The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

09/11/2026

Shanah Tovah from all of us at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington! Wishing our community a year of health, connection, and good things ahead. 🍎🍯

09/11/2026

Today, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington remembers the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001. 25 years later, we stand with the families still carrying that loss, and with the first responders whose courage we will never forget. May their memory be a blessing.

09/10/2026

An apple dipped in honey. A round, golden challah. The foods of Rosh Hashanah carry generations of meaning, and every family deserves to share them.

This Friday night, community members across Greater Washington will welcome the Jewish New Year. The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is proud to support Yad Yehuda of Greater Washington and the Capital Kosher Pantry as they distribute kosher holiday food staples to more than 1,600 members of our community. Because no one should have to worry about affording the table that makes the holiday feel like home.

Read the full story: https://www.shalomdc.org/a-full-table-for-a-sweet-new-year/

📸: Yad Yehuda

09/09/2026

Building a safer community takes all of us.

Join JShield, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington's community security initiative, for a free virtual High Holiday security training on Monday, September 14, at 12:00 PM or 8:00 PM.

You'll learn practical tips to stay aware and respond in an emergency. There are no specific threats to our community at this time, but the High Holidays are a good moment to review your procedures and stay vigilant.

The JShield team wishes you a safe and healthy New Year.

Register here: https://www.shalomdc.org/series/jshield-high-holiday-security-trainings/

09/08/2026

As the High Holidays approach, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has created one place to help you make the season meaningful.

Our High Holiday hub brings together events and services across Greater Washington for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. You'll also find resources to reflect, learn, pray, and celebrate, at home and in community, wherever you are on your Jewish journey.

Explore the hub: https://www.shalomdc.org/news-and-events/community-calendar/holidays-in-greater-washington/

09/04/2026

So proud to see our own Melanie Schaeffer, Associate Director of Northern Virginia Community Outreach, in Washington Jewish Week!

Melanie helps lead our work to support and strengthen Jewish NoVA and lives by one idea: it all starts with relationships.

Read her story:

Entering the University of Delaware, Melanie Schaeffer set out to do something that mattered and made a difference.

09/03/2026

Israel can feel like one of the hardest things to talk about right now, and sometimes people simply don't know who to ask. That's why Federation supports the Community Shlichim program, which brings Israeli emissaries to our community to have personal conversations, host workshops, and teach others about Israel on a personal level.

Over bagels at Washington Hebrew Congregation last month, Hila, one of our Shlichim, sat down with a group of young adults to answer and ask honest questions about Israel, October 7, and identity. The conversation became less about finding the "right" answer and more about understanding one another. As one participant put it, "Dialogue makes me feel less alone in my experience."

Learn more about how our Shlichim can bring Israel to you: https://www.shalomdc.org/what-happens-when-we-keep-talking-about-israel/

09/02/2026

So proud to partner with Moving Traditions on this fellowship. Wishing these 36 teen leaders an incredible year ahead!

09/01/2026

For Hilary Smith Kapner, a lifetime of Jewish commitment began with a single summer at 17, when a scholarship from her local Federation sent her to Israel. People she'd never meet had invested in that moment years before she knew she needed it.

Today, through The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, she's paying it forward. As a mother, she sees legacy not as looking back on a life already lived, but as care for what comes next — the community our children will one day inherit.

Hilary's story is a fitting reminder that a legacy gift can spark a young person's journey and ensure a welcoming community is waiting for anyone who seeks it: https://www.shalomdc.org/turning-gratitude-into-legacy/

08/28/2026

Maternal health isn't something we carry alone. When mothers struggle, whole families and neighborhoods feel the impact.

Join the Jewish Community Foundation on September 1st for a virtual conversation with Dr. Aza Nedhari of Mamatoto Village and Rachel Faulkner of the Foundation's Fund for Women and Girls for a conversation anchored in a simple truth: maternal health is a universal experience, and collective care is everyone’s responsibility.

Register now:

Maternal health isn’t an individualized concern; it’s a community one. When mothers struggle, entire families and neighborhoods feel the impact. Join Dr. Aza Nedhari of Mamatoto and Rachel Faulkner with the Fund for Women and Girls at the Jewish Community Foundation for a conversation anchored i...