the Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility
The Edlavitch DCJCC’s Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility (MCCSR) offers both hands-on volunteer opportunities as well as learning about systemic inequality in our communities. At the core of our work is Judaism’s sacred mandate to create justice and repair the world.
Our volunteer opportunities are designed to be family-friendly, flexible, and accessible whether you can commit one hour a month or a few hours a week. We offer our volunteers the opportunity to build lasting relationships with agencies and clients over the span of years, or volunteer once and try a different project the next time. Come by yourself, with a friend, or bring a group of colleagues!
In order to affect true change, we must also correct the systemic injustices prevalent in many sectors of our society, so come learn with us about the root causes of inequality and how to bring about change on a systemic level. We focus on topics including racial equity, affordable housing, food security, climate justice, immigration and refugees, and many other topics.
While we are neither a social service agency nor an advocacy organization, we hope to empower you and provide you with the tools to go out and make our city a more just, inclusive, and livable place for all.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities and Events
WHAT: Join the Edlavitch DCJCC for a second season of maintaining an urban garden for our friends at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC)! Our garden brings fresh herbs and vegetables to youth at the LAYC Drop-in Center throughout the summer.
You do not have to have any gardening experience – just the desire to get your hands in the dirt and help grow some plants! Come down at the end of a long day to relax, unwind, get closer to Mother Nature, and make some friends.
Children of all ages are welcome but must be supervised closely by an adult. Children over the age of 16 can attend on their own.
WHEN: Volunteer days will occur every other Wednesday from 6:00 – 7:00 PM starting with Wednesday, April 27. After you register, you will receive a google spreadsheet to choose which Wednesdays throughout the month/over the summer you would like to come garden with us.
WHERE: The LAYC Drop-in Center is located in Columbia Heights. The exact address will be provided upon registration.
REGISTRATION: We request a one-time $10 registration fee to help us cover the costs of supplies and plants for the garden. Please click on the “TICKETS” button to proceed to registration.
Questions? Email Sonya at sonyaw@edcjcc.org
Do you need any additional accommodations for this event? If so, please contact sonyaw@edcjcc.org
We are so excited to be together in person for the October Handmade for the Homeless! This month, we will be knitting and crocheting inside the EDCJCC!
Join fellow knitters and crocheters to make handmade goodies for a great cause! Our goal is to contribute as many warm winter items as possible to distribute to individuals experiencing homelessness in the DC area.
All levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Don’t know how to knit or crochet? We’ll teach you!
What should I bring?
Please bring your own needles/crochet hooks. If you are not already working on a warm winter item and are looking for a great project or just starting out, please bring:
- #8 or #10 knitting needles (circular or straight) or a size H crochet hook
- Patterns you’re working on or want to start
What do you supply?
We provide lots of beautiful yarn, several patterns including hat patterns using #17 needles or a size N crochet hook, and experienced knitters and crocheters to teach anyone who would like to learn how to knit or crochet.
If you can’t join us in person, join us in spirit by knitting or crocheting:
- Hats
- Scarves
- Gloves and Mittens
- Socks or slippers
- Other items to keep people warm during the cold winter months
Want to know more or join our virtual community? Like us on Facebook!
REGISTER: Please click the red “Register” button to sign up for this free event!
If you have any questions about this event contact Chana at chanaengel@gmail.com.
MASK & VACCINATION POLICY: Effective March 21, 2022, masking will be optional within the EDCJCC, except for in Goldman Theater and Cafritz Hall, as well as in any other program deemed necessary by the seating layout. Proof of vaccination is required for all individuals that are eligible for vaccines. The organizers of Handmade for the Homeless request that you wear a mask.
For more information, visit edcjcc.org/covidsafety.
Do you need any additional accommodations for this event? If so, please contact msmith@edcjcc.org
This year’s Immigration Film Festival explores the nature of HOME. Is it a place, a safe space, a feeling, a memory, a person, or something more? Join us for two in-person screenings of films exploring this theme as we celebrate the holiday of Sukkot, sitting in makeshift shelters and remembering the Jewish people’s wanderings through many deserts both real and figurative.
WHEN: Thursday, October 13
Doors open at 7:00 PM, program starts 7:30 PM
FILMS:
Pipi Thay Too
Directed by Laura Alice | 10 min
In Pipi Thay Too (The Grandmother Tree) Artist, Director and Mentor Laura Alice joins with young refugee women in a unique collaboration to animate their paintings and tell their personal stories: from fleeing the brutal genocidal regime in their native Myranmar homeland to journeying to refugee camps and finally settling in Australia. The result is a beautiful animated film celebrating resilience, the power of identity, mystical encounters with ancestors and the Karen and Karenni refugee experience.
US Premiere of My DACA Life (Mi Vida DACA)
Directed by Fanny Grande | 70 min
My DACA Life (Mi Vida DACA) aims to answer the question “What is home?” While in high school, Maribel discovered that she is an undocumented immigrant. For years she lived in fear of getting deported from the only country she knew. Then, in 2012, Maribel benefited from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the action enacted by President Barack Obama that allowed her to get a work permit and exemption from deportation. After 25 years of being undocumented, she was allowed to visit Mexico. We follow her as she visits her birthplace in hopes of finding answers to the question: where does she belong? Then Donald Trump was elected president, and he rescinded DACA. Maribel and fellow immigrants raise their voices in support of dreamers by marching, and going to Washington D.C. to meet with lawmakers and advocate for immigration reform.
Film screening will be followed by a panel discussion on the state of DACA with the filmmaker and special guests.
WHERE: The Edlavitch DCJCC’s Cafritz Hall
This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC’s JxJ and Center for Social Responsibility in partnership with the Immigration Film Festival
This year’s Immigration Film Festival explores the nature of HOME. Is it a place, a safe space, a feeling, a memory, a person, or something more? Join us for two in-person screenings of films exploring this theme as we celebrate the holiday of Sukkot, sitting in makeshift shelters and remembering the Jewish people’s wanderings through many deserts both real and figurative.
WHEN: Saturday, October 15
Doors open at 5:30 PM, program starts 6:00 PM
FILMS:
Tonewood
Directed by Shahram Shahangi | 16 min
A Bavarian master instrument maker has to hire an immigrant Iranian master in his workshop to save himself from bankruptcy. The two master carpenters, both specializing in building chopping boards, have to overcome their cultural differences and language barrier to complete a crucial order that could potentially save their joinery. We see two worlds collide and observe the development of the protagonists as they approach each other.
DC Premiere of Any Day Now
Directed by Hamy Ramezan | 81 min
13 year old Ramin Mehdipour and his Iranian family have been living in a refugee center in Finland. Just as Ramin starts to enjoy the school holidays, the family receives the terrible news their asylum application has been denied. The Mehdipours file a final appeal, and they continue with their everyday lives, trying to keep a positive attitude despite the looming danger of deportation. As Ramin starts the new school year, every moment, every friendship will be more precious than ever.
The screenings will be followed by a panel discussion on creating a home for asylum seekers.
WHERE: The Edlavitch DCJCC’s Cafritz Hall
This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC’s JxJ and Center for Social Responsibility in partnership with the Immigration Film Festival
Help replenish the blood supply in the DC metro area!
It’s safe, easy, confidential, and extremely rewarding. The EDCJCC partners with Inova Blood Services to bring skilled technicians and top-of-the-line equipment for our quarterly blood drives.
A few facts about donating blood:
- One blood donation can save four lives
- All donations stay in the Washington, DC area
- Every 17 seconds, someone in the DC area needs a blood donation
- One out of 10 people will need a donation before the age of 70
- The body quickly replaces the amount of blood given during the donation
For more information and to see eligibility requirements for donating, please click here. Please plan on your blood donation to take about an hour from start to finish.
MASK & VACCINATION POLICY: All visitors above the age of 12 entering the EDCJCC’s building are required to show proof of full covid-19 vaccination. Mask-wearing inside of the blood drive is mandatory.
For more information, visit edcjcc.org/covidsafety.
Do you need any additional accommodations for this event? If so, please contact msmith@edcjcc.org
Please click on the “Register” button to make an appointment.
Behrend Builders is back after a pandemic hiatus!
What: Spend your afternoon beautifying a space at Bruce Monroe Elementary School. Bruce-Monroe is a high-poverty, bilingual public school in Columbia Heights that serves a diverse student body. Built in 1916, the school is a historic landmark and the EDCJCC is thrilled to take part in maintaining so students can thrive.
Volunteers will work on painting an interior space. No previous experience is necessary.
Who: This project is open to volunteers ages 16 and up.
When: Sunday, October 23, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Where: We will meet at Bruce Monroe Elementary School. Exact address will be provided with registration.
Register: To supplement the cost of supplies, there is a program fee of $15 per participant. This fee is fully tax-deductible. Please register for each individual member of your family so we have an accurate head count. Click on the “Tickets” button to proceed to registration.
Do you need any additional accommodations for this event or have any questions? If so, please contact Mira Smith at msmith@edcjcc.org
Join the EDCJCC’s inaugural Tzedek B’nai Mitzvah Fellowship!
Organizing a bar/bat mitzvah is always exciting, sometimes stressful, and usually a ton of work. An important component of every teen’s journey to “Jewish adulthood” is a mitzvah project to connect their emerging Jewish identity to Judaism’s call to serve others. The EDCJCC’s Tzedek B’nai Mitzvah Fellowship is here to facilitate that process in a fun, engaging, and stress-free way!
Over the span of 5 Sunday group sessions and two optional mentorship sessions, teens will engage in hands-on volunteering at sites around the DC area, learn about systems of inequality and avenues for advocacy, and build friendships with their cohort. They will finish the fellowship with a greater understanding of equity issues in our community, Jewish teachings around service and social justice, and how they can use their own personal strengths and passions to engage in change-making beyond their bar/bat mitzvahs.
Participation in the fellowship also includes 2 optional personal mentorship sessions with a staff member from the EDCJCC’s Center for Social Responsibility* for teens who wish to construct mitzvah projects beyond the fellowship experience and/or to connect the fellowship to their specific bar/bat mitzvah learning.
Who: This program is open to teens ages 11-13 who are on their b’nai mitzvah journey.
When: The program will meet during the following times:
Sunday, November 6, 2:30 PM-5:00 PM
Sunday, December 4, 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Sunday, January 22, 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Sunday, February 12, 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Sunday, March 19, 2:30 PM-5:00 PM
Where: Drop off and pick up for most sessions is at the EDCJCC located at 1529 16th St. NW. The EDCJCC will provide transportation to any service sites outside of Northwest DC.
Registration: The total cost for this program is $250. This program fee includes snacks, transportation to all volunteer sites outside of Northwest DC, and all materials needed for 5 meaningful service learning sessions.
Additional Info: Some of our social service partners require proof of Covid-19 vaccination so we ask that all participants in this program have proof of vaccination in order to participate. While masking at the EDCJCC is currently optional, we encourage each participant to do what is most comfortable for them. We will communicate individual requirements around masking at each of the service sites with you prior to each Sunday program.
*The EDCJCC’s Center for Social Responsibility has provided meaningful volunteer and learning opportunities in the DMV around topics including racial equity, affordable housing, refugee and asylum seeker issues, and food security for more than 35 years.
Throw a festive Halloween party for Housing Up, a close partner of the EDCJCC! Housing Up builds thriving communities in Washington, DC by developing affordable housing and offering comprehensive support services to homeless and low-income families.
What: Dress in your favorite costume and help throw a party for the children and families at Housing Up! Volunteers will lead games, do crafts, and make spooky treats with the residents. All of the supplies will be provided.
When: Thursday, October 27, from 6:00-7:30pm.
Who: This program is open to volunteers ages 18+. This program is great for volunteers that love working with kids.
Where: This opportunity is in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, DC. The exact address will be provided upon registration. The apartment is accessible by bus and is located .6 miles from the Georgia Avenue/Petworth Metro station. Street parking is available.
Covid-19 Safety: In accordance with Housing Up guidelines, all volunteers must submit proof of covid-19 vaccination to Mira Smith (msmith@edcjcc.org) prior to the program. All participants are required to wear masks that cover nose and mouth, and are encouraged to maintain social distancing guidelines. We cannot disclose the vaccination status of program participants.
Sign up: Registration is required for this free program. Click the red “Register” button to proceed.
Do you need any additional accommodations for this event? If so, please contact msmith@edcjcc.org
This program is presented in partnership with EntryPoint DC
Raising Anti-Racist Children
2 Thursdays, November 3 and 10, 8:00 PM
Raising children to build a just world is a life-long process, as well as a difficult challenge for parents to navigate. Join us for a two-part series with expert educator Dr. Nabina Liebow, who will take us through the learning and practical steps necessary to raise anti-racist children and help us create a cohort of race conscious parents in our community.
This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to understand how white supremacy and white privilege affect all parts of our lives and how to bring these ideas into conversation and action in parenting. It is meant as a beginning to this work, rather than to be comprehensive or all-encompassing.
Although we understand that life is unpredictable, we request that you commit to both Part 1 and Part 2 of this workshop in order to honor the learning process and receive the full benefit of this workshop. Attendance will be capped in order to create an intimate cohort of parents.
Part 1 (February 3, 8:00-9:30 PM): Discussing race and racism with your children is a vital part of antiracist and race conscious parenting. But some people might feel a little rusty on the basics! In the first part of the workshop, Dr. Liebow will give a “Crash Course in Racial Literacy” to provide an important framework and context for race conscious parenting. This session will go over the basics of anti-racist thought and ideology, as well as challenge participants to explore their own biases and thought processes before they are able to address these ideas with their children. By the end of this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of race, white supremacy, white privilege, and antiracism.
Part 2 (February 10, 8:00-9:30 PM): In the second part of the workshop, parents will learn strategies for helping their child develop an antiracist consciousness and how to apply concepts learned in the first session to raising their children.
This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC Parenting Center and Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility
We are so excited to be together in person for the November Handmade for the Homeless! This month, we will be knitting and crocheting inside the EDCJCC!
Join fellow knitters and crocheters to make handmade goodies for a great cause! Our goal is to contribute as many warm winter items as possible to distribute to individuals experiencing homelessness in the DC area.
All levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Don’t know how to knit or crochet? We’ll teach you!
What should I bring?
Please bring your own needles/crochet hooks. If you are not already working on a warm winter item and are looking for a great project or just starting out, please bring:
- #8 or #10 knitting needles (circular or straight) or a size H crochet hook
- Patterns you’re working on or want to start
What do you supply?
We provide lots of beautiful yarn, several patterns including hat patterns using #17 needles or a size N crochet hook, and experienced knitters and crocheters to teach anyone who would like to learn how to knit or crochet.
If you can’t join us in person, join us in spirit by knitting or crocheting:
- Hats
- Scarves
- Gloves and Mittens
- Socks or slippers
- Other items to keep people warm during the cold winter months
Want to know more or join our virtual community? Like us on Facebook!
REGISTER: Please click the red “Register” button to sign up for this free event!
If you have any questions about this event contact Chana at chanaengel@gmail.com.
MASK & VACCINATION POLICY: Effective March 21, 2022, masking will be optional within the EDCJCC, except for in Goldman Theater and Cafritz Hall, as well as in any other program deemed necessary by the seating layout. The organizers of Handmade for the Homeless request that you wear a mask.
For more information, visit edcjcc.org/covidsafety.
Do you need any additional accommodations for this event? If so, please contact msmith@edcjcc.org
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.