Dear Friends,

We write during a time of year, Elul, when we consider both events of the past year and our goals for the coming year.  For Rosh Pina, like synagogues and minyanim around the world, it is also a time when, as we plan for the future, we consider our finances and the funding we will need for the coming year. 

It has been an exciting year for Rosh Pina.  We are now over 4 years old.  We have celebrated numerous engagements, marriages, and births in our community!  We have also seen changes and transitions, as many of our founding members have departed downtown Washington, D.C., for the suburbs and beyond. 

This past year, we have been privileged to study with Judy Klitsner and Elie Holzer, both Shira Hadasha founders, during scholar-in-residence weekends.  We held our second Purim and Shavuot programs, welcoming Rachel Rosenthal as a visiting scholar.  We have also hosted community lunches at a subsidized rate to encourage community-building, a program we hope to continue and build on.

With this year drawing to a close, we look to the future with both excitement and trepidation.  We hope to continue our growth by expanding on our community lunches and hosting exciting educational programs.  We are also planning programs that look at our own halakhic practice, as well as workshops on prayer that build on our recent Elie Holzer shabbaton.

As we enter this new year, we are also searching for a new location for our minyan. The Hamilton House and GW Hillel have served us well, but the Hillel building will soon be closed for renovations, and we would like to consolidate to one location. While such a move is exciting, it also has the potential to be very costly. 

In the past, Rosh Pina has eschewed membership dues out of a desire not to differentiate between members and non-members.  Instead, we raise most of our funds through an annual Tishrei Appeal.  We intend to continue that tradition.  However, we also are in greater need of funds this year due to our need to find a new space.  Accordingly, we'd like to ask everybody to dig a little deeper this year, and to consider a base donation of $150 per adult and, for those who can afford it, a larger donation if possible.  At the same time, we understand that many of you are either students or early in your careers.  We understand those limits and greatly appreciate donations of any amount.

To donate to Rosh Pina's Tishrei Appeal, please use the link here:

 

 

If you do not have a paypal account, please email info@roshpinadc.org and we can arrange alternate forms of payment.

Finally, as much as money, we need your help and time.  If you would like to get involved in the Rosh Pina community, please contact us at info@roshpinadc.org.  We are always looking for more volunteers to lead services, read Torah, gabbai, help with Kiddush, send out announcements, organize community meals and social programs, and more!
 
Thank you for all of your support and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Ari
Divi
Jesse
Justin
Natalie