Chapter Activities - Washington, DC

Chapter Leader
Deepa Damansky - Chair

Steering Committee
Marc Greidinger
Judith Lelchook
Jennifer Russell
David Wittenberg

SPONSORED BY WASHINGTON DC AREA BRIT TZEDEK V'SHALOM

March 9
11:15am
Temple Rodef Shalom
2100 Westmoreland Street
Falls Church, Virginia 22043

Brit Tzedek v'Shalom's Washington Representative, Rob Levy, will be speaking at a panel discussion at Temple Rodef Shalom titled, "Peace and Security for Israel: Prospects for the Annapolis Negotiations."

February 19, 2008
7:00 PM
At the home of a Brit Tzedek member

Discussion led by Yehuda Shaul, founder Breaking the Silence.

Due to limited spacing, RSVP is required if planning to attend. In order to RSVP, please write to dr_samuel@yahoo.com. Once your RSVP is received, you will be sent the address of the event as well as follow-up details.

February 11, 2008
12:00-1:30 PM
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue

Breaking the Silence: Israeli Soldiers’ Testimony on Service in the West Bank
A briefing and photo exhibit by Yehuda Shaul

Please RSVP to the Foundation for Middle East Peace by email at info@fmep.org.

February 8, 2008
12:00-1:30 PM
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue

Talk by Menachem Klein

Please RSVP to the Foundation for Middle East Peace by email at info@fmep.org.

December 9, 2007
5:30-8:30 PM
Moishe House, 639 Mississippi Avenue, Silver Spring

Peace Chanukah Celebration

November 11, 2007
6:30-8:30 PM
George Mason University’s Arlington Campus (Virginia Square Metro)
3330 N Washington Blvd, Truland Building, 5th Floor, Arlington, VA

Please join us as we meet to socialize, strategize, and plan an action for peace around the US led Annapolis Peace Conference at the end of the month. This is an important opportunity to mobilize effectively as a chapter and present a strong voice for peace and justice. We will provide refreshments so please let us know if you can join us.

For more information please contact the Washington DC Chapter or call 703-879-8804 / 703-994-0896

October 18, 2007
12:30 PM
Josephine Butler Parks Center
2437 Fifteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-GO-2-PARK (202-462-7275)

One Voice Movement in DC Press Conference

At the Thursday press conference Darya Shaikh, the Executive Director of OneVoice US, will talk about the challenges and successes OneVoice has faced up to this point.

For more information, please contact the Washington DC Chapter.

October 18 , 2007, 12:00PM - 3:00PM
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom DC Chapter will unite with moderate Israelis, Palestinians, and international supporters around the world to demand peace, stability, and real hope for prosperity for all in the region by participating in the One Voice Movement's One Million Voices Washington, DC event on Capital Hill. The DC Chapter will be actively working to educate attendees about the issues and to promote Brit Tzedek v'Shalom's message of peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians.

Please E-Mail the Washington, DC Chapter for more infomation.

September 9th (Sunday) from 5:30pm-7:30pm
Skewer’s Restaurant
1633 P St NW, Wash. DC 20036 (3rd Floor)
(3 Blocks East from Dupont Circle Metro

Joining Together With One Voice for Peace to Denounce Violence and Marginalize Extremists on Both Sides of the Israeli Palestinian Conflict:
Brit Tzedek v’Shalom’s DC Chapter & The One Voice Movement
Hold a Workshop on Creating Peace Strategies for Israel and Palestine This is an opportunity to hear directly from Israeli and Palestinian peace activists and speak with them about their campaign for peace.
Because of Limited Seating, RSVP is required
Please Contact Lee Diamond to reserve your place: leedynamo@gmail.com

August 5, 2007, 5:30pm-7:00pm
Nonviolence Strategies to Heal Israel and Palestine: Reflections by the Executive Director for Rabbis for Human Rights and one of Israel's Leading Nonviolence Practitioners Rabbi Arik Ascherman & Certified Nonviolence Trainer and Peace Activist Lee Diamond
At Busboys and Poets 2021 14th St NW, Wash. DC 20009 (2 Blocks from U-Street Cardozo Metro Stop)
For More Information, Contact Lee Diamond: Phone: (703) 994-0896. E-mail: leedynamo@gmail.com

May 7, 2007, 7:00pm-9:00pm
At Timberlake's Restaurant, 1726 Connecticut Ave. NW, (about 2 blocks north of Dupont Circle Metro) We'll be in the back room.

Join us at Timberlake's to hear from and meet Jihad Abu Zneid. Zneid serves as a representative from Jerusalem on the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) to which she was elected for a four year term in 2006. She is one of 17 women in the PLC, the legislative arm of the Palestinian National Authority (PA). It is a fully elected unicameral body of 132 seats and, along with the directly elected President, governs the PA. She serves on the Jerusalem, Prisoners, and Refugees Committees. Abu Zneid is also founder and head of the Administrative Committee of the Women's Centre of the Shufat Refugee Camp (WCSRC) in metropolitan Jerusalem. WCSRC is an independent Palestinian NGO that offers a nursery school and kindergarten, library, literacy programs, fitness and diet education, vocational training, leadership development for young women, and a children's summer camp.

To view an interview with Jihad click here.
The event is free. To RSVP click here or call 703-994-0896.

March 25, 2007, 11:30AM - 2:00PM
Potluck Brunch Meeting
We've scheduled a Potluck brunch meeting to discuss Brit Tzedek v'Shalom's "Let's Talk" campaign and using the House Party as an organizing tool. This is an opportunity for you to review the Combatants for Peace dvd and share ideas about the campaign.

To RSVP or receive more information about the meeting please contact us by E-Mail. Monday February 5, 2007, 6:30 PM
Meeting of Steering Committee
Meeting will take place in the upstairs area of Zorbas Restaurant at Dupont Circle. The address is 1612 20th St. NW. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Monday, November 13, 7:30 PM
Steering Committee Elections
Please join us on Monday, November 13 at 7:30 for the new steering committee elections. We'll be meeting at the Teaism in Penn Quarter at 400 8th Street NW (near Gallery Place-Chinatown metro). If you're planning to run for a position on the committee please email Rebecca Zimmerman a brief description about yourself and why you'd like to run. For directions, click here.

August 24, 2006
Brit Tzedek DC Metro Chapter Meeting
Please join us for our meeting at Teaism, located at 400 8th Street, NW (Archives/Navy Memorial metro stop). We'll be discussing steering committee elections and the ceasefire in Israel. We encourage you to submit your agenda suggestions to us by Wednesday evening. Please email them to Rebecca Zimmerman. We're very excited that new folks will be joining our steering committee especially at this crucial time for our organization. It's never to late to be involved!

July 25, 2006
DC Metro Chapter Meeting
6:15 PM at Zorba's, 1612 20th Street NW. Join us to touch base tomorrow evening before chapter Rebecca Zimmerman heads out of town next week. Please come and meet us in Zorba's at 6:15 PM this upcoming Wednesday evening. Zorba's is located at 1612 20th Street, NW, near the Dupont Circle metro stop. To RSVP please call Rebecca on her cell at (202) 236-9518.

July 16, 2006
Brit Tzedek DC Metro Chapter Meeting
As we're sure you have been reading, the situation in Israel has been steadily worsening with the hostage crises in Gaza and Lebanon. It was recently reported that the Israeli army bombed the Lebanon airport and that Hezbollah's rockets have hit Haifa. Brit Tzedek DC is calling an emergency meeting for THIS SUNDAY so that we can talk about our local chapter's next steps. Please respond immediately to let us know what time and location works best for you. The meeting will be held either at the home of Rebecca Zimmerman in Van Ness or at our local hangout. Please contact her at (202) 236-9518 if you'd like to talk, offer suggestions, vent or whatever!

February 26, 2006
TOWN HALL CONFERENCE CALL WITH AKIVA ELDAR - 3:00 pm. Please join us for a house party and a conference call discussion on the Israeli elections with Akiva Eldar, chief political columnist for Ha’aretz. For directions or for more information, please email us.

January 17, 2006
WASHINGTON OFFICE INAUGURAL RECEPTION - 5:30pm – 7:00 pm, 2168 Rayburn House Office Building (Gold Room). Brit Tzedek v’Shalom is proud to announce the opening of its new Washington office. You are cordially invited to a cocktail reception for Members of Congress and staff in celebration of bringing the pro-Israel, pro-peace voice of its grassroots network into the halls of Congress.

Speakers included:
* Marcia Freedman – President, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom; former Member of Knesset
* Diane Balser – CEO, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom
* Jeremy Rabinovitz – Chief of Staff, Office of Congresswoman Lois Capps
* Rabbi David Saperstein – Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Food and cocktails will be served. For more information, please call Rob Levy at (202) 536-4092 or send an email.

September 25, 2005
Brit Tzedek hosted a brunch book discussion and signing with Jennifer Miller, author of Inheriting the Holy Land: An American’s Search for Hope in the Middle East. As one review states, “Though only 24, Miller, the daughter of a US State Department negotiator and a mother active in the leadership program Seeds for Peace, is something of a veteran of Middle Eastern matters.” After the event, we held our annual elections, where you'll get a chance to help shape the future of the DC chapter.

July 31, 2005
1:00 Veggie Potluck at Peirce Mill, down at the Rock Creek end of Tilden Road. (Meet in Front of Peirce Barn) If it rains, we’ll be meeting in Rebecca’s apartment in Van Ness. Please RSVP to let us know you are coming.

Several of our Brit Tzedek folks who participated in DC advocacy days will briefly speak about their positive experiences. We are also looking into a speaker to talk about the situation of the Gaza withdrawal. (It is also a great time to just talk among ourselves!)

How To Get There: By Metro: Get off at Van Ness. (East side) Walk south on Connecticut Ave. to Tilden and make a left. Walk down Tilden, passing the Czech embassy and a few others (it's a long hill). At the bottom of the hill you'll see a sign for Peirce Mill. We'll meet in front of the Peirce Barn. By Car: Peirce Barn is located on Tilden Street, just west of Beach Drive and east of Connecticut Avenue. Take Rock Creek Parkway and get out at Tilden Ave. Park and meet us in front of Peirce Barn.

May 3, 2005
12:30-2:00pm, Presentation at the Palestine Center, 2425-35 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Light lunch was provided.

7:30-9:30pm, Presentation and fundraiser at Temple Shalom, 8401 Grubb Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Light refreshments will be served.

May 2, 2005
Reception and Presentation at the Peace Cafe/Mimi's American Bistro, 2120 P Street, Washington, DC from 5:00-6:30pm. Light refreshments will be served (compliments of Anas Shallal/Peace Cafe). There will also be a cash bar for drinks. For more information, email us.

April 20, 2005
The Same Old Story: Passover As Liberation Politics at Adas Israel, Connecticut and Porter Streets, a few steps from the Cleveland Park metro. Let all who are hungry for a freer world, come and hear how the Passover story of liberation from slavery continues today in the Jewish community. DC Brit Tzedek Chair Rebecca Zimmerman, who is a member of Conservative Congregation Adas Israel and Rabbi Ben Biber, of Machar, a Secular Humanistic Jewish congregation, speak together on a panel sponsored by Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace.

February 24, 2005
Shapira spoke at George Mason University, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, for a brown bag lunch. 3330 N. Washington Boulevard, Truland Building, Room 555, Arlington, VA 22201. 12:00-1:30pm. For more information, email us.

February 23, 2005
IDF Pilot Refuser, Yonatan Shapira, spoke at Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation,7727 Persimmon Tree Lane,Bethesda, MD 20817 at 7:30pm. For more information, send an email.

Shapira also appeared at Georgetown University Law Center,600 New Jersey Avenue NW. 4:30pm, co-sponsored by Amnesty International. For more information, email us.

November 3, 2004
Forum on the US Elections: Implications for US-Israeli Relations. This panel addressed the impact of the election on the prospects for peace in the Middle East and the role of groups like Brit Tzedek in the months after the elections. During the event, Brit Tzedek presented its nationwide grassroots campaign called the Open Letter, which calls on the next US president to commit the US to engagement in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The panel featured: Eric Fusfield, Director of Legislative Affairs of B’nai B’rith International; Professor Paul Scham, Visiting Professor at George Washington University and Adjunct Scholar at the Middle East Institute; Andy (Anas) Shallal, is the co-founder of the Peace Cafe, which has met regularly at his restaurant, Mimi’s American bistro, for three years, to discuss the Middle East.

July 8, 2004
Brit Tzedek v’Shalom sponsored two events featuring IDF pilot Yonatan Shapira in Washington, DC. In October 2003, Shapira was one of 27 pilots who signed the “Pilots’ Letter.” He discussed his courageous decision to refuse and explained how the occupation is hurting Israel’s security and democracy.

Happy Hour, 5:30-7:30 pm, Mimi’s American Bistro, 2120 P Street NW, Washington, D.C. Meal and Discussion, 8:00-9:30 pm, Luna Books, above Cafe Luna, 1653 P Street NW, Washington, DC.
[click here for PDF of flyer]
Press Coverage: Washington Jewish Week and United Press International

May 11, 2004
The Social Action Committee urges you to mark your calendar to attend this important presentation. Rabbi Roz Mandelberg will moderate a panel that will include Dr. Steven David, a professor from Johns Hopkins University who specializes in International Relations, Security Studies and Comparative Politics and Steven Masters, national chair for advocacy and public policy for Brit Tzedek v’Shalom. Event was held at the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD. (410) 764-1587.

July 20, 2003
On Sunday, July 20, as co-sponsors of a Global Day of Arab-Jewish Dialogue, www.peacecafe.net, Brit Tzedek and others in DC hosted the co-founders of the Bereaved Parents Circle. Yitzhak Frankenthal and Ghazi Brigit, an Israeli and a Palestinian who lost loved ones in the violence in Israel and in the Palestinian territories, met at Temple Adas Israel to speak about their losses and their hopes for the future.

It was particularly moving to hear them both say that they had lost friends because of their continued activism for peace. Mr. Frankenthal, who is an Orthodox Jew, said that when he was sitting shiva for his son, an Israeli soldier, some of his friends said, “You see what happened to your boy? Now will you leave the peace movement?” Mr. Frankenthal responded, “My son was killed because there is no peace between Palestinians and Israelis. I am more determined than ever to work for peace to honor my son’s life.” Some of his friends left his home and he never heard from them again, he said.

It was important, then, to host this group in a synagogue, and to assure Mr. Frankenthal that although he might have lost friends on the religious right in Israel, he had many friends in the Jewish community in the United States who share his sorrow over the killing of his son, as well as his hopes for a peaceful future with the Palestinians.

July 16, 2003
Israeli and Palestinian Women’s Voices for Peace
As part of a part of a project sponsored by Search for Common Ground, along with its Israeli and Palestinian partners, the Truman Institute for Peace and Middle East Nonviolence and Democracy (MEND), Brit Tzedek met with a group of Israeli and Palestinian women to discuss the theory and practice of nonviolence and its potential application to the Middle East.

In February, 2003, the group had traveled to Northern Ireland to meet with women who had dealt with conflict resolution in their own country.

And the women came to share what they’ve learned, and to talk with us Americans, (both men and women!) about non-violence and the Middle East conflict.

About 25 people gathered at Adas Israel for a peaceful public dialogue about the women’s activities. One woman leads a group, Machsom Watch, that stands at the roadblocks and tries to ensure that people are treated with dignity. Another has founded a group of breast cancer survivors. It was quite inspiring to share an evening with them. Afterwards, one woman from Nazareth said, “I thought all American Jews supported Ariel Sharon.”

May 14, 2003
American Jews and Middle East Peace: What We Can Do
Cherie L. Brown, the vice president of Brit Tzedek, led a discussion about the possibility of peace in the Middle East, and the important decisions facing American Jews at this time. About forty people gathered at Temple Adas Israel for a civil, courteous airing of many issues surrounding the Middle East.

Cherie Brown, who has a masters in education in counseling and consulting psychology from Harvard University, and is known for her 32 years of experience in working to champion peace in the Middle East. She is executive director and founder of NCBI International, The National Coalition Building Institute, a Washington, DC-based non-profit leadership training organization. An important aspect of the evening was devoted to listening to others and attempting to understand or just repeat others’ views and opinions. While “Two Jews, Three Opinions” is an often-repeated and much-loved saying about the importance of tolerance and the role of debate in Jewish life, that tolerance does not always extend to discussions of the Middle East. This evening did a bit to change that.

March 31, 2003
Brit Tzedek’s national tour, “Selective Refusal: Towards a More Secure and Democratic Israel,” began on March 31 in Houston, Texas. Ishai Menuchin, founder of Israel’s first refuser organization — Yesh Gvul (“There is a Limit ”) — spoke at Brit Tzedek sponsored events in Houston, Madison, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, DC.

Menuchin is the recipient of the 2003 Oscar Romero Award for Commitment to Truth and Freedom from the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas. In Jerusalem, he works as a lecturer at Hebrew University and as director of organizational development for Shatil Empowerment and Training Center for Social Change Organizations in Israel.