Koan tree | winter thaw, ducks

From recent walks; Bright Pond, Reston VA.

Operation Understanding DC | weekend retreat, meeting with Shoah survivors

Operation Understanding DC, a program for Black and Jewish teenagers in the DC area whose mission since 1993 is "... empowering a generation of social justice leaders who will promote respect, understanding and cooperation while fighting to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination."

The participants recently visited relevant sites in Farmville and Richmond, Virginia, and returned to DC to hear testimony from two Holocaust survivors,  Peter Feigl and Rose-Helene Spreiregen. They also met with students from an allied program from Atlanta, Georgia, the Black Jewish Teen Initiative.

Thanks to the OUDC students, to Mr. Feigl and Ms. Spreiregen, and OUDC's staff, Dr. Linda J. Mann, Xochi Quetzali Cartland, Kyla Goldsby, and Alix Swann.

I have been documenting OUDC since its founding by Karen Kalish in 1993.

Peter Feigl

Rose-Helene Spreiregen.

Baymele in concert

I recently photographed the fine Bay Area klezmer ensemble Baymele. Their DC concert was co-sponsored by my congregation, Fabrangen, and the good folks at the DC Klezmer Workshop.

Baymele is: Matthew Stein - violin; Dmitri Gaskin - accordion; and Misha Khalikulov - cello.

Shayne shayne musik.  

A Winters Tale | Ice and thawing on Bright Pond, with koan tree

 

Gutkin/Rushefsky - DC Klezmer Workshop

Tsimbl master Pete Rushefsky and Grammy-winning fiddler Lisa Gutkin of the Klezmatics gave a master class for the DC Klezmer Workshop at Adas Israel congregation. 

Thanks to Pete, Lisa, Judy Barlas and Howard Ungar for making it all happen. Ot azoy!

Jews Against ICE | Protest

A large demonstration by a coalition of Jewish organizations in support of immigrants and against the current policies and practices by ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency of the Homeland Security Department. The entirely peaceful but rousing protest was held in front of of ICE's Washington DC headquarters. Whistles and shofars were blown, and Hebrew prayers and chanting were offered up.

Among the sponsoring groups involved were Truah, Bend the Arc, J Street, HIAS, Jews United for Justice, the Jewish Labor Committee, and many area synagogues and havurot.