Leo & Anna Smilow Center for Jewish Living and Learning
Connect with Jewish life and culture your way through innovative and inclusive programs exploring modern life, social justice, culture, and more.
Upcoming Events
Learning in partnership is a Jewish tradition spanning back to the times of the Mishnaic scholars in the 1st century CE. It was highly encouraged that one learn Torah with a chevruta or peer and not only with a teacher. By debating and struggling with text alongside a peer, chevruta pairs are able to come to a totally new understanding of the text that neither person could have achieved on their own.
Fill out our carefully curated online chevruta matching survey to be paired with a partner matched based on your interests and background in studying Torah. You and your learning partner will gain access to Project Zug, an online learning platform from Hadar, and begin a 10-week session of learning Jewish text together based on social justice and Jewish values in text.
All participants in the EDCJCC chevruta program will begin the 10-week session with a kick-off event on Zoom on November 2nd, and we will close together on January 11th. You and your chevruta will choose your own weekly meeting time and method though we’ll give some guidance and suggestions.
Sign up now to get matched with your perfect partner to begin your learning journey!
Registration closes October 29th
The Edlavitch DCJCC presents a bagtastic and exciting opportunity to learn about Jewish customs and holidays through arts & crafts, stories, and discussions. When you sign up you will receive a Jewish themed arts & crafts activities to work on independently with your kid(s). A few days later we will get together over zoom and share our creative crafts, read a story, and learn cool facts about the Jewish topic.
This program is perfect for children 3+ years old.
Important Dates:
Sign up deadline: Wednesday, November 4
Pick up your bag at the EDCJCC between 12:15 and 12:45PM: Friday, November 6
Zoom accompaniment program: Thursday, November 12 @ 4 PM
This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC and funded by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and The United Jewish Endowment Fund.
Join the Manager of Jewish Life & Learning, Amanda Herring, to learn about each month of the Hebrew calendar on Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the new month.
During this unprecedented time when our regular schedules and ways of marking time have been disrupted, it is more important than ever to be in touch with the calendar and its wisdom. Dive into the themes of each lunar month, learn how they helped our ancestors track time agriculturally, and keep hold of important events in the Jewish people’s history.
We will take time to relate the month’s themes to our own lives in small groups, focusing on individual wellness during this stressful time. Participants will leave with tools to tackle the month ahead with purpose and the ability to plan for what’s to come.
Monday, November 16, Kislev
Tuesday, December 15, Tevet
Join the Manager of Jewish Life & Learning, Amanda Herring, to learn about each month of the Hebrew calendar on Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the new month.
During this unprecedented time when our regular schedules and ways of marking time have been disrupted, it is more important than ever to be in touch with the calendar and its wisdom. Dive into the themes of each lunar month, learn how they helped our ancestors track time agriculturally, and keep hold of important events in the Jewish people’s history.
We will take time to relate the month’s themes to our own lives in small groups, focusing on individual wellness during this stressful time. Participants will leave with tools to tackle the month ahead with purpose and the ability to plan for what’s to come.
Tuesday, December 15, Tevet
The Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.