Tag: federation programs

My family and I purchased an electric menorah to use this Chanukah. We’ll be employing our beloved wax-adorned menorahs too, of course, but this way we can place the electric one in the window without setting the curtains on fire. I already feel good about it. Instead of worrying about what hazards might befall us, we can display our menorah with pride the way Chanukah tradition encourages us to do.

Even if you choose not to display your menorah publicly, the holiday offers a timely opportunity to reconnect with what it means to take up space in this world and use our agency for good. At a time when we are having to defend our place in society, Chanukah offers us the chance to stand proudly as Jews as we work to illuminate a brighter future for ourselves and all communities—skills we are going to need in the year ahead.

Our hypothesis at Federation is this: the more we can help individuals connect with their Jewish identities, be part of strengthening their communities, and come together to address crucial needs, the better off those individuals, the Jewish people, and the world will be. In growing Jewish life, we sustain ourselves and the world around us.

We therefore strive to take the messy, ambiguous work of community building and infuse it with strategy, resources, and meaningful connections. You could think of us as a communal windowpane, helping to refract light inward, outward, and onward.

With all this in mind, I want to invite you to make the most of this Chanukah and give to Federation. We have just a few weeks left in our Annual Campaign, and we need as much metaphorical light and literal funds as we can get. It’s clear 2026 will be a consequential year for the American Jewish community and we want to be ready.

For all the challenges, I feel incredibly privileged to help shape and shepherd Jewish life through this chapter. I know many of you feel the same. I remain eternally grateful for your partnership and wish you joy, warmth, and an abundance of inspiration this Chanukah season.

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

On their first Shabbat in DC earlier this fall, 13 young adults gathered in Rock Creek Park not just to meet each other, but to ground themselves in purpose. Under the trees, they sang Hashkiveinu together in a ritual led by Rabbi Gita Karasov, an alumna who once stood where they now sit.

That moment marked the start of a year that will challenge, stretch, and shape them as individuals and as leaders.

These 2025–26 Corps Members are part of Avodah, a Federation partner that places young Jewish changemakers in a year of immersive service. They live together in the DC bayit (house), explore Jewish pluralism in daily life, and serve at local nonprofits including Bread for the City, Jews United for Justice, and Higher Achievement.

Their orientation alone included a walking tour of U Street to learn about the legacy of Black Broadway and a deep dive into disability justice with Rabbi Lauren Tuchman. More than just training, it was a week of becoming rooted into community, justice, and Jewish values.

We believe Jewish leadership must reflect the urgency, diversity, and moral clarity this moment demands. Through your support, we’re helping these young adults lead with purpose, live their values, and build something bigger than themselves—right here in Greater Washington.

This is what happens when generosity meets action. Together, we’re shaping a Jewish future built on justice, belonging, and bold leadership.

In a time when conversations often feel like battlegrounds, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is charting a different course: creating space for humility, respect, and the quiet power of listening.

The Community Leadership Council (CLC)—a group of 100+ community builders from across Greater Washington—is at the heart of that shift. And now they’re launching a bold Listening Campaign. The goal? Not to agree on everything. But to understand each other more fully and build real trust, even when we don’t land in the same place.

Who’s in the room

The CLC isn’t just another leadership committee. It’s part of a new model for how Jewish Greater Washington shows up, listens in, and makes decisions together.

Its members span more than 100 organizations: synagogues, schools, service agencies, and grassroots groups. They come from different generations, professions, political beliefs, and religious identities. Some are longtime Federation partners, others are new to this work.

They were brought together to reflect a broader range of voices. And now, they’re listening—with purpose and intention—not just as individuals, but as a new kind of leadership collective committed to understanding and learning together.

By design, CLC members wear two hats: the “community member” hat, representing their own lived experiences, and the “community leader” hat, bringing in and analyzing the voices of an even wider circle. The goal? To surface critical issues and insights that Federation and other organizations can address in the years ahead.

Listening is harder than it sounds

Most of us think we’re pretty good listeners. We nod, we wait our turn, we make eye contact. But real listening—the kind that helps people feel heard and seen—is a lot trickier than it looks.

And when the topic touches on deeply held values—identity, politics, Israel—it’s even harder to stay open. But that’s exactly when it matters most.

That kind of listening takes more than good intentions. It’s a skill, one that can be practiced, honed, and strengthened over time.

Practicing the hard stuff

That’s what CLC members set out to do this fall by joining workshops with two organizations that specialize in the art of tough conversations: Resetting the Table and For the Sake of Argument.

These weren’t lectures—they were labs.

• Resetting the Table’s Speaking Across Conflict training focused on real tools for navigating charged conversations, especially around Israel and the current political climate in the U.S.
• For the Sake of Argument used a curriculum built on stories designed to provoke disagreement—on issues central to Israel and Jewish life—then helped participants stay curious, reflective, and in relationship.

For many, the most eye-opening lesson wasn’t just how to listen. It was realizing how much difference exists even among people who think they’re aligned.

When it gets real

“One of the most surprising takeaways was how much difference there is even among people who think they’re on the same page,” said one participant. “It reminded me how important it is to keep asking, not assuming.”

Another brought the experience home. At a recent Shabbat dinner, when the conversation got tense, she didn’t change the subject or shut it down. She stayed curious. She listened. And the conversation stayed open.

As Lisa Silver-Kopit put it: “In such a charged moment, it’s a relief to have tools that help us talk and listen with respect. These skills don’t make disagreement go away, but they make it possible to stay in relationship even when we see things differently.”

What’s next and how you can be part of it

Between now and the end of February, the CLC is hosting listening gatherings across Greater Washington.

These aren’t forums or focus groups. They’re small, meaningful conversations about what matters to you. What’s working. What’s missing. What makes you feel connected—or left out. What kind of Jewish community you want to build next.

And the insights shared won’t disappear into a spreadsheet. They’ll directly inform how Federation—and our entire ecosystem of Jewish life—moves forward.

Want in? Interested in joining a listening group or bringing a few people together to host your own? Let us know!

We’re building something new together. A more open, connected, and resilient Jewish Greater Washington. That can’t happen from the top down or from behind a podium.

It starts with listening. And it starts with you.

As Marla Schulman, Chair of the 2025-2026 Inaugural Community Leadership Council put it:

“This campaign is about discovering the community we all want to build together. When we really listen to each other, we learn that we don’t have to agree on everything to care about each other. And we find the common ground to move us forward. That’s where real connection begins.”

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.

Big news: Sarah Klein, our Senior Director of FRD (Financial Resource Development), has been selected for Cohort III of JFNA’s Executive Accelerator, a national leadership program for the Federation system’s most promising senior professionals.

If you’ve worked with Sarah, you already know what makes her extraordinary. She builds relationships with heart and hustle. She leads with integrity, warmth, and a clear sense of purpose. And she brings deep experience and fresh thinking to everything she does.

This next step for Sarah is about all of us. Through this yearlong program, she’ll gain new tools, fresh perspectives, and a powerful peer network that will help move our work—and our community—forward. And with Federation supervisors and leaders actively engaged in the learning process too, we’re making sure that growth gets embedded across our team.

We’re super-proud to see Sarah recognized, and excited about what this opportunity makes possible for our Federation and our collective future.

Many have asked how they can celebrate this milestone. If you’d like to honor Sarah’s leadership, you can make a tribute gift in her name.

As Family Engagement and Community Partnerships Director at the Pozez JCC, Amy Lummer is quietly (and brilliantly) weaving Jewish life across Northern Virginia—one connection at a time.

“There’s always someone here to catch you if you fall.”

Raised in rural West Virginia, Amy Lummer grew up with a deep sense of mutual care and connection. Now, she brings those values to Jewish Northern Virginia—making sure families feel seen, welcomed, and supported.

Why Here?

Northern Virginia is one of the fastest-growing and most geographically spread Jewish regions in Greater Washington. With families spread across suburbs and cities, Jewish life here can feel fragmented. Turning those fragments into something connected takes intention—and people like Amy.

A Web of Connection

“We are a spiderweb, and whenever you strengthen any one point, the whole web gets stronger.”

Amy coordinates community partnerships, runs the Growing Jewish Families Program, and keeps a running spreadsheet of everything from kosher caterers to coffee shop meetups.

It’s not just about programs; it’s about people. And Amy equips them to create meaningful Jewish experiences for themselves and others.

Bridging Culture, Faith, and Family

Amy’s family has lived in West Virginia for generations, tracing their roots back to Alsace-Lorraine in the 1600s and settling in Appalachia by 1749. The deep community ties and cultural pride she grew up with continue to inform how she builds Jewish life today.

“Judaism and Appalachia both teach that someone is there to catch you if you fall.”

Her kids, now 12 and 15, describe her work like this: One of them says, “She talks to people.” The other adds, “She runs Jewish programs—and makes me volunteer.” Amy laughs, but she’s also serious:

“I want them to grow up knowing that community isn’t something you consume—it’s something you help create.”

She also dreams bigger: a future where every Jewish institution sees one another as partners, not competitors.

“I see a future where no one claims, ‘We can’t do that, they’re our competition.’ We’re one community.”

From Budgets to Bagels

Ten years ago, Amy was a federal budget analyst. After her second child was born, she reassessed her path. She left her job, enrolled her daughter in a part-time Jewish preschool, and when a wave of flu hit the staff, the director asked her to fill in. She agreed—baby in tow—and discovered how much she loved it. That one-off moment led to a master’s in education, years in Jewish early childhood programming, and ultimately, a full-time mission.

“Now I’m building the world I want to see—in a place that supports that.”

Building Belonging, One Moment at a Time

Amy wanted her kids to have a strong Jewish foundation. She started by building community for them. Now, she does it for everyone.

“When someone opens a Growing Jewish Families newsletter, even that shows a desire for connection. And that’s where community starts.”

When her daughter switched from Jewish day school to a large public high school, Amy watched something powerful unfold: her daughter used the skills she’d grown up with—the ability to recognize and connect with others—to find her one Jewish friend in a sea of students.

“She overheard a name that sounded familiar enough to take a chance. Now they walk home from school together.”

That one shared walk home felt like proof: her daughter had what she’d need to find her people.

What Community Looks Like

Amy’s version of success isn’t flashy. It’s made up of human moments that spark something lasting:

• Fresh kosher challah waiting at school pickup
• A mezuzah placed low—so kids can touch it, people who use wheelchairs can reach it, and the braille can be read by all
• Two parents who met at a PJ Library event and grabbed coffee after
• “That’s the kind of success I’m chasing.”

(And yes, she counts coffee dates as wins.)

More Than a Job

When she’s not coordinating programs or connecting families, Amy’s likely curled up with a fantasy novel (happy endings only), testing a new recipe, or recreating heirloom favorites from scratch. She cooks the way she builds community: generously and with heart.

“Feeding people is my love language.”

The Work of Belonging

Amy’s work reflects Federation’s larger commitment: that every Jew in Greater Washington should have access to connection, belonging, and community.

In Northern Virginia, connection doesn’t just happen—it’s built, moment by moment—by people like Amy.

“Nobody needs to be alone.”

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.

As 2025 winds down, many of us are thinking about the difference we want to make—and how to give in ways that matter most. With changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) taking effect on January 1, 2026, now is the time to plan ahead. New charitable deduction limits—including a 0.5% adjusted gross income (AGI) floor and reduced itemized benefits—may affect giving strategies in 2026 and beyond. That makes this year an important opportunity for strategic giving.

Below are five tax-smart strategies to consider as you make your year-end gift—whether you’re supporting The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, shaping your long-term philanthropic goals through the Jewish Community Foundation, or both.

1. Give Online

Give online for the fastest and most convenient option. Web-based platforms make strengthening Jewish life across Greater Washington simple, safe, and accessible.

2. Donate Appreciated Stock

Donating appreciated stock allows you to save on capital-gains taxes and receive a charitable deduction for the fair-market value of assets held more than one year. Your gift powers the programs and partnerships that keep Jewish Greater Washington strong.

Tip: Initiate stock transfers by Monday, December 15 to ensure a 2025 tax credit.

3. Create or Add to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

Open or add to your fund using cash, securities, or complex assets such as business interests or real estate. You’ll receive a charitable deduction now, your fund can grow tax-free, and you’ll have the flexibility to recommend grants when you’re ready. A DAF can also streamline your giving and engage your family in meaningful philanthropy.

Many donors are choosing to contribute up to $108,000 to their DAFs in 2025 to maximize deductibility before 2026’s new limits take effect.

Example: If you plan to give $36,000 annually over the next three years, “bunching” that total into a single $108,000 gift before December 31, 2025 may allow you to take full advantage of today’s deduction rules—versus a reduced benefit spread across multiple years under the new law.

If you already have a DAF, recommending a grant to Federation’s Annual Campaign by December 31 is one of the quickest ways to make an immediate impact.

If you don’t have a DAF, you can still make your year-end gift directly online, through appreciated assets, or by choosing the strategy that best aligns with your goals. And if you’re thinking ahead, opening a DAF is an option you can explore anytime.

4. Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from Your IRA

If you are 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $108,000 directly from your IRA to Federation or the Foundation—tax-free.

A QCD

• Counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
• May reduce your adjusted gross income
• Remains beneficial even if you don’t itemize deductions

QCDs must be received by December 31 to count for 2025.

Example: A donor who makes a $108,000 QCD before year-end may reduce both their taxable income and future RMDs, while supporting Jewish community needs today.

5. Donate Appreciated Real Estate or Other Complex Assets

A gift of appreciated real estate or other complex assets allows you to avoid capital-gains tax and receive a charitable deduction based on the property’s fair-market value (with a qualified appraisal). You may give all or part of a property while retaining lifetime use and build a lasting legacy for Jewish Greater Washington.

We’re Here to Help

Our Federation and Foundation teams can help you identify the giving strategy that aligns with your goals and values before year-end. We encourage you to consult with your professional advisors to determine how these strategies apply to your individual situation.

If you’d like to understand more about how the new 2026 deduction rules work—including the 0.5% floor and the new ceiling for itemized deductions—you can find a full explanation here.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Jewish Community Foundation do not provide legal, financial, or tax advice.