years, will serve as leader. Classes will be in person only at Temple Emanuel in Kensington (10101 Connective Avenue) on Thursdays at 7pm 1/22, 2/26, 3/26, 4/23 and 5/28.

D.C. - Navigating Pregnancy Loss and Infertility Through Jewish Wisdom
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
Join the Den Collective Executive Director Rabbi Aderet Drucker, At The Well Founder & CEO Sarah Waxman, and Jewish Fertility Foundation Greater DC Program Manager Shannon Rubin for a gentle evening of listening and tender presence. In this gathering, we will hold community around the pain, hope, and resilience that comes with fertility challenges and pregnancy loss.
Pregnancy loss and infertility are among the most tender, complex experiences many people face, yet they are often carried in silence. Judaism, however, does not turn away from this pain. Our tradition lifts up the stories of Hannah and Sarah, honoring their longing, heartbreak, and resilience, and reminding us that yearning, grief, hope, and healing are all part of a deeply human spiritual journey.
Join us for an evening of compassionate community, gentle ritual, and Jewish wisdom as we create a brave, sacred space for anyone navigating these experiences, either currently or in the past.
Together, we will ground ourselves, learn from sacred stories, reflect in small groups, and explore Jewish healing practices, including the mikvah, a ritual bath for reflection and renewal, as tools for emotional, spiritual, and communal support.
Leave feeling held in deep care, tenderness, and belonging.
* Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the mikvah as a healing practice and may view a mikvah, but will not immerse during the evening.
Who This Gathering Is For:
This evening is designed for anyone who has experienced pregnancy loss, infertility, or related challenges recently or at any point throughout their lives. We welcome people of all identities, backgrounds, and levels of Jewish knowledge.

Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim January Shabbat Dinner
2026-01-23 06:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim, 1840 University Blvd W, Wheaton, MD, United States
1840 University Blvd. W.
Silver Spring, Maryland 20902
(301) 649-3800
info@htaa.org, htaa.org
Friday, January 23, 6:30 PM
$25 per person, children FREE
Join us for a joyful January Shabbat dinner filled with community, connection, and delicious food.

Awakened Heart: A Contemplative Shabbat Morning Experience
2026-01-24 09:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | Location will be shared with registered participants., 8215 Old Georgetown Road, Apt 724, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join Rabbi Aderet for Awakened Heart, a holistic and soulful mindfulness experience that will take us on an individual journey from being present to what is in our hearts to connecting with the community around us. Together, we will foster a space to deepen care for ourselves – mind, body, heart, and soul. Grounding in Torah learning, mindfulness meditation, and sacred chanting, we will move through our soulful and uplifting Shabbat contemplative service together.
No experience necessary. Everyone is welcome. You are invited to dress in comfortable clothing.
the Den Collective serves 20s, 30s, and 40s throughout the Greater Washington Area.

Family Melava Malka
2026-01-24 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | MD
Join Berman Hebrew Academy for a beautiful evening of music and community.

Teddy Bear Story Time
2026-01-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Gesher Jewish Day School, 4800 Mattie Moore Ct., Fairfax, VA, 22030, United States
Join us for a Pajamuary Teddy Bear Story time! Wear your pajamas, bring your favorite stuffy and a set of new pajamas to donate to the community. Enjoy storytime, singing and craft, connect with families with young children and browse Gesher’s Book Fair through the morning from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Simcha Fair
2026-01-25 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Julia Bindeman Suburban Center, 11810 Falls Rd, Potomac, MD, 20854, United States
“Plan your event in one day!”
If you are planning a b’nei mitzvah, wedding, or any other celebratory event, this fair is for you! These fairs feature many of the area’s best vendors for your party, luncheon, dinner, or any other celebratory events. Meet DJs, décor companies, event planners, caterers, photographers & videographers, and more! There will also be raffles offering prizes and discounts.
Complete the registration form at the bottom of this page – there is no cost to attend, and walk-ins are welcome, but we encourage advanced registration, which also entitles you to receive an additional raffle ticket upon arrival.

Family Swim: Float-Off Cardboard Boat Race (Cancelled)
2026-01-25 12:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA, 22031, United States
This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Get ready to build, float, and race in our Noah’s Ark-themed cardboard boat challenge! Families will team up to design, build and decorate their own boats—think animal pairs, rainbows, and more—then race across the pool in a fun-filled celebration of creativity, teamwork, and Jewish storytelling.
All boats must follow construction and safety guidelines. Full rules available upon registration.
Free admission for Members, $20 per family for Non-members – payment received at front desk day-of.

End of Life Issues: Thinking Through the Unthinkable
2026-01-25 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | MD
Join Rabbi Gilah and end-of-life doula Alison Butler for a three-part series exploring both the practical and spiritual dimensions of end-of-life planning. They will walk through key topics, including advance directives, funeral arrangements, burial versus cremation, and creating ethical wills. As well as discuss the Jewish perspectives on the afterlife and how these traditions can offer grounding, guidance, and compassion as we navigate important choices.

“Israel’s Innovative Spirit and the Economic Impact on the State of Maryland”
2026-01-26 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual, Virtual, Virtual
What factors have led to Israel’s remarkable achievements? You’ll hear answers about how a tiny country is disrupting markets around the globe and bringing change to the world. You will learn more about the Economic Impact on the State of Maryland, as well as number of jobs created by the 45+ Israeli Companies in Maryland. To register go to: https://MDIsraelEconomicImpact.eventbrite.com.

Ogen: Anchoring Together Cultivating a Practice of Resilience
2026-01-26 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | MD
“Ogen” is Hebrew for “anchor.”
This six-week workshop is an invitation to cultivate a practice of resilience with insight and connection, anchoring our week with 30 minutes of Jewish wisdoms of self-awareness and emotional precision. Join us on Mondays at 12pm ET from Jan 26-Mar 2. Come when you can. Attend all sessions, or join us for the ones you can.
Taught by beloved SVIVAH educator, Dr. Naama Sadan, Ogen offers a much-needed space to explore resilience through the spiritual teachings of Yemima Avital, renowned feminist psycho/spiritual scholar and educator.

Camp Yavneh Info Sessions
2026-01-26 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Location will be shared with registered participants., 8215 Old Georgetown Road, Apt 724, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join us to learn about Camp Yavneh, meet staff and campers, and discover what makes our camp community so special!
Monday, January 26 – 7 pm, Chevy Chase, MD
Tuesday, January 27 – 6:30 pm, Pikesville, MD
Thursday, January 29 – 6:30 pm, Silver Spring, MD
Address to be provided upon RSVP. A Kosher dairy dinner will be served.

JShield Training: Security as a Culture
2026-01-27 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Chevy Chase, MD*, Chevy Chase, MD*, MD*
This training is being delivered on-site at a local Jewish institution as part of JShield’s community security support.
JShield helps Jewish organizations across the region stay safe, prepared, and resilient customized training sessions build awareness, confidence, and readiness to respond to potential threats. Learn more at shalomdc.org/jshield

Virtual Gathering of Jewish grandparents and grandchildren
2026-01-27 15:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual, Virtual, Virtual
Join the Jewish Grandparents Network’s first global virtual gathering of grandparents with Jewish grandchildren. The program will feature clinical psychologist and social media megastar Dr. Becky Kennedy as the keynote speaker, along with 10 expert-led sessions and small-group meetups around shared interests.
Register by January 19, 2026

NEXUS 2026: Welcome Happy Hour
2026-01-27 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | MD

The Jewish Dating Game
2026-01-27 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
The Jewish Dating Game is leaving New York and heading straight to the capital for a State of the Shidduch! Whether you’ve got the chutzpah to be a contestant or just coming to mingle, this event promises to be an unforgettable night – and you might even meet your beshert among the crowd!

Temple Rodef Shalom January 27 Early Childhood Center Open House
2026-01-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Temple Rodef Shalom’s Early Childhood Center offers joyful, play-based learning for 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, Junior Kindergarten, and Kindergarten, with half-day, extended-day, and full-day options, plus parent-and-child programs. Join us for our ECC Open House on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00 PM to meet our teachers, explore classrooms, and experience our warm, welcoming community. Families who do not attend the Open House may begin enrollment on Wednesday, January 28.
Bonus: Refer a new family and receive $125 off your tuition for each referral. New families enrolling full-day, full-year for the 2026–27 school year receive an $1,800 enrollment discount.
Contact – TRSECC

Enduring Music: Compositions from the Holocaust
2026-01-27 19:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Eisenhower Theater, Washington, DC
To mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Counter Extremism Project’s ARCHER at House 88 presents a landmark concert of works composed in the ghettos and death camps. These works were composed with dignity more than eighty years ago. We play them today in defiance of a resurgent global antisemitism.
This concert will bring classical, folk, and popular music nearly erased by atrocity back into public consciousness through the work of world-renowned composer, conductor, and musicologist Francesco Lotoro. Written on scraps of paper or transcribed from memory, these works stand as a testament to the cultural brilliance almost extinguished by the Holocaust. The program will include world and U.S. premiere performances from Maestro Lotoro’s archive, honoring and bringing to life a repertoire of music that defied evil and endured.
Maestro Francesco Lotoro is an Italian pianist, composer, and conductor who has dedicated over 30 years to collecting, preserving, and performing music composed in concentration camps. Lotoro has painstakingly excavated and cataloged thousands of musical scores, songs, and instruments created by prisoners during the Holocaust, representing a remarkable legacy of resilience and creativity in the face of unimaginable adversity. In recognition of his cultural and historical contributions, Maestro Lotoro has been awarded the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture and Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. His collection includes: Over 10,000 musical scores composed in concentration, extermination, and POW camps between 1933 and 1953; 10,000 documents related to music production in the camps, including microfilms, diaries, musical notebooks, phonographic recordings, and interviews with surviving musicians; 5,000 academic publications, essays on concentrationary music, and musical studies produced in the camps; 400 hours of interviews with survivors and their children. Lotoro’s archive also includes numerous musical instruments that were played and hidden by prisoners in the camps—physical representations of the role music played in sustaining morale and resilience.

The Jewish Dating Game: LGBTJEW!
2026-01-28 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
The Jewish Dating Game presents LGBTJEW in DC: one fabulous night where queer Jews and allies take the mic, take up space, and take each other out for dinner. Whether you’ve got the chutzpah to be a contestant or just coming to mingle, this event promises an unforgettable night where you might even meet your beshert among the crowd!

Donor Appreciation Dinner
2026-01-28 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | MD
This special event is for donors who gave $500 or more to CESLC in 2025. Your meaningful contribution is essential to sustaining compassionate care and life-enriching experiences for CESLC residents and their families.
The evening includes cocktails, dinner, and entertainment.
We are delighted to welcome Jackie Hoffman, actress, comedian and singer, best known for her Emmy nominated role of ‘Mamacita’ from FX’s “Feud: Betty and Joan.” She also was recently seen in Paramount +’s “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” as Assistant Principal McGee, and held a role in Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” She currently enjoys a recurring role in the SAG nominated cast of HULU’s “Only Murders in the Building.”

Charles E. Smith Life Communities Donor Appreciation Dinner
2026-01-28 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | MD
This special event is for donors who gave $500 or more to CESLC in 2025.Your meaningful contribution is essential to sustaining compassionate care and life-enriching experiences for CESLC residents and their families.
The evening includes cocktails, dinner, and entertainment.
We are delighted to haveWe are delighted to have Jackie Hoffman, actress, comedian and singer, best known for her Emmy nominated role of ‘Mamacita’ from FX’s “Feud: Betty and Joan.” She also was recently seen in Paramount +’s “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” as Assistant Principal McGee, and held a role in Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” She currently enjoys a recurring role in the SAG nominated cast of HULU’s “Only Murders in the Building.”

Unreported Story Society Presents OCTOBER 7
2026-01-28 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Terrace Theater, Washington, DC
A historic performance of “October 7: In Their Own Words”, a powerful 100% verbatim play, drawn directly from survivor testimonies of October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Written by Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney, directed by Jeff Gurner and produced by Unreported Story Society, this staged reading presents a story of Israel’s darkest day, but it is also a story of survival, hope and resilience, and fighting back against the forces of darkness.

Echoes of Old New York: The Black-Jewish Musical Connection
2026-01-28 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Webinar, 9915 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg, MD, 20886, United States
Back by popular demand… !
Presented by Saul Lilienstein
Music Historian, Smithsonian Affiliates in D.C., Johns Hopkins University, Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center
Ragtime swept the nation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a moment when two communities, European Jewish immigrants seeking refuge and Black Americans searching for their own cultural sanctuary, intersected. Instinctively, they discovered a music that spoke powerfully to both.
This convergence is reflected in the story of Scott Joplin, the Missouri-born composer who stood at the forefront of the ragtime movement. As a young musician, Joplin studied piano with a Jewish immigrant from Germany and quickly gained early fame. When he later moved to New York, he was embraced by African American musicians and noted Jewish influences woven into their improvisational styles.
In this presentation, Saul Lilienstein will begin with an exploration of Joplin’s story, and then discuss the other musicians who shaped this remarkable fusion, sharing evidence of how these sounds came together to shape a uniquely American music.
