Uncategorized

D.C. Jews know how to party

Headed down to DC this past weekend with Kol Zimrah (a NYC-based indie congregation in which many Jewschoolers participate) for a pow-wow with Tikkun Leil Shabbat (a DC-based indie congregation in which, likewise, many Jewschoolers participate). We took over the Religious Action Center‘s headquarters for an evening of songful praise and a bangin’ veggie potluck, followed by a big ol’ picnic in Malcolm X Park (or Meridian Hill or whatever it’s government name is) Shabbos afternoon.


In the evening, following seudah shlishit, we attended a fundraiser for Jews United for Justice, hosted by Jewschooler Backbeat (who was also part of the live musical entertainment). Photos of the evening’s festivities here.
After spending yesterday recovering, I headed over to Silver Spring for a community poetry reading at the new Moishe House which became an impromptu klezmer party when the Vulgar Bulgars (a central VA-based and incidentally non-Jewish klezmer band) showed up to rock the house down.
Yes — we’re aware of the 9 days and all… But how could you pass this up?

Photos from the Moishe House event here.
Is it any wonder I’m looking for work in the DC area right now? This place is hoppin’!

13 thoughts on “D.C. Jews know how to party

  1. In case it matters to someone, half of the Vulgar Bulgars are Jewish by one definition or another (though it looks like y’all only had a trio instead of the usual quartet, so in that case its 2/3s). Thanks for the clip though – those guys are friends of mine and i’m glad to see ’em all happy playing music.

  2. Thanks to our hosts in DC for a rocking weekend! The second half of the 2nd annual KZ/TLS exchange will be the weekend of October 12 (Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan) in New York. All are invited!
    Yes — we’re aware of the 9 days and all…
    Last night was Rosh Chodesh! The “9 days” is a misnomer – really it’s 7 at most.

  3. ACTUALLY, rosh chodesh Av is NOT an excuse to listen to music…the 9 days remains 9 because EVERY authority (shulchan orech, mishnah berurah)says rosh chodesh is the REASON the 9 days start then!
    How can you pass it up? The same way we pass up pork and work on shabbat…because thats what we are supposed to do.
    Just because you may not see it again is no excuse.

  4. Sam- what BZ said. According to many, those halachot and minhagim only really kick in during “shavua she’chal bo”– the week that tisha b’av falls during.
    So I’m pretty sure it’s not “every authority”. I can’t give sources at the moment (I’ve misplaced my shulchan aruch/mishnah brurah, not sure how I managed that) but I’ll work on it.
    Mobius– thanks for posting the video and the pics– it’s fun to see what we looked like 🙂

  5. I wondered what all those Jews were doing by the fountain in Malcolm X Park. I mean, besides being Jews…relaxing and enjoying shabbat.

  6. If it wasn’t a party in honor of Rosh Chodesh, I probably would have ducked out. Or at least not allowed myself to be picked up onto someone’s feet 🙂

  7. The aveilut starts AFTER R”H Av, per S”A, for Sephardim, and extends to 1 day after 9 Av. Ashkenazim start aveilut on R”H Av, but they can cease aveilut right after the fast.

  8. Some Sources:
    Rambam: zmanim, 5:6– lists a whole bunch of things that start the week of tisha b’av (haircuts and laundry, etc. mentions minhag of not eating meat or bathing during that week. also mentions custom of not eating meat during all 9 days.
    Tur- OH 551: from beginning of Av, we decrease joy– decrease business transactions, and building and planting. especially not pleasant or happy building like marriage houses and shade trees and fragrant tress. Can get engaged (erusin) w/o a party, but can’t get married.
    Week of tisha b’av– don’t cut hair or wash clothes (some possible exceptions for certain types of laundry for underwear?). mentions Ashkenazi minhag of avoiding meat and wine from Rosh Chodesh Av through Tisha b’Av.
    Shulhan Arukh– OH 551: From Rosh Chodesh, decrease business, and happy / colorful building (see above) and planting. Don’t get married, and don’t have an engagement party, though you can get engaged without a party.
    Week of Tisha b’Av– don’t cut hair or do laundry. at all.
    So…
    1. no one got engaged at that party, so according to all Rishonim (pre ~1500 CE rabbis) it was technically just fine. granted the klezmer and dancing didn’t exactly decrease anyone’s joy 🙂 so a bit shaky on the spirit of the law.
    2.it’s wise to be careful with phrases like “every authority” (hello, Rambam?). Also wise to be careful with phrases like “the aveilut”/ mourning) since there have been different opinions about what is prohibited, and when which prohibitions kick in.
    3. Yes, I know the common American Orthodox custom is to be really strict. Machmir-ness (stringency) can be a slippery slope indeed.
    4. Yes, I know I’ve skipped a couple hundred years of halachic rulings, but my university library is either short on that section, or has hidden it well. Besides, anything stricter than the above is gonna be in the realm of minhag (custom) and we all have a fair sense of how different customs have played out today.

  9. Yes, yes, yes! DC has changed since you all did your AIPAC and congressional internships. I’ve been in Israel- sorry to have missed you!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.