It takes a village to raise a child. For Jewish families, that village often takes shape through a vibrant Jewish community with places to celebrate holidays, meet other parents, and help children grow up surrounded by Jewish life.
For many parents, a sense of community begins to take shape in the early years—through the families they meet, the events they schlep their kids to, and the people who share those early milestones.
As part of its commitment to strengthening Jewish life across the region, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington works with partners throughout the DMV to help make these connections possible.
“Some of the first ways families connect to Jewish community happen during the early years,” said Dinah Zeltser, Associate Director of Community Impact, who leads the Families with Young Children work at Federation. “Sometimes it starts with something as simple as a PJ Library book arriving in the mail, a parent bringing their little one to Tot Shabbat for the first time, or a holiday gathering where parents suddenly realize they’re not the only ones trying to figure it all out.”
One way Federation supports these connections is by investing in programs and partnerships that help families engage with Jewish life from the earliest years.
Through a new funding opportunity, Federation is inviting local organizations to create more programs for children ages 0–8 and their parents, strengthening early connections to Jewish life and community.
Programs may include family-centered holiday celebrations, parent gatherings, community programs that bring families together, or other experiences that help parents connect with one another and feel part of a Jewish community.
Federation welcomes both proven programs ready to grow, and new ideas that explore creative ways to engage families during these formative years.
“Early connections matter,” Zeltser said. “When families feel welcomed and supported early on, it can shape how they experience Jewish life for years to come.”
By investing in programs that reach families early, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington aims to expand opportunities for parents and children across Greater Washington to connect with Jewish community and with one another.
Organizations interested in applying can review the full Request for Proposals below. Applications are due April 15, 2026, with funded programs beginning in August 2026.
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.
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.
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.
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!”
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.
