Annual Report: Building Through Belonging
June 2024 - May 2025
Hello!
Amidst growing uncertainty here and around the world, the Den has remained a beacon for 20s, 30s, and 40s across the Greater Washington Jewish community. In a time when many are seeking deeper connection and meaning, longtime members and newcomers alike have turned to the Den for intimate Jewish experiences, one-to-one rabbinic care, and sacred spaces to show up fully—vulnerable, transparent, and real.
Throughout this past year, we’ve continued partnering with Den members to co-create the vibrant, dynamic Jewish community they long for—spaces for deep learning, expansive ritual, and meaningful connection. Through the Den’s unique approach to building community from the ground up, members are not only shaping the Den itself, but stepping into leadership in their homes, communities, and beyond—bringing creativity, care, and Jewish wisdom into every part of their lives.
We invite you to explore this year’s Annual Report: Building Through Belonging, which includes stories, photos, videos, and powerful reflections from Den members across our community.
Thank you for your partnership and for helping build this community together.
B’Shalom - In Peace,
the Den Staff Team
the Den’s Vision
the Den creates intentional and intimate spaces of belonging in Jewish community with three unique elements:
One-to-one Rabbinic Relationships - We start with the person before us, ensuring that each person has access to a one-to-one relationship with a Den rabbi who helps them develop a personalized roadmap for their life journey.
Intimate Jewish Settings - As we get to know people in our community, we work with them to co-create the Jewish community they truly yearn for – spaces for deep Jewish learning and living, self-exploration, ritual, and true communal belonging.
Leadership Empowerment - People in our community tell us how their experiences at the Den help build their confidence and ownership over their Jewish lives and invite them to view the world through a Jewish lens - feeling empowered to step into “firsts” as Jewish leaders in their homes, the broader Jewish community, and beyond; making a difference in the world.
Programmatic Highlights
From Lt to Rt, Top Row: Den Vibes Remix: Evening of Communal Music + Havdalah, Tashlich Learning + Reflections, Den Leaders at Federation’s Cornerstone
From Lt to Rt, Bottom Row: Illuminate: Hannukah Learning + Creative Arts Exploration, Kayaking Tashlich on the Potomac, Rejoice: A Creative Arts Exploration + Learning in the Sukkah
“Co-leading a gathering with the Den was a truly rewarding experience. While I've enjoyed participating in Jewish communal life for quite some time, I never thought I was qualified to step into any kind of leadership role. I figured, ‘What do I know? I'm just another 20-something.’
Then a Den rabbi invited me to draw on my knowledge of Art History and passion for Jewish community to co-create a Den visit to a local art museum. Together, we guided Den members in viewing works by Jewish artists and reflecting on their art, life stories, and related Jewish sources. Getting to see my love for art converge with my interest in Jewish learning, all with the support of a Den rabbi — it was so incredibly meaningful. I’m now feeling more empowered to step up and lead in the future!”
- Mary, DC
Meeting the Moment with Rabbinic Pastoral and Communal Care
With the DMV uniquely impacted by federal layoffs and funding shifts—rippling across nonprofits, employers, and local resources—Den members navigating job loss and personal uncertainty increasingly turned to the Den rabbis for rabbinic pastoral care (emotional support and spiritual guidance).
In the wake of the horrific murders of Sarah Milgram z”l and Yaron Lischinsky z”l, the Den rabbis further offered emotional support, spiritual care, and rabbinic guidance as Den members came together in grief and heartbreak. At these critical moments, the Den also continues to serve as a vital connector, linking members in need to the generous financial, professional, and mental health services provided by the Greater Washington Jewish community.
“I feel humbled and blessed to know and learn from the Den’s rabbis, who have received me with such grace, warmth, and dignity in each and every encounter. The teaching they’ve shared directly from Torah and from Jewish wisdom more broadly has provided a salve for the surprising wealth of quandaries I’ve wrestled with in the last 10 months.
Though the Rabbis teachings have been undoubtedly poignant and topical, the ability to reach out to them via text or arrange a one-on-one coffee conversation to discuss life’s challenges has been as new to me as it has been touching.”
- Petal, MD
Empowering Emerging Jewish Leaders
At the Den, community members learn not only to participate, but to meaningfully shape and lead Jewish life. Den rabbis listen closely to members’ interests and guide them toward leadership opportunities that align with their passions. In modeling what it means to be part of a Jewish community, we mold the future generation of active Jewish communal members and leaders.
Just this year:
53 Den Leaders co-created, facilitated, and/or supported the creation of over 120 Jewish experiences exploring the intersections of Jewish wisdom with philosophy, art, music, nature, and more
We launched peer-led offerings, led by Den leaders - complete with training and guidance from our Den rabbis:
10-week course on Hebrew Language + Israeli Culture
Queer Rosh Chodesh (new month) Circle
Jewish Ethics Learning Circle
Den members are also selected to serve on the Den’s Board of Directors and Advisory Council, providing mentorship as well as an opportunity to share their insights with the rest of our lay leadership team.
Den leaders go on to serve on synagogue and organizational boards and committees across the Greater Washington Jewish community, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
“As a facilitator at the Den, I learned a valuable lesson: you don’t have to be loud or forceful to lead. In fact, the moments that shine brightest were those when I helped every Den member feel seen and heard throughout our learning and conversation. Leading the Jewish Ethics Circle taught me that I can be a leader by showing up as my full self—a lesson I’ll always carry with me.”
- Rachel, NoVA
Den Vibes Remix: Havdalah + Singing Circle
Yes, we have a music team at the Den! Our “Den Vibes Remix,” held at the Edlavitch DC JCC and attended by over 60 people, explored the theme of refuge: how we seek, create, and find sanctuary through music and communal singing.
Throughout the winter, members of the Den’s Music Team collaborated with the Den rabbis and Micah Hendler, Founder and Artistic Director of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, to reimagine how the Den could offer even more meaningful spaces for joy, sacredness, and connection through shared Jewish music and song.
Through a thoughtful and strategic planning process, an expanded Music Team—featuring even more Den member musicians and beautiful instruments—helped shape a powerful musical experience. We look forward to the next Den Vibes!
Missed Den Vibes or want to relive the magic of that evening?
Click below to enjoy a taste from Den Vibes Remix:
Cohort-Based Immersive Learning Circles
This year, the Den offered three Learning Circle Cohorts, providing spaces where members go deep in Jewish learning, self-exploration, and building stronger communal connections.
The Learning Circle Cohorts—a group for men, a group for women, and a group for couples (Jewish, interfaith, and multifaith)—met over six months in the homes of Den rabbis and members. The Men’s and Women’s Circles explored topics including Jewish identity and spirituality, Jewish communal engagement and leadership, Jewish history, Zionism, gender and ritual, Shabbat, holidays, and more. The Couples Circle covered many of these themes, with added focus on building a shared Jewish home as partners, communicating across differences, and nurturing relationships through a Jewish lens.
Each cohort culminated in a unique Shabbat experience where participants stepped into leadership—guiding rituals, setting intentions, sharing teachings of Torah, and creating a sacred container for the community around the table. These gatherings were both a celebration of learning and a chance to build skills and confidence to lead Shabbat and holiday rituals in their own homes and out in the greater community.
After finishing school, I missed diving deeply into a topic and wanted to learn more about Judaism and Jewish spirituality. Before discovering the Den, I often felt intimidated in classes that assumed everyone had a strong Jewish educational background. I found other Jewish spaces that offered rich discussion, but not much teaching.
Jewish learning at the Den hits the sweet spot. The Den’s rabbis curate deep, meaningful explorations of texts, rituals, and holidays I wouldn’t have encountered on my own. At the same time, they create a welcoming space where people of all backgrounds feel comfortable sharing reflections and asking questions. I’ve grown so much in my Jewish learning and practice at the Den, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
- Jennifer, DC
Inaugural Donor Salon
Held in May 2025, the Den’s inaugural Donor Salon Dessert Reception offered a powerful glimpse into the bold vision guiding the Den’s next chapter. Throughout the evening, we heard moving stories from remarkable Den members — from empowered leadership journeys to finding a Jewish spiritual home in the face of antisemitism and beyond — with each reflection highlighting the Den’s deep impact on Jewish identity, leadership, and community. Small group sessions then let attendees experience the Den's secret sauce firsthand: sacred spaces where everyone feels invited to engage in deep Jewish learning and exploration — authentically and vulnerably — because that’s where real growth and connection begin.
“I came to the Den looking for learning and connection—and found so much more. Over time, I stepped into leadership in ways I never imagined. The Den trained me as a peer leader, and I’ve since helped lead High Holy Day hike + learning experiences, Passover Seders, and now serve on the rabbinic search team.
What sets the Den apart is how it invites you not just to show up, but to lead. The rabbis saw potential in me and nurtured it every step of the way.
Because of the Den, I’ve gained the confidence and skills to be a community builder, creating Jewish spaces that are meaningful, inclusive, and alive. I don’t just feel part of this community—I help shape it.”
-Ethan, DC
Engagement Metrics for FY 2025:
Communal Growth:
259 NEW Den Participants
Engagement by Numbers:
1125 Attendances in 129 Classes + Gatherings
587 Rabbinic pastoral care and life cycle support interactions held by Den rabbis with community members
229 People sought out a Den rabbi for one to one rabbinic pastoral care and/or life cycle support who would not otherwise have had a rabbi to connect with
the Den’s Board of Directors + Advisory Council Members
We are grateful to our stellar team of leaders and advisors. The Den’s Board and Advisory Council members provide wisdom, guidance, and support as we work to further grow the Den organizationally and continue to best serve 20s-40s throughout our community. Learn more about our Board of Directors and Advisory Council Members at the links!
Adina Dubin Barkinskiy, Board member
Gary Berman, AC member
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, co-founder + AC member
Scott Brown, AC member
Craig Chanoff, AC member
Kari Dunn Saratovsky, AC member
Emily Eisenstadt, AC + Den member
Rabbi Greg Harris, Board member
Jerry Herman, AC member
Sarah Hurwitz, AC member
Billy Kreisberg, AC member
Emily London, AC member
Rabbi Steven Rein, Board member
Daniel Rosenberg, AC + Den member
Rabbi William Rudolph z”l, co-founder + Past President
Jeff Rum, Board member
Rabbi Michael Safra, Board member
Diane L. Schilit, Co-President, Board of Directors
Dani Schneider, Secretary + Den member
Katie Spector, Past Co-President + Den Alumna
Ben Wacks, AC + Den member
Will Warwick, Co-President, Board of Directors + Den member
Robin Weinberg, AC member
Jessika Wellisch, Board Member
Thank you to all of our incredible Board + AC Members!
Welcome Rachel Stevens, Inaugural Director of Operations!
This April we enthusiastically welcomed Rachel Stevens as the Den’s inaugural Director of Operations! With over a decade of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and operations, Rachel brings exceptional leadership, innovation, and a passion for operational excellence to her role at the Den. As the Den enters its ninth year, Rachel will play a pivotal role in further streamlining internal operations. Rachel will work in partnership with our staff team to increase the Den’s impact across the community and the wider Jewish landscape. You can learn more about Rachel, here.
the Den’s First-Time Grant of $100,000 from the Bender Foundation!
With tremendous gratitude, earlier this year we recognized the blessing of a very generous first-time gift of $100,000 to the Den Collective from the Bender Foundation! This significant gift allows the Den to expand our reach and deepen our impact, intentionally building Jewish community and curating dynamic offerings for 20s, 30s, and 40s throughout the Greater Washington Jewish community.
The Bender Foundation makes this gift in loving memory of Rabbi William Rudolph z”l and his tremendous legacy in our community. Rabbi Rudolph z”l was uniquely aware of the evolving needs of young adults and understood that innovative Jewish organizations like the Den were essential in our communal ecosystem. We are deeply grateful to the Bender Foundation, its Board members and staff, for their generous support, partnership, and valuable recognition of the mission of the Den.
the Den Collective looks forward to many years of continued partnership with the Bender Foundation!