Services
For more about High Holidays, see below.
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES - 10/5
Join us for Shabbat Morning Services on Saturday, October 5 at 9:15 am (Shabbat Shuvah) at Friends Meeting of Washington (2111 Decatur Pl NW). Kids programming will begin at 10:30 am. A potluck picnic lunch will follow davening; see below for more details.
High Holidays 5785 at DC Minyan
DC Minyan will be meeting for Rosh Hashana (10/3 and 10/4) and Yom Kippur (10/11 and 10/12) at Friends Meeting of Washington (2111 Decatur Pl NW). An email with specific details on times has been sent to those registered for Rosh Hashana. If you have not received it, please email info@dcminyan.org. (An email will be sent out next week with Yom Kippur details to those who have registered.)
HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS
Yom Kippur services are now full. Sign up for the waitlist here. If you have any questions, please email info@dcminyan.org.
If your plans have changed and you are no longer able to join the services you signed up for, please email info@dcminyan.org as soon as possible so we can give your spot(s) to someone else.
VOLUNTEERING OVER THE CHAGIM
Putting on the full set of chagim services requires not just daveners and leyners, but volunteers to assist with logistics, set up spaces, greet guests, organize food, and help with programming. Help make sure our community High Holiday services run smoothly by signing up for volunteer slots on this spreadsheet. Thank you for being a supporter of our holiday programming!
LULAV AND ETROG ORDERS - ORDER BY TODAY
Get your arba minim through DC Minyan! Order here by 11:59 pm TONIGHT (October 1).
- A set with a standard etrog costs $28 for members and $33 for non-members.
- A set with a deluxe etrog costs $33 for members and $38 for non-members.
Pickup will be on October 15–17. For any questions, please email Ayelet Weiss at lulav@dcminyan.org.
TASHLICH - 10/3
Join DC Minyan for Tashlich on the first day of Rosh Hashana, Thursday, October 3 at 4:30 pm (note new time). It will take place at the following two locations:
- P Street Beach in the West End. Start at the corner of P St NW and 23nd St NW and walk down the steps toward Rock Creek Park.
- Rock Creek Trail Bridge between Cleveland Park and Mount Pleasant. From the Klingle Ford (Klingle Rd/Porter St NW) bridge over Rock Creek, turn toward Rock Creek Trail, then turn left on the trail (towards the National Zoo)
SHABBAT SHUVAH POTLUCK - 10/5
Are you done with cooking full meals after two days of yontif? Join DC Minyan for a potluck lunch in Mitchell Park (S St between 22nd and 23rd St NW) following davening on Shabbat Shuvah, Saturday, October 5, at approximately 12:45 pm. Sign up here to bring a dish.
TZOM GEDALIAH - 10/06
The minor fast day of Tzom Gedaliah is observed on Sunday, October 6. The fast begins at 5:50 am and ends at 7:12 pm. Tzom Gedaliah commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah ben Achikam and the end of Jewish autonomy following the destruction of the first Temple. See below for more information on DC Minyan’s commemoration event for the October 7 anniversary taking place on October 6.
SUKKOT DAVENING - 10/17–10/25
DC Minyan will be meeting for services on the following dates:
- 1st Day Sukkot, Thursday, October 17 at 9:15 am, at Friends Meeting of Washington (2111 Decatur Pl NW)
- 2nd Day Sukkot, Friday, October 18 at 9:15 am, at Friends Meeting of Washington (2111 Decatur Pl NW)
- Shabbat Morning Services, Saturday, October 19 at 9:15 am, at Friends Meeting of Washington (2111 Decatur Pl NW)
- Shemini Atzeret, Thursday, October 24 at 9:15 am, at All Souls (1500 Harvard St NW)
- Simchat Torah Evening celebrations, Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 pm, at All Souls (1500 Harvard St NW)
- Simchat Torah Morning celebrations, Friday, October 25 at 9:15 am, at All Souls (1500 Harvard St NW)
Upcoming events and programs
DC MINYAN'S OBSERVANCE OF OCTOBER 7th ANNIVERSARY
DC Minyan will mark the one year anniversary of the October 7th attacks in two ways. We invite the community to join us for one or both of these events:
- On Sunday, October 6 at 8:00 pm, we will gather at The Chastleton (1701 16th St. NW) for an evening of singing and togetherness. There will be no speeches and very little talking. Instead, we will seek comfort in simply being together in our grief. We will also offer modest refreshments as Tzom Gedaliah concludes.
- On Monday, October 7 at 7:00 pm, we will join other DC Jewish communities at the gathering hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Jewish Community Relations Council at The Anthem (901 Wharf St SW). The organizers describe the event as “An Evening of Remembrance, Resilience, and Hope for a Brighter Future.” For more information and to register, click here.
SUKKAH HOP - 10/19
Register here for the annual DC Minyan Sukkah Hop on Saturday, October 19! Groups will depart from Friends after davening, "hopping" from sukkah to sukkah and eating along the way. Sukkah themes this year will include Ballgame, Ice Cream Bar, Tolkien, and more! Cost of the event is $10 per adult and free for children under 12. Registration closes on October 11.
Get Involved
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
DC Minyan's 5785 Membership Drive is underway! To become a member, please complete this form. New members will be able to register for High Holiday tickets as soon as their membership is processed. If you or someone you know is interested in joining DC Minyan, please visit our membership page or contact Rachel Lipman and Ronit Kempler at membership@dcminyan.org for more information. We look forward to building and strengthening our community!
COMMUNITY NEWS
BARUCH DAYAN HAEMET
The DC Minyan community extends deep condolences to Ariel Lelchook, and to Jonathan Mansfield and Eitan Mansfield, on the death of Ariel's brother, Noah Lelchook.
May Ariel, Jonathan, and Eitan, along with their family, be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
We would like to welcome the following new members who have recently joined our community: Lena Ben-Gideon, Samuel Levy, Tamar Hacohen, Michael Tomer, and Ella Tomer.
Volunteer Spotlight
Leading up to the high holidays when our volunteer need is greatest (did we mention you should sign up to support high holidays here?), we will be spotlighting some more of the wonderful community members who keep DC Minyan thriving. Note that after chagim, this volunteer spotlight cadence will change from weekly to monthly.
KAYLIN BUGOS
Simchat Torah food organizer, Programming Committee volunteer, former Steering Committee member, former Hospitality Chair, former Special Events Chair, former Kiddush volunteer, former Shavuot Retreat Coordinator, random source of institutional memory
Member since 2015
Q: Kaylin! What are you up to in DC? What fills your time?
A: Professionally, I work for FINRA, using data to regulate the stock market. Outside of work, you’re most likely to find me taking out my stand-up paddleboard, going out for a hike with my dog, Pippa, or taking a dance class. If it’s Shabbat or chag, there’s a good chance I’m hosting a meal with 3 more people than I planned to invite, and serving double the amount of food they will actually eat.
Q: Tell us about your experience getting involved with DC Minyan.
A: I moved to DC right after college and knew that DC Minyan was the right fit for me religiously. What I didn’t realize at the time was that it would become the cornerstone of my entire DC life and where all of my closest adult friendships have been made. I joined the Minyan when it had a reputation for being unfriendly and hard to break into. A number of us who took on volunteer roles in those years made it our mission to change that, and I like to think that the incredible growth we have seen in the Minyan since 2021 is proof that it worked! I’ve served in a number of volunteer roles over the years - if it involves feeding the Minyan, I’ve definitely done it! I’ve also planned many Shavuot events (both retreats and staycations) and served on the Steering Committee from 2019 to 2020.
Q: You volunteered to co-lead Simchat Torah food shopping this year. Why do you like that job specifically?
A: The annual DC Minyan Simchat Torah Costco run is the most joyous time of the year. The Simchat Torah volunteers* essentially serve three full meals over the course of an 18-hour period. To make that happen, we rely on multiple Costco carts filled to the brim and an energy akin to a kid in a candy shop. If Costco carries a fun snack with a hechsher, you can guarantee we’ll try it. The car tetris required to get it all back to DC is all part of the fun - as are the vaguely questionable seasonal flavors of whipped cream we’ll buy.
*Note from the editor: sign up here to be a volunteer over Simchat Torah.