MakomDC 2024-2025
Jewish Peoplehood: Connection, Commitment and Conscience
Join us this year as we explore the ties that bind us (and sometimes divide us) as a Jewish people. The notion of Jewish peoplehood encompasses Judaism as a civilization with a collective story/s, religion, culture/s, language/s, ethical tradition/s, identity/s, dedication to community, and perhaps most critically a responsibility toward one another. In an age of diversity, globalization, and divisiveness, what does this actually mean? How do we understand this concept and how does it fit in with our other commitments and values?
Prepare for our year of learning by diving into our rabbis recommended reading.
Makomdc (Learning & Immersion)
Themed Teachings
Achdut (Solidarity), and/or Achidut (Uniformity) in Classical Rabbinic Texts
Taught by Rabbi Aaron Alexander
Shabbat Afternoons at 1pm, Biran Beit Midrash: November 9, December 7, January 11
Together we’ll learn the formative classical rabbinic responses to divisions, fractures, and contradictions in practice amongst and between different communities. What core concepts & values drive rabbinic decision making around unity and/or uniformity? In what ways are communities encouraged to retain and maintain diversity of practice when unity is at stake? Are there obligations to achieving uniformity within and outside of communities?
Liturgy of, by and for a People
Taught by Rabbi Sarah Krinsky
Shabbat afternoons at 1pm, Biran Beit Midrash: March 29, May 3 and June 14
This series will look at pieces of our traditional prayers written specifically and explicitly with the Jewish people as a collective in mind. We will trace the origins and evolutions of these blessings (or, sometimes, curses) and reflect together on their place and role in our modern liturgical canon.
Am Yisrael Covenant of Faith or Covenant of Destiny or No Covenant At All?
Taught by: Rabbi Elianna Yolkut
Tuesday evenings, Biran Beit Midrash: 6:30pm Wine and Snacks, 7pm Teaching | Register Here
November 12th, December 10th, January 7th
We will explore this 20th century conception of the notion of peoplehood conceived of by Rabbi Joseph Solevetchik and explore texts that challenge his ideas and we will ask probing questions in the 21st century - does peoplehood exist any longer? Do we have a shared identity with all Jews? How does our diaspora/Israel relationship help to shape or unravel that connection? What is our responsibility to the mythic “people Israel” when we have moral, religious and political disagreements?
Taught by Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt
Dates and Topics Coming Soon
Makomdc (Learning & Immersion)
Preparing for the High Holy Days
The Elul Chronicles
Join the Adas Israel clergy and community members in a new project as we reflect in writing and video on the meaning of this holy season and offer meditations several times a week to inspire, challenge and help us explore our own spiritual work as we approach these sacred days of Awe.
NEW THIS YEAR: Live From the Clergy Suite - Join us each Friday in Elul at 10 am on Facebook Live as your rabbis, talk the Torah, the spirit, the work and the joy of the High Holy Day season. Check it out here: facebook.com/adasisraeldc
September 6th at 10am with Rabbis Krinsky and Yolkut
September 13th at 10am with Rabbis Holtzblatt and Yolkut
September 20th at 10am with Rabbis Alexander and Yolkut
September 27th at 10am with the full clergy
Elul Tisch
Saturdays at 1pm in the Biran Beit Midrash:
September 21st with Special Guests Riman Barakat and Karen Brunwasser from Jerusalem facilitated by Rabbis Holtzblatt & Alexander
September 28th with Rabbis Krinsky and Yolkut
Join us for 3 Shabbatot in Elul at 1 pm in the BBM as we gather around the table to sing and learn together in advance of the High Holiday season. Gather in community so we can intellectually, spiritually and emotionally prepare for the Season of Awe. Enter the high holidays uplifted, challenged, and ready for the growth mindset the season offers us.
Rising Song Gathering (Co-sponsor with Hadar)
*New Date: Wed, Oct 30, 7:30 - 9:00 PM, Gewirz Beit Am | Click Here to Register
Welcome the month of Elul in heart-opening song. Join R. Deborah Sacks Mintz and her trio in a participatory gathering of rich harmony, deep groove, and prayerful communal singing - rooted in traditional texts, contemporary melodies, and the meditative power of the nigun.
An Evening of Meditation with Rabbi Holtzblatt
Co-Sponsored by Or HaLev and The Den Collective
Tuesday, September 10 at 7pm | Click Here to Register
An update to our September 10th Wellness Center Evening of Meditation & Learning--Rav James of Or HaLev is unable to to be in attendance as planned, due to the ongoing unrest in Israel. We look forward to welcoming Rav James to Adas when he is able to make the journey. We are pleased to share that the evening of Meditation & Learning in preparation for the Yamim Norayim--the High Holidays, will be lead by our very own, Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt. We look forward to seeing you on September 10th at 7pm.
Live Taping of Chutzpod with Rabbi Shira Stutman and Hanna Rosin
Tuesday, September 24 at 7pm, Gewirz Beit Am| Register Here
Chutzpod!, the top-ranked Jewish podcast hosted by Rabbi Shira Stutman and Hanna Rosin, will be recording a special live episode at Adas Israel on Tuesday, September 24th.
Chutzpod! helps listeners with their real-life dilemmas through the lens of Jewish wisdom and modern perspectives. In honor of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we’re looking for high holiday-themed questions: forgiveness (yourself and others), starting again, unfinished business, what’s holding us back. If you’re in need of advice, submit your questions to chutzpod@gmail.com or on chutzpod.com. Please note that it’s for the Adas Israel episode. We can’t wait to talk to you!
Ulpan Adas with Mark Lewis
Tuesdays, Beginning November 12, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Biran Beit Midrash
Click Here To Register
This fall, Ulpan Adas will offer a full immersion Hebrew class on Tuesdays nights at Adas. Led by Mark Lewis, the class will be conducted primarily in Hebrew, with occasional English assistance as needed. Focusing on everyday scenarios, from ordering at a restaurant to chatting with friends, this course is perfect for anyone looking to gain proficiency in spoken Hebrew. Whether you’re preparing for a trip to Israel or simply want to feel more confident in your Hebrew skills, this class will equip you with the tools you need to navigate everyday situations with ease.
Wednesday Lunch In Depth Mishnah Study
Beginning September 4th, 2024, Wednesdays 12-1 pm, Biran Beit Midrash
Click Here To Register
Grab your lunch and join Rabbi Yolkut as we explore the basics of Mishnah study. Ever wanted to learn how to learn Jewish text in the original (translation will be provided too). In this small class in person we will cut our teeth on of our earliest and foundational rabbinic texts.
Boker Ohr Shabbat Study
Shabbat Mornings at 8:30am, In Person Only
The Boker Or Torah study group meets Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m. with the weekly portion as its focus. Join our clergy and community each week for an engaging, text-based conversation on the week's parsha, before Shabbat services.
Friday Parsha Study with Adas Clergy (Virtual)
Fridays at 10am
Click Here to Join the Class
Join Rabbis Holtzblatt, Alexander, Krinsky and Yolkut for an in-depth look at the weekly Torah portion. We will explore the parsha through multiple lenses including Hassidut and mysticism, the Talmud, traditional Torah commentaries, and modern thinkers as we explore making meaning out of our most sacred Jewish texts.
Weekday Torah with Sisterhood
Monthly, 3rd Tuesday at 10:30am
Weekday Torah with Sisterhood is an engaging approach to traditional text study that offers participants the opportunity to study and discuss challenging texts and ideas. Students of all levels and backgrounds are welcome. Please contact Marilyn Cooper with questions, or if you would like a link to the Zoom Torah study class.
Weekly Torah Bite
Wednesday Mornings following Daily Minyan, Biran Beit Midrash
Join Rabbi Yolkut over breakfast for a quick 20ish minute exploration of a single Torah commentary on the weekly Torah portion.
Downtown Study Group
The full return of our Downtown Study Group! Until the pandemic, for almost 3 decades Adas members (and guests) would meet downtown every so often to learn Torah together over a catered lunch. This year we are back for four sessions at the wonderful Capital Jewish Museum. Have you ever wondered what Torah is floating in the minds of the rabbis? Join as we explore texts and ideas that are shaping our thinking throughout the year. Please click here to sign up.
Intro to Judaism 2024-25
Wednesdays at 7:30pm-9pm | Click Here to Register
September 11, 2024 - March 26, 2025
Are you interested in exploring Jewish tradition from the ground up, with master Jewish teachers? Have you been wondering about the core beliefs and practices that animate the Jewish religion? Are you looking to integrate your experience of God and prayer into the rhythm of your life?
This course is designed to give you the raw materials with which to appreciate and access Jewish tradition. Whatever it is you may be seeking, we offer a safe space for acquiring the experiential and intellectual knowledge that allow you to deepen your own religious life. Topics include, but are not limited to:
The World of the Bible | Ritual exploration | Life cycles (Birth, Marriage, Death) | Shabbat (The Sabbath) | Prayer and Liturgy
Jewish Holidays | Israel | Theology
Note: This class will meet for in-person learning.
*350 for Individuals, $450 for Couples *Scholarships available
This course is taught through a collaborative educational partnership with the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program of American Jewish University.
Intro 2.0
Wednesdays at 7:30pm-9pm | Click Here to Register
Beginning November 13
Join Rabbi Avigayil Halpern for this year’s Intro 2.0 series, which will focus on Shabbat. We will use Jewish texts and our own experiences to explore the nature of rest and sanctity: do the traditional laws of Shabbat align with our own needs around peaceful time? How can Shabbat become a container for relationships? What makes for a really great Shabbat meal experience? Come for one session or all of them!
I/Thou cohort with Rabbi Krinsky
This intensive cohort learning is focused on building and nurturing deep interpersonal relationships. Diverse and curated groups of Adas members will engage in text study on topics such as friendship, love, purpose and joy. Members of the cohort will come from differing backgrounds and life stages, and will remain consistent across all four sessions. These cohorts will be facilitated by Adas members. Space is limited.
The Mendelson Family Scholar Series
NEW DATES: November 16-17
Join us as we welcome Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer for a Shabbat morning Sermon in the Smith Sanctuary, Shabbat Afternoon shiur and Sunday morning Breakfast at 10am in the Gewirz Beit Am.
Shabbat Sermon: “When You Go Out to War: Ethics of War for the Jewish People”
This week’s Torah portion introduces a set of dated and problematic rules for the Israelites in how they are to conduct themselves at war. For most of Jewish history, ‘ethics of war’ was a theoretical conversation: lacking an army, Jewish tradition thought about such questions but was never tested. The transformation brought about by the State of Israel created an urgency and responsibility for us to develop a “Torah” of warfare; and this set of moral responsibility is tested daily by Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. What does it mean for the Jewish people to develop and learn this Torah? And how does a Torah of war inform our self-understanding as a people?
Shabbat Afternoon Shiur, 1pm, after Kiddush: "Ahavat Yisrael: What Does Jewish Peoplehood Demand?"
Jewish peoplehood invites us into a conversation on rights and responsibilities – what we owe to one another and what we are entitled to demand from one another. Some behaviors, like standing in solidarity or the obligation to redeem captives, are straightforward; other expectations, like the idea that we are responsible to love each other, are more complicated! We will explore the strange and controversial history of this Jewish idea, and consider its ramifications for today’s divided Jewish people.
Sunday Morning Breakfast, Post Minyan Conversation: "On Liberal Zionism, Between Loyalty and Imagination"
Liberal Zionism – the belief that a Jewish state is the best mechanism to advance liberal values – is squeezed by growing skepticism from the left and the right, part of a larger question about the future of liberalism in polarized societies. We will consider the path forward for this idea and what responsibilities we bear to advance a better future in Israel for all its citizens and inhabitants.
Rabbah Rori Picker Neiss
"Rest, Relief, and Regret: God’s Great Sigh and the End of the World"
November 2 at 1pm, Biran Beit Midrash
In the Torah, Noah's name means rest, but he is given his name because he will bring relief. Together we will explore the connections between rest and relief-- and ultimately regret-- as we attempt to understand the deeper significance of the story of the Flood and what we are meant to learn about our responsibilities towards one another.
Rabba Rori Picker Neiss serves as the Senior Vice President for Community Relations at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Prior to that she was Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St Louis-- an organization committed to a vibrant and secure Jewish community in a thriving and just St Louis region-- after previously serving as a member of the clergy team at Bais Abraham Congregation, a Modern Orthodox synagogue in St Louis, MO. Rori is one of the first graduates of Yeshivat Maharat, a pioneering institution training Orthodox Jewish women to be spiritual leaders and halakhic (Jewish legal) authorities.
Barry Chiswick
"The Americanization of Jews and Judaism"
January 25th at 1pm, Biran Beit Midrash
A review of the labor market attainment of American Jews from 1654 to the present, and how this has impacted the religious lives of Jews.
Rabbi Gorden Tucker
"The Key to Jewish Peoplehood May Be Doubt”
March 1st at 1pm, Biran Beit Midrash
An exploration of how Jewish sources can guide us to a life that intentionally creates space for doubt, which in turn leads to humility and thus leads to the possibility of a deeply connected community that allows for diversity and disagreement.
Rabbi Gordon Tucker is Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), and a Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. He served as Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel Center in White Plains, NY, from 1994 to 2018, and is now Senior Rabbi Emeritus. He holds the A.B. degree from Harvard College, a Ph.D. from Princeton University, and Rabbinic Ordination from JTS. From 1984 to 1992 he was the Dean of the JTS Rabbinical School, and from 1982 to 2007 he was a member of the Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. He has also been deeply involved in the cause of religious pluralism in Israel, through the Masorti Foundation, of which he is a past Chairman. In 1979-80, he was a White House Fellow, and served as Special Assistant and chief speechwriter to U.S. Attorney General Benjamin R. Civiletti. He is married to Amy Cohn, and has three children and six grandchildren. He hikes and bikes every chance he gets, and is a devoted fan of opera, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Rangers.
End of Year Siyyum with Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld , President Hebrew College
April 25 - April 27
Friday Night D’var Torah
"Rejoicing in Being a Part"
Shabbat Morning Sermon in Smith Sanctuary
"Journeys in Grief and Joy: When the Personal and the Communal Collide"
Shabbat Afternoon Shiur in the Biran Beit Midrash at 1 pm
Shouts and Whispers: On Saying “We Jews”
Over a hundred years ago, in an essay entitled “Renaissance of Jewish Learning and Living,” Franz Rosenzweig wrote about the subtle act of commitment and transformation that takes place “when in the confusion of the world we once quietly say, ‘we Jews.’ In this session we will explore the significance of saying ‘We Jews.’ What does it mean, why does it matter, what gets in the way, and what possibilities emerge when we shout it, when we sing it, and when we whisper it – to ourselves and to each other?
Makomdc (Learning & Immersion)
Guest Scholars
Mara Benjamin "Jewish Peoplehood in an Ecological Age"
Tuesday, December 3 at 7pm, Biran Beit Midrash
Register Here
In recent decades, scientists have found increasing evidence that plants, non-human animals, and other life forms share many qualities once thought to be the unique property of human beings. Humans are more similar than dissimilar other organisms in critical respects, and our fate as a species may require us to recognize how we are entangled with other forms of life. At a time when the interconnections among species are becoming more and more apparent, why should we be interested in the concept of Jewish peoplehood (or its earlier incarnation, chosenness)? Do the characteristic elements of Jewish civilization matter anymore, when we are facing planetary crisis – and if so, how?
Adam Zagoria-Moffett "Can One Be Sefaradi and Masorti/Conservative?"
Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 11am, Virtual
Register Here
Might it be that they're actually more similar than either realise? Join Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffet from the UK, director of Izzun Books, and publisher of the Sidduré Or series of Egalitarian Sefaradi siddurim to discuss cultural identity, communal identity - and how to be wonderfully (and woefully) many things at once.
Dov Linzer and Abby Pogrebin, Co-Sponsored with Washington Hebrew Congregation
Sunday, March 9 at 10:30am, Washington Hebrew Congregation
On Orthodox rabbi and Reform journalist talked through the Five Books of Moses with candor, humor, emotion, personal revelation, and scholarship and then wrote a book about it. Join them in conversation with clergy of Washington Hebrew and Adas Israel to unpack their project, multi-denominational relationships and of course Torah.
Makomdc (Learning & Immersion)
Israel: The Place
Israel 101
Facilitated by Rabbi Krinsky
This course will meet as six “lunch and learn” sessions on the following Fridays from 12pm-1pm:
9/13/24 (in person at Adas), 11/8/24 (Zoom), 12/13/24 (Zoom), 1/10/25 (Zoom), 2/21/25 (Zoom), 3/21/25 (in person at Adas) | Click Here To Register
This series will provide an introduction to the gnawing and sometimes conflicting complexities of Israel’s history and founding. Through the wisdom and teaching of academics, experts and professionals, we will delve thoughtfully into the movements, events, philosophies and ideas from the last 150 years that brought us to this current moment.
Israel and the Diaspora: The future that began on October 7
Special community briefing with Dr. Yizhar Hess, Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization
Sunday, Sept 8 at 6:30pm | Register Here
Join us for an enlightening and timely special community briefing with Dr. Yizhar Hess, Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization. In these complex and challenging times, the relationship between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide is at an inflection point, and arguably more foundational than ever. Dr. Hess will delve into the nuances of recent events, their impact on our global community, and the future of the Jewish State. This is a unique opportunity to gain deep insights and engage in meaningful dialogue with one of the leading experts and pluralistic voices, as we work to shape our collective future.
About Yizhar
Prior to his appointment as Vice Chairman of the WZO, Dr. Hess, a 10th generation Jerusalemite, served as the Executive Director of the Masorti Movement in Israel from 2007-2020, advocating for Jewish pluralism and negotiating egalitarian prayer at the Kotel. He also served as Deputy Director at the Shorashim Centre, a Jewish Agency shaliach to Tucson, and Director of Partnerships for the Jewish Agency. Yizhar is a prominent voice in the Israeli press on religion and state and co-edited the book, Questions About God. He resides in Modi'in with his wife Yael and their two children.
Book Club with Rabbi Aaron Alexander and Marilyn Cooper
Peoplehood and Israel (Virtual)
Thursdays at 12pm: Dec 5th, Feb 27th and May 22nd
Click Here to Register
Deepening Our Connection to Am Yisrael: Listening to the diverse Voices and Stories of our Land and Our People
December 5th we will discuss The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel's Borderlands
Together we’ll read & discuss in small groups engaging books, fiction and nonfiction, that will open our minds to new ideas, inspire us to read more, and challenge us to grapple with the world as it is.
Book titles for this year’s three sessions will be sent to registrants two months before our first session, if not sooner. (For a list of the books this evolving club has read in the previous 3 years, click here.)
Marilyn Cooper is a Washington, DC – based author and poet. She is a contributing editor and writer for a number of Jewish publications; her work focuses on Jewish history, literature and contemporary culture.
Brave Conversations: Israel and the Diaspora
1st Tuesday of the Month at 7pm (BBM) - limit to 30 registrants per session
December 3rd: Register Here
January 7th: Register Here
February 4th: Register Here
March 4th: Register Here
April 1st: Register Here
Join a small group of fellow Adas community members in brave conversations about topics and ideas that will challenge us to disagree with respect, to debate with nuance and thoughtfulness, and to remain in deep relationship with one another. These Adas-member facilitated conversations will be based on articles and/or podcasts selected in consultation with your rabbinic team.
The Michael Stern Adult Torah Study Scholarship Fund
Click Here to Apply!
The Michael Stern Adult Torah Study Scholarship Fund is intended to assist members of Adas Israel who seek to advance their understanding of the Jewish faith, in particular through study of our foundational texts together with commentaries from antiquity to the present.
Applicants may seek support to engage in any level of learning - from introduction to Judaism classes to advanced text courses. There is no age restriction for applicants. The award limit under most circumstances is $500 per participant.
Examples of organizations that offer relevant courses of study include the Jewish Study Center, Hadar, Svara, the Brandeis Bardin Institute, the National Havurah Committee including its Summer Institute, the Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies, and Aleph Beta.
The Fund is jointly administered by Rabbi Kerrith Solomon and Rabbi Sarah Krinsky who are happy to entertain any questions you may have. Applications should be sent to them. The program is ongoing. Applications for 2021 and 2022 will be received and considered on a rolling basis. The application form is below.
Michael Stern z”l was one of Adas Israel’s own great sages. He engaged in Torah study for its own sake, advancing to the level of “master teacher,” a designation conferred in 2018 by our senior rabbis.
His family has created the Fund to honor Michael’s lifelong love of learning and teaching.
