The Davis Center for Social Justice

Green Team's "Reverse Tashlich" River Clean Up
2025-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
Temple Sinai’s Green Team is participating in Repair the Sea’s 8th annual Reverse Tashlich by hosting a river clean-up. This is a great service opportunity for kids and families! (Recommended for ages 12+)
When: Sunday, September 28, 2025 from 10 am to 12 pm
Where: Oronoco Park, 100 Madison Street, Alexandria, VA
Potomac Riverkeeper Network will provide trash bags, gloves, garbage grabbers and a water jug. Email Liz Feldman with questions.
Please register in advance.

Serve with Sinai: So Others Might Eat
2025-09-28 06:30 - 09:30
Join other Temple Sinai volunteers in serving breakfast at So Others Might Eat (71 O Street, NW) on the 4th Sunday of the month from 6:30am – 9:30am – all congregants are invited to join! Please register at least a week in advance. We have a limited number of volunteer slots and they sometimes fill up. *Once signed up, you will receive instructions for how to register as a volunteer with SOME.
​If you have questions, please contact Wendy Kahn at wlkahn44@gmail.com.
REGISTER

Collective Elul Reflection Circle
2025-09-21 10:00 - 12:00
Join fellow congregants for a community-building circle during this significant time in the Jewish calendar. We will reflect on the past year’s actions and set intentions for the coming year.
Hosted by the Multi-Racial Sinai Committee, this circle will provide a formal and democratic process for sharing within a boundaried, safe space. Our prompting questions will center themes of liberation, justice, and community.
Having a space where we can intentionally be present with others, helps us gain insights, accelerate personal learning and build relationships. Our hope is that this circle will give us individual and collective strength to pursue Tikkun Olam in the coming year.
Details:
• Date & Time: Sunday, September 21st, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: The Temple
• Capacity: Limited to 20 participants
• Eligibility: Congregants 16 years of age and older
• Register here: Location and more information will be provided upon registration

Davis Center Docs: Zurawski v Texas
2025-09-18 19:00 - 21:00
Women denied abortions in Texas despite life-threatening circumstances join forces with a lawyer to file a lawsuit against the state, aiming to restore reproductive rights for themselves and others.
Join Temple Sinai and the Davis Center for Social Justice at the Avalon Theatre in NW DC for a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary Zurawski v Texas followed by a Q&A with Molly Duane, the attorney featured in the film.
View the trailer
Purchase tickets

Serve with Sinai: A Wider Circle
2025-09-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-18 08:00 - 17:00
Volunteer at A Wider Circle (9159 Brookville Road in Silver Spring) on the third Thursday of each month, 10 am – 12 pm with your fellow members – all congregants are invited to join. Lunch is not included in this program but those interested in going to Parkway Deli afterwards are more than welcome!
If you have questions, please contact Jim Jaffe or Ed Cohen.
Register

Interfaith Council's Annual Unity Walk
2025-09-07 12:30 - 17:30
The Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington invites you to the largest interfaith gathering in the Washington, DC Metro Area! On Sunday, September 7th (12:30-5:30pm) Massachusetts Ave NW becomes a public celebration of shared humanity. The 20th Annual Unity Walk, hosted by IFC invites people of all faiths and none to walk together, visit 11 sacred spaces, and experience powerful moments of music, food, culture, and connection.
This year’s walk will feature activities perfect for all ages including: Sufi and Jewish folk dancing, “Ask Me Anything” with faith practitioners from a variety of faith traditions, a service project to benefit Martha’s Table and more.
This isn’t just a walk — it’s a movement. A chance to reimagine what’s possible when we lead with compassion instead of fear, curiosity instead of judgment.
The Walk will begin at Washington Hebrew Congregation (3935 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC) and end at the Islamic Center of Washington, DC (2551 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC).
Learn More and Purchase Tickets

"Labor on the Bimah": RFK Stadium - Progress and Unfinished Business for DC Workers
2025-08-30 10:45 - 12:15
Special Labor Day Bagel Brunch: Saturday, August 30, 10:45 am – 12:15 pm
In the spirit of JUFJ’s Labor on the Bimah Program, Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) Organizer Micah Haskell-Hoehl and Metro AFL-CIO President Samuel Epps will discuss critical issues DC’s deal with the Washington Commanders poses for DC’s working people and their families. From Micah’s perspective as an organizer in faith communities and Samuel’s as a labor leader and organizer, they will walk us through the Mayor’s original proposal, the improvements accomplished so far, and unfinished business regarding affordable housing, jobs and accountability and enforceability of the Commanders’ promises.
Note: This program will be preceded by a “Labor on the Bimah” themed Torah Study led by Rabbi Sarah Bassin starting at 9:15 am – 10:15 am and a Shabbat “kaddish minyan” at 10:15 am.
Please RSVP for brunch (no RSVP required for Torah Study).

Serve with Sinai Summer 2025
2025-08-21 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-20 16:16
We know that summer often brings extra free time. Whether you are retired, between jobs, or a teen looking for SSL hours, spend time with fellow volunteers this summer while doing good work for our community. Advanced registration required.
All sessions are 10 am – 12 pm:
Wednesday, June 18, 10am – 12pm (A Wider Circle, 9159 Brookville Road, Silver Spring)
Tuesday, June 24, 10am – 12pm (DC Diaper Bank, 8860 Monard Drive, Silver Spring)
Thursday, July 17, 10am – 12pm (A Wider Circle, 9159 Brookville Road, Silver Spring)
Thursday, August 21, 10am – 12pm (A Wider Circle, 9159 Brookville Road, Silver Spring)
A note for our teen volunteers: Volunteers under 14 are welcome if they are accompanied by an adult. (Please register each person attending separately.)
If you have questions, please contact Jenny Cohen.
Register

Bystander Training for Allies
2025-08-05 18:30 - 19:30
Join us for “Bystander Training for Allies”, a Zoom presentation designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and others during immigration enforcement encounters. This concise training will teach participants how to intervene safely when witnessing harassment or discrimination against immigrants. You can learn “Know Your Rights” skills and how to put them to use. The program will be presented by CASA, a leading organization in the Mid-Atlantic states that provides critical services to immigrant and working-class families, and advocates for their rights.
This program is for all people interested in learning how to support the immigrant community, not just lawyers!
Advanced registration required. This program will not be recorded so register today!
Register Here

Donation Drive to benefit Ayuda
2025-06-01 - 2025-06-15
Temple Sinai’s Davis Center for Social Justice is collecting items to make kids’ activity packs for Ayuda, who provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants in our area. The “busy bags” will keep the kids entertained while their parents have their legal consultations (and then they can take it home with them).
Please sign up to contribute items to this project. There will be a collection bin in the member lounge area from June 1 – June 15. Please sign up only if you are able to deliver your items within this timeframe. If you are ordering online and want to ship your items directly to Temple Sinai, please send them Attn: Jenny Cohen. They must arrive by Monday, June 16.
We will be packing the kits as the family activity at the Family Shabbat on Friday, June 20. (You can register for the dinner HERE.) You can also sign up to deliver the packs to Ayuda the week of June 23. If instead of purchasing items, you’d like to make a financial contribution, you can donate to Temple Sinai’s Refugee & Migrant fund HERE (please indicate “Ayuda” on the payment notes line).
SIGN UP TO DONATE ITEMS

Visit to the Mexican Consulate
2025-05-21 09:30 - 10:30
Consul Rafael Laveaga, Chief of the Consular Section Embassy of Mexico in Washington, DC, will brief Temple Sinai’s group on the wide range of services the Consulate provides to the Mexican community in the DMV region and the growing demand for its services in today’s climate. The Consulate offers legal guidance and assistance to Mexican nationals in need and actively collaborates with local organizations, community leaders, and faith-based groups to educate the Mexican community about their rights and responsibilities, regardless of immigration status. It also partners with other Latin American consulates in the region to develop joint initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for their respective communities. As part of the visit, we will have the opportunity to tour the Consulate’s facilities and observe its day-to-day operations.
We will meet at the Mexican Consulate: 1250 23rd Street, NW.
Space is limited – sign up today!
Register

Volunteer with TSMJR at A Wider Circle
2025-05-15 10:00 - 12:00
Volunteer at A Wider Circle (9159 Brookville Road in Silver Spring) on Thursday, May 15, 10 am – 12 pm with Men of Reform Judaism – though all congregants are invited to join. Lunch is not included in this program but those interested in going to Parkway Deli afterwards are more than welcome!
If you have questions, please contact Jim Jaffe or Ed Cohen.
Register

WTF: Washington's Totally Fine!
2025-05-08 19:00 - 21:00
We are feeling the weight of these unprecedented times in Washington, DC. Join us to learn about what is happening from experts in our Temple Sinai congregation and spend time with our community. The evening will begin with a panel of Sinai members representing a broad range of perspectives, reflecting on the significance of this moment, and how it is impacting our community and our city.
Panelists are:

Lynn Sweet, Washington Bureau Chief from the Chicago Sun Times,
Steve Vladeck, Professor at Georgetown Law Center, author of NYT bestseller “The Shadow Docket”,
Royce Murray, Former Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy at the Department of Homeland Security,
Matt Frumin, DC Councilmember, Ward 3
Jamie Gorelick, Partner at WilmerHale, Former United States Deputy Attorney General

The panel will be followed by pizza, beer and a chance to keep talking to each other. Join us for an evening of learning, networking, and conspiring.
While we hope you can join us in person, the panel portion of the program can be viewed virtually. Please indicate your preference when you register.
Register

Live Taping of "Outlawed" Podcast
2025-04-27 15:00 - 17:00 | Temple Sinai
“A Rabbi, A Reverend, and an Abortionist Walk into a Podcast”
Join us at Temple Sinai for a special live taping of “Outlawed“, the groundbreaking podcast that brings real stories and urgent conversations around reproductive health, rights, and justice directly to listeners. Co-hosted by Dr. Beverly Gray and Dr. Jonas Swartz, Outlawed highlights the voices of patients, providers, and advocates navigating the shifting landscape of reproductive healthcare in America.
For this unique event, Bev and Jonas will be joined by Rabbi Hannah Goldstein of Temple Sinai in Washington, DC and Reverend Katey Zeh, CEO of the Religious Community for Reproductive Choice. Together, they will bring an interfaith lens to the conversation and explore how faith communities, healthcare providers, and advocates can stand together for reproductive dignity.
Following the taping, join us for a reception with light refreshments and the opportunity to continue the conversation with fellow attendees, advocates, and community leaders.
Please register in advance. Sponsorship opportunities are available; learn more here.
Register

Volunteer with TSMJR at A Wider Circle
2025-04-17 10:00 - 12:00
Volunteer at A Wider Circle (9159 Brookville Road in Silver Spring) on Thursday, April 17, 10 am – 12 pm with Men of Reform Judaism – though all congregants are invited to join. Lunch is not included in this program but those interested in going to Parkway Deli afterwards are more than welcome!
If you have questions, please contact Jim Jaffe or Ed Cohen.
Register

Train to be an Immigration Advocate
2025-04-07 14:00 - 16:00
Join attorney (and Temple Sinai member) Cam Crockett for a training session on Family Safety Planning and Standby Guardianship. During this two-hour training, you will learn how to help migrant families in Maryland fill out Standby Guardianship forms which allow parents to plan for the care of their minor children in the event of deportation or detention. You DO NOT need to be a lawyer to help families with this process so this event is open to all TS members!
Come learn more about why the need for these forms is so urgent and how you can help with this very important and timely task. This training is in-person only at Temple Sinai in the Beit Midrash. Please register in advance.
Register

Volunteer with TSMJR at A Wider Circle
2025-03-20 10:00 - 12:00
Volunteer at A Wider Circle (9159 Brookville Road in Silver Spring) on Thursday, March 20, 10 am – 12 pm with Men of Reform Judaism – though all congregants are invited to join. Lunch is not included in this program but those interested in going to Parkway Deli afterwards are more than welcome!
If you have questions, please contact Jim Jaffe or Ed Cohen.
Register

"Join or Die" Film Screening
2025-03-02 15:00 - 17:00
Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it.
In this feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America’s civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking “Bowling Alone” research into America’s decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy’s present crisis.
Flanked by influential fans and scholars — from Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker — as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Bob as he explores three urgent civic questions:

What makes democracy work?
Why is American democracy in crisis?
And, most importantly… What can we do about it?

Following the film screening, Rebecca Davis, co-director of the film, will lead a brief discussion and Q&A.
This program is co-sponsored by the Davis Center and TSWRJ. Please register in advance.
Register

Organizing in a New Administration: Where Do We Go From Here?
2025-02-23 11:30 - 12:30
Join Rabbi Hannah Goldstein and other Temple Sinai members for an open discussion as we look ahead to the coming months. What can we do to help our greater community? our friends? our families? ourselves?
This in-person discussion is open to all Temple Sinai adults and teens. The program will take place at Temple Sinai in the Lipman/Brickner rooms near the new main entrance to the building.
If you have questions, please reach out to Carole Brand or Jenny Cohen. Please RSVP by February 20.
Register

Reproductive Rights Shabbat
2025-02-21 18:30 - 20:00
Please join us for Temple Sinai’s Reproductive Rights Shabbat with guest speaker, Darcy Hirsh, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), and a Temple Sinai member. Ms. Hirsh leads the organization’s policy work at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as its critical advocacy in the courts. She will share her insights about the changing political environment. Our annual service coincides with Parshat Mishpatim to honor the Jewish value of reproductive freedom.
Join us prior to the service, starting at 5:45 pm, for a festive oneg.
Calling all clinicians, advocates, volunteers and educators of reproductive access and choices. Join us for the Motzi, followed by a group photo with Darcy Hirsh right after the service. We look forward to celebrating and honoring your important work.
***In honor of our guest speaker, we are recommending donations to NCJW’s Jewish Fund for Abortion Access. This fund supports patients by providing financial assistance to organizations directly helping those in need, funds NCJW’s rapid response actions— including preparing amicus briefs in lawsuits—and supports abortion justice advocacy and education at the state and local levels.

Volunteer with TSMRJ at A Wider Circle
2025-02-20 10:00 - 12:00
Volunteer at A Wider Circle (9159 Brookville Road in Silver Spring) on Thursday, February 20, 10 am – 12 pm with Men of Reform Judaism – though all congregants are invited to join. Lunch is not included in this program but those interested in going to Parkway Deli afterwards are more than welcome!
If you have questions, please contact Jim Jaffe or Ed Cohen.
Register

Border Trip in El Paso, Texas
2025-02-04 - 2025-02-08
Temple Sinai, led by Rabbi Roos, is taking a small group trip to the border for an immersive educational experience in the heart of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. We invite you to come and witness the resilience of the local communities, work to understand global migration, and explore the complexities of the borderlands. We hope you will join us for this transformative experience.
This trip is generously supported by the Zwerdling Memorial Fund.
Pricing:
$795 per person paid to Temple Sinai. You will book your own flights and hotel which are estimated at ~$400 per round trip flight and ~$800 per hotel room for 4 nights. Early bird discount of $100 for registrations received by December 5.
Financial Assistance is available due to the generous support of the Zwerdling Memorial Fund. Email Rabbi Goldstein to learn more or inquire.
Other items to note:

Passport is required
Spanish is not required but helpful
Space is very limited; we anticipate the trip filling up, possibly before the early bird deadline, so please register soon. If the trip does fill up, we will maintain a waitlist. Early registration (prior to November 25) is limited to Temple Sinai members.

For more information about the trip, including our Frequently Asked Questions, click here. For additional information, reach out to Jenny Cohen.
Register

Reproductive Health and Rights Group Zoom Meeting
2025-01-27 19:30 - 20:30
With the new Trump administration threatening to further decimate reproductive rights, please join us on Monday, January 27 at 7:30 PM to discuss the difficult road ahead. We will start with a check-in followed by the agenda to:
–finalize the details for the Reproductive Rights Shabbat, to be held on February 21
–explore if we want to plan a group service project and/or a fundraiser for a non-profit such as Meadow Reproductive Health.
–discuss topics for a possible live podcast taping at Temple Sinai (learn more about this exciting possibility at the meeting)
–consider additional educational programming topics for spring 2025.
Please RSVP at the link below. If you are unable to attend, please send your thoughts and ideas to Michelle Engelmann and Laura Blum Meisnere.
Register

Volunteer with TSMRJ at A Wider Circle
2025-01-16 10:00 - 12:00
Volunteer at A Wider Circle (9159 Brookville Road in Silver Spring) on Thursday, January 16, 10 am – 12 pm with Men of Reform Judaism – though all congregants are invited to join. Lunch is not included in this program but those interested in going to Parkway Deli afterwards are more than welcome!
If you have questions, please contact Jim Jaffe or Ed Cohen.
Register

Kulanu Parents' Gathering
2025-01-14 18:00 - 19:00
Join Rabbi Diamondstein and your peer-parents in the community lounge for an hour spent sharing and connecting around your and your children’s experiences with antisemitism. We’ll help you not only to connect in person, but also to join two emerging online spaces, formal and informal, for our parents to stay informed and in touch with each other. Rabbi Diamondstein will provide the coffee and donuts; all you need bring is yourselves!
