Shana Tova – שנה טובה
Wishes for a healthy and sweet 5784!
As we head into 5784, on behalf of the Den staff team, our lay leadership, and our growing community of 20s, 30s and 40s, we wish you and yours a year of health, joy, peace, and ease. Your continued support enables us to do this sacred work, serving young adults in Maryland, Virginia, and DC, as we work to strengthen the future of the Jewish community.
5783 was a BIG year! With a new branding message, a professional video, and over 364 unique attendees to our classes, gatherings, and rabbinic one-to-one meetings, we eagerly look forward to a new year of continued growth and more firsts!
We are excited to share these exciting updates and new initiatives with you:
“the Den Cubs”: New Initiative for Young Families in DC, MD, and NoVA
We recently launched “the Den Cubs”, a new initiative that builds relationships among young parents at the Den. Through the Den Cubs, our team creates organic onramps to local Jewish family-friendly programming throughout the DMV and empowers young families to also create meaningful Jewish experiences for parents to enjoy with their children at home. We launched three groups of “the Den Cubs” in Maryland, Northern Virginia and DC. We’ve already fostered connections between more than 45 young families in just a few short weeks! Together, families through the Den Cubs have arranged to celebrate Shabbat and Holidays together, attend PJ Library Apple Picking for Rosh Hashana, and have made plans to attend Rosh Hashana family services at congregations throughout the DMV, and many for the first time.
the Den Receives a New Disability Inclusion Grant from the JFGW:
The Den was 1 of 16 organizations recently selected to receive a new grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington focused on enhancing accessibility, building organizational capacity for disability inclusion efforts, and creating projects to engage young adults with disabilities in Jewish life.
A Successful Selichot Experiment
Last Saturday night we experimented with our newest creation – a Selichot multi-sensory renewal experience. We gathered for a progressive multi-course dining experience paired with spiritual reflection, prayer, and song. Together, a room full of strangers became co-travelers on a shared introspective journey to prepare for this season of renewal.
Gratitude
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We could not do this sacred work without you. On behalf of the Den’s staff team, lay leaders, and community members, we wish you and yours a healthy, joyous, and peaceful new year.
Shabbat Shalom v’ Shana Tova u’Metukah - Wishes for a Sweet and Healthy New Year,
Rabbi Aderet Drucker, Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow, and Hanna Petersen
Diane L. Schilit + Katie Berland, Board Co-Presidents