About the Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility
The Edlavitch DCJCC’s Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility (MCCSR) organizes high-impact volunteer and social justice programs that address unmet needs and the systemic issues that create inequality in our region. In seeking to make our city a more just, inclusive, and livable place, we provide a way for the Jewish community to connect to our most sacred mandate of repairing the world.
While our programs are meant to be low-barrier and engaging to all, we are fiercely committed to upholding the dignity of those we serve by only providing services that are truly needed.
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.
We have succeeded if our participants leave with a holistic understanding of the inequality that exists in our city and the motivation to join us in continuing to repair the world.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities and Events
Join us at the Edlavitch DCJCC to mix, chop, and prepare food for homeless shelters and other agencies serving those in need in the DC area.
No cooking skills are necessary! Individuals of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to participate.
The food prepared during Hunger Action is donated to Charlie’s Place, who serves breakfast to our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
We request a $7.00 donation to help us cover the costs of ingredients to ensure we are able to provide the highest quality food possible. If you would like to volunteer but are unable to make the donation, please contact Josh at jsherman@edcjcc.org.
If you aren’t feeling well and have any flu or cold-like symptoms we request that you volunteer a different time for the safety of those we serve.
If you have any questions please email Josh at jsherman@edcjcc.org.
DC Central Kitchen develops and operates social ventures targeting the cycle of hunger and poverty. Each of our ventures create opportunities for meaningful careers, expand access to healthy food, and test innovative solutions to systemic failures.
Join us to volunteer on site at the DC Central Kitchen. Tasks include chopping vegetables, sorting fresh produce, mixing salads, portioning meals, preparing and cooking food.
To work in the kitchen volunteers must wear long pants, closed-toed shoes – non-slip soles recommended, shirts with sleeves (short sleeves are okay, tank tops are not), and a hat or other head covering. Hairnets are provided if you don’t bring a hat. Midriff shirts are not allowed. Aprons and gloves will be provided.
Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to participate, no exceptions please. Registration required.
If you aren’t feeling well and have any flu or cold-like symptoms we request that you volunteer a different time for the safety of those we serve.
If you have any questions please email Josh at jsherman@edcjcc.org.
God, Humanity, and the Rest of Creation: Jewish Theology in a Time of Climate Emergency
With Rabbi Shai Held
We live in a time of unprecedented climate emergency: greenhouse gas emissions are causing vast — and irreversible — changes to earth’s climate. Droughts, floods, heat waves, extreme weather events and rise in sea-levels endanger millions of lives. How should religious people respond to the crisis? How does the way we imagine the relationship between God, humanity, and the rest of creation shape our sense of responsibility for the fate of the earth and its inhabitants?
Beginning with the Bible and concluding with contemporary theology and environmental ethics, we’ll develop a textually-rooted Jewish theology for this precarious moment. We’ll bear in mind the sobering words of Governor Jay Inslee of Washington: “We are the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we are the last generation that can do something about it.” We’ll conclude with an invitation to connect to Interfaith Power & Light, a grassroots group through which Jewish communities and congregations of many faiths are working together to respond to climate change: www.ipldmv.org and with KOL Foods, a Kosher meat company focused on making a sustainable difference through supporting responsible farming. Vegan snacks from Shouk and other vendors will also be available.
Co-presented by the Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility, in partnership with Hadar, Interfaith Power and Light, and KOL Foods.
Rabbi Shai Held–theologian, scholar, and educator–is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar, where he also directs the Center for Jewish Leadership and Ideas. Previously, he served for six years as Scholar-in-Residence at Kehilat Hadar in New York City, and taught both theology and Halakhah at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He also served as Director of Education at Harvard Hillel. A 2011 recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award for excellence in Jewish education, Rabbi Held has been named multiple times to Newsweek’s list of the 50 most influential rabbis in America. He holds a doctorate in religion from Harvard; his main academic interests are in modern Jewish and Christian thought, in biblical theology, and in the history of Zionism. Rabbi Held’s first book, Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call of Transcendence, was published by Indiana University Press in 2013; The Heart of Torah, a collection of essays on the Torah in two volumes, was published by JPS in 2017.
* Learning should never be cost-prohibitive. If the cost of any EDCJCC program prevents you from registering, please contact Amanda Herring 202-777-3253 or email aherring@edcjcc.org to discuss payment plans or other alternatives.
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
Knitted items and yarn donations can be dropped off at the EDCJCC. Contact Sonya at sonyaw@edcjcc.org to make arrangements. Thank you!
Want to know more or join our virtual community? Like us on Facebook!
If you have any questions about this event contact Chana at chanaengel@gmail.com.
Join us at the Edlavitch DCJCC to mix, chop, and prepare food for homeless shelters and other agencies serving those in need in the DC area.
No cooking skills are necessary! Individuals of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to participate.
The food prepared during Hunger Action is donated to Charlie’s Place, who serves breakfast to our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
We request a $7.00 donation to help us cover the costs of ingredients to ensure we are able to provide the highest quality food possible. If you would like to volunteer but are unable to make the donation, please contact Josh at jsherman@edcjcc.org.
If you aren’t feeling well and have any flu or cold-like symptoms we request that you volunteer a different time for the safety of those we serve.
If you have any questions please email Josh at jsherman@edcjcc.org.
DC Central Kitchen develops and operates social ventures targeting the cycle of hunger and poverty. Each of our ventures create opportunities for meaningful careers, expand access to healthy food, and test innovative solutions to systemic failures.
Join us to volunteer on site at the DC Central Kitchen. Tasks include chopping vegetables, sorting fresh produce, mixing salads, portioning meals, preparing and cooking food.
To work in the kitchen volunteers must wear long pants, closed-toed shoes – non-slip soles recommended, shirts with sleeves (short sleeves are okay, tank tops are not), and a hat or other head covering. Hairnets are provided if you don’t bring a hat. Midriff shirts are not allowed. Aprons and gloves will be provided.
Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to participate, no exceptions please. Registration required.
If you aren’t feeling well and have any flu or cold-like symptoms we request that you volunteer a different time for the safety of those we serve.
If you have any questions please email Josh at jsherman@edcjcc.org.
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.
Making an appointment in advance is highly encouraged.
***Please note that appointments can be made up to 24 hours in advance, but if you miss the deadline to make an appointment you should still come in! Walk-ins will be taken throughout the evening.***
Volunteer with the blood drive
We need your help to run our Blood Drive. Volunteers greet, check people in, and provide a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for blood donors throughout their experience. We request that you volunteer for a minimum of 1 hour. To volunteer, simply click on the “Set Appointment” button and select “VOLUNTEER” as your registration type.
REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
Started in Israel, Good Deeds Day is a global day that unites people from 108 countries to do good deeds for the benefit of others and the planet. Join the entire DC Jewish community, along with almost 2.5 million volunteers around the world, for this annual Day of Service at the EDCJCC. Come for a morning of volunteer projects and learning about how we can help make our community a better place for all.
All projects are family friendly.
Find projects from PJ Library, Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School, the Capital Jewish Museum, and many other organizations all in one place at this year’s Good Deeds Day!
Join us at the Edlavitch DCJCC to mix, chop, and prepare food for homeless shelters and other agencies serving those in need in the DC area.
No cooking skills are necessary! Individuals of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to participate.
The food prepared during Hunger Action is donated to Charlie’s Place, who serves breakfast to our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
We request a $7.00 donation to help us cover the costs of ingredients to ensure we are able to provide the highest quality food possible. If you would like to volunteer but are unable to make the donation, please contact Josh at jsherman@edcjcc.org.
If you aren’t feeling well and have any flu or cold-like symptoms we request that you volunteer a different time for the safety of those we serve.
If you have any questions please email Josh at jsherman@edcjcc.org.
DC Central Kitchen develops and operates social ventures targeting the cycle of hunger and poverty. Each of our ventures create opportunities for meaningful careers, expand access to healthy food, and test innovative solutions to systemic failures.
Join us to volunteer on site at the DC Central Kitchen. Tasks include chopping vegetables, sorting fresh produce, mixing salads, portioning meals, preparing and cooking food.
To work in the kitchen volunteers must wear long pants, closed-toed shoes – non-slip soles recommended, shirts with sleeves (short sleeves are okay, tank tops are not), and a hat or other head covering. Hairnets are provided if you don’t bring a hat. Midriff shirts are not allowed. Aprons and gloves will be provided.
Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to participate, no exceptions please. Registration required.
If you aren’t feeling well and have any flu or cold-like symptoms we request that you volunteer a different time for the safety of those we serve.
If you have any questions please email Josh at jsherman@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.