Unlike most Orthodox Jewish synagogues, Beth Sholom Congregation in Potomac has provided a women’s tefillah — prayer — group for almost 20 years. The group, which meets once or twice a month on Saturday mornings, offers female congregants the opportunity to read from the Torah in a public prayer service, an act that historically has […] The post Beth Sholom Women’s Tefillah Empowers Orthodox Jewish Women to Lead appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Having studied physiology and killer bees, Robyn Norrbom always saw herself in the science world, never at a synagogue’s preschool. “I thought [science] would be my niche,” she said. Norrbom’s professional journey took an unexpected turn when a neighbor started a preschool; she gave her neighbor the contact information for a potential teacher who could […] The post From Killer Bees to ABCs: Robyn Norrbom the Scientist-Turned-Preschool Director appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Rabbi Jon Cutler This week’s Torah portion is Vayishlach: Genesis 32:4 – 36:43. And thou, do not fear, O My servant Jacob; neither be dismayed, O Israel; for, lo, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return and sit in quiet and ease, and […] The post Love Can Overcome Fear appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Growing up in Washington, D.C., Carey Perloff loved visiting the Smithsonian museums with her father. As a child her what-I-want-to-be-as-a-grown-up job was archeologist. Today, she’s an acclaimed theater director, playwright, author, and educator, who led the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco for more than 25 years. Yet, the idea of digging up artifacts, which […] The post You Can Come Home Again: Theater Director Carey Perloff Connects Her Family History to Award-Winning Play ‘Leopoldstadt’ appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Beth Sholom Congregation in Potomac was the site of an Israeli-style market featuring nearly 40 traveling vendors from Israel on Dec. 5. Part of a series called Shuk to the Core, this special event has made its way to the DMV area for the first time. The Shuk to the Core event was first held […] The post DMV Jewish Community Welcomes 37 Israeli Vendors appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Antisemitism is often subtle. Very few antisemites openly express their Jew hatred. But it’s there. And it often manifests itself through actions and decisions rather than words. With all that we know about rising antisemitic activity and attitudes it should come as no surprise that discrimination against Jews exists in the labor employment market just […] The post Antisemitism Alarm in Labor Market appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

The debate has been going on since the start of the Gaza war. It has nothing to do with military strategy, the draft or military deployments. The debate is focused solely on soldier safety and whether the Israel Defense Forces have been providing troops with appropriate and reliable protective equipment, food and medical supplies. The […] The post Keeping IDF Soldiers Safe appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

As we read about federal elected officials who seek to condition aid to Israel and some who threaten to withhold aid to Israel, it is important to remember that this troubling trend is not a new phenomenon — we have seen this playbook used before. In this month’s installment of “Remember When,” we look back […] The post A Familiar Storyline appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Elected officials discussed rising antisemitism and support for the United States-Israel relationship at the annual northern Virginia “Lox & Legislators” event on Dec. 5. Residents of northern Virginia and the surrounding communities gathered to hear from and meet Virginia elected officials and discuss the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington’s legislative priorities for 2025 […] The post Fighting Antisemitism Is Top of Mind at JCRC’s Annual Virginia Legislative Breakfast appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

“‘We just can’t keep accepting donations,’” Rabbi Uri Topolosky recalled being told by a staff member of the Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park in 2022. Topolosky had collected worn Jewish texts and materials throughout the school year from Berman Hebrew Academy and Kehilat Pardes – The Rock Creek Synagogue, where he works. He had taken […] The post Kehilat Pardes, Berman Hebrew Academy Celebrate Second Genizah Day Partnership With Local Cemetery appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more