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Beginning on the 2nd night of Passover, we count the Omer, for 49 days, until we arrive at the festival of Shavuot. Counting the Omer began as a count toward the spring harvest, and it has evolved into a spiritual accounting. The Omer is a period for introspection, grounding, and personal growth, in preparation for …
Nature Walk + Learn: Spiritual Grounding During the Omer Read More »
Judaism offers a wide range of blessings to honor everyday moments in addition to times for daily and holiday prayers—traditionally covering everything from travel and using the bathroom to surviving life-threatening experiences. Contemporary Jewish poets and writers have also crafted liturgies for seemingly mundane occasions, such as going to a party or even watching TV. …
Learning + Art-Making: Blessing the Ordinary w/the Extraordinary Read More »
Join Rabbi Emmanuel for a leisurely, scenic bike ride as we emerge from Passover and embrace the season of renewal and rebirth with a day of nourishing our minds, bodies, and souls. We'll meet at a bike path in DC near a bike share station for those without bikes, with a mid-ride stop for Jewish …
Traditionally read on the upcoming late-spring holiday of Shavuot, the biblical book of Ruth takes place in the backdrop of ecological crisis, political instability, and a breakdown of social trust and institutions. Yet amidst it all, Ruth’s characters learn to care for one another and lay the foundations for a better future. Join Rabbi Emmanuel …
The Book of Ruth: Inspiring Torah for a World in Crisis Read More »
Shabbat afternoon in late spring is wonderfully spacious, with long sunny hours filled with learning, singing, conversation, and play. Together with Rabbi Emmanuel, we’ll enjoy the magic of Shabbat in community. The Den will bring snacks and a taste of the week’s Torah portion to learn and discuss, while everyone is invited to bring blankets, …
Rosh Chodesh celebrates the passage of Jewish time with the arrival of a new Hebrew month, offering us a chance to renew, craft an intention or "kavanah" for the month ahead, and gather in community. Led by Den members Heather Brody and Maxwell Thompson, this gathering is intended for all 20's-30's-40's who identify as LGBTQ+ …
Queer Rosh Chodesh Circle: Intention-Setting for the New Month Read More »
Join the Den and Rabbi Emmanuel for a relaxed and meaningful Sunday morning for brunch and learning with lots of opportunities for meaningful conversations and connections with fellow community members. We’ll spread out on blankets, share bagels, coffee, and treats while we dive into questions about keeping kosher. Together we'll explore both the “what”—what’s traditionally …
Brunch & Big Questions: What Is Kosher—And Why? Exploring Practice and Meaning Read More »
In the era of the internet and social media, questions about speech, truth, and misinformation are more pressing than ever. Join Rabbi Emmanuel and Den member Rebecca Barabas for a learning session exploring the intersection of misinformation and the Jewish ethical tradition of lashon hara—often translated as “gossip,” but more broadly understood as a call …
Truth, Trust, and Talking Online: Jewish Ethics in the Age of Misinformation Read More »
Wind down your day with Rabbi Emmanuel and the Den with a summer evening stroll through the monument along the National Mall—one of DC’s best after-work traditions. A chance to make new friends or reconnect with familiar faces, we'll go for a leisurely, scenic stroll with a mid-break rest for Jewish learning and meaningful conversation. …
Monuments and Memory: Summer Evening Walk + Learn on the National Mall Read More »
A selective leadership experience for those called to cultivate meaningful connections at the Den among folks in their 20s–40s across our community. Fellows will receive training in relational community organizing, spiritual listening, and community network weaving — drawing on the wisdom of Den leaders and select outside professionals who bring expertise in building inclusive, values-driven …
Building on the Den’s commitment to peer leadership, we’re launching a new leadership cohort where emerging leaders receive rabbinic mentorship, peer support, and access to outside expertise as they learn to lead diverse Jewish learning experiences, guide ritual gatherings, and hold sacred space in community. Fellows develop facilitation and leadership skills in a supportive, spiritually …
Sacred Facilitators Fellowship Application Deadline Read More »
Jewish mystics retreated into nature as a way to experience a more profound sense of intention and attention to their lives. We’ll be guided on our hikes by our very own “hike captains” (nature lovin’ folks from the Den), followed by learning and discussion to get us warmed up for the High Holy Day season. …
