Washington Jewish Week

1 week ago | washingtonjewishweek.com | Zoe Bell

Some of Samson Rabinowitz’s earliest memories are being surrounded by family, friends and fellow Jewish community members at Cacapon Resort State Park. The Rabinowitz family has stayed at this West Virginia lodge dotted with rustic cabins every Shavuot for the past two decades or so. “It’s my favorite place on Earth,” said Rabinowitz, who has gone to Cacapon every summer — except in 2020 — since he was 2 years old.

1 week ago | washingtonjewishweek.com | Zoe Bell

Started in a couple’s living room, Kol Ami: Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community is now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Rabbi Gilah Langner and the community commemorated this milestone with a celebratory Shabbat service and musical performance on May 17 and 18, chaired by Jane Schulman.

1 week ago | washingtonjewishweek.com | Zoe Bell

The Bender Jewish Community Center’s annual spring event this year honoring “transformational leadership” will recognize local philanthropists Drs. Stuart and Ellen Lessans and fundraise for scholarships at the Bender JCC. The June 5 event will feature Israeli actor Lior Raz and CNN’s Dana Bash, according to Josh Bender, the CEO of the Bender JCC. Once called “IMAGINE,” the fundraising event is now rebranded as “Voices of Leadership” to better reflect its purpose.

2 weeks ago | washingtonjewishweek.com | Zoe Bell

These three Jewish American World War II veterans may be upwards of 100 years old — or months away from the big centennial — but they’re full of life and stories to tell. In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, WWII veterans Al Jacobs, Frank Cohn and Harold Terens shared their experiences as Jewish American servicemen in a panel discussion moderated by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in the nation’s capital May 20.

2 weeks ago | washingtonjewishweek.com | Zoe Bell

A few congregants contacted Rabbi Hannah Spiro expressing the desire to gather, mourn and process their feelings following the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy aides outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 21. Spiro, the rabbi at D.C.’s Hill Havurah, has arranged a Friday evening vigil in honor of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, the two victims of the museum shooting. Nearly 130 community members registered to attend, according to Spiro.