In the News

by Eric Hal Schwartz

Washington, D.C., was very busy last weekend. The inauguration alone brought in half a million visitors and filled the city with bustling crowds. Then, there were the people who did not have work because of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

As part of honoring Dr. King and his legacy, President Obama declared Saturday the National Day of Service, a time for people to volunteer in their communities and help those in need. The president started the tradition in 2009 and thousands across the country participated.

The Jewish community in Washington took part as well. The presidential inauguration committee asked the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue to sponsor an official Presidential Inauguration Shabbat as part of the National Day of Service.

"We were very honored and grateful to be approached," said Rabbi Scott Perlo, associate director of Jewish programming at Sixth & I and co-leader of the service.

The morning service at the synagogue, titled "A Service in the Spirit of Serving Others," featured a talk by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) in addition to the Shabbat and Torah service. The congresswoman spoke about the need for social action and how public service helps serve justice. Judaism advocates service to those in need and the community as a whole, and Wasserman Schultz said it informs her own opinions on the subject.

This was not the first time she had advocated for social justice. In December, Wasserman Schultz joined faith leaders from several religions at a press conference on the need to keep social services funded by Congress in light of the then-impending fiscal cliff.

Social action is important at Sixth & I. Programs like this are part of a larger schedule of social action programs such as a planned event in February for women to volunteer at a local food bank.

"There's a strong push for local justice," Perlo said.

The service also celebrated the upcoming second inauguration of President Obama.

"It's not partisan, we're celebrating the process of democracy," said Rabbi Shira Stutman, the director of Jewish programming at Sixth & I who co-led the service on Saturday.

"We're sharing in fellowship and celebration," she said.

The crowd at the synagogue grew quickly over the course of the service and many people brought cans to donate to the food bank as requested by the synagogue.

"We had about 450 people RSVP," Stutman said.

Combined with the previous evening's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day service, Perlo estimated more than 1,000 people attended the synagogue last weekend.

"Being part of the D.C. landscape is important," Perlo said.

After the service, attendees were invited to share a meal with some of the local homeless population in coordination with two nearby homeless shelters. Perlo said he looked forward to doing more to engage and help the less fortunate in the community, with opportunities likely to arise thanks to hosting the inaugural Shabbat.