2025-26 Annual Report

We will fortify the synagogue’s position as a vibrant hub for Jewish community, connection, and spiritual growth.

A thriving Jewish community is built one relationship at a time. At Washington Hebrew Congregation, our vision calls us to be more than a place people attend — we strive to be the place where people belong. This year, we saw that vision come alive in countless ways as members gathered to celebrate, support, worship, and grow together.

From welcoming new families into our congregation to accompanying members through life’s most meaningful moments, WHC continued to be a constant presence across generations. Whether celebrating the birth of a child, standing beneath the chuppah, celebratinig a b’nei mitzvah, embracing Judaism through conversion, or comforting families in times of loss, we were privileged to walk alongside our community through every season of life. These sacred moments are the foundation of a congregation where people know they are never alone.

That sense of belonging extends far beyond the Sanctuary. Our New Moms and Pregnancy Groups have become remarkable examples of what intentional Jewish community can create. What begins as a program quickly becomes something much deeper: friendships that outlast the formal sessions, families celebrating Shabbat together, parents supporting one another through the everyday joys and challenges of raising children, and communities that show up with extraordinary compassion during life’s most difficult moments. These relationships remind us that the strongest communities are built not simply through shared experiences, but being there for one another.

Across the congregation, members are finding new ways to connect with peers who share their interests and life stages. The renewed energy of Brotherhood, the growth of our Gen X community, and the continued strength of our auxiliary groups have created additional pathways into congregational life, making it easier than ever for members to find their place and their people.

Week after week, Shabbat remains the heartbeat of our community. Regular worship, along with special celebrations like Hanukkah and Purim, brings together members of every age and background to celebrate Jewish tradition, engage with timely issues, and experience the joy of gathering in community.

The numbers throughout this report tell an encouraging story, but together they point to something even more meaningful: Washington Hebrew Congregation is not simply growing. We are deepening relationships, strengthening belonging, and fulfilling our vision of what a modern synagogue can be.

Member Spotlight: The Ross Family

For the Ross family, the decision to join Washington Hebrew Congregation five years ago was a multigenerational one — and it’s turned out to be exactly the right fit.

When Les and Claudia Ross relocated to Maryland from Massachusetts, the timing aligned perfectly with their son Adam and daughter-in-law Peng Wu’s search for a Reform congregation to call home. Together, the family took the leap. “We decided it was a good fit for all of us,” they shared, “and we have not been disappointed.”

Today, that means three generations under the WHC roof: Les and Claudia, Adam and Peng, and grandsons Gordon, 11, and Harold, 7. Watching the boys grow into their Jewish identities has been one of the family’s greatest joys.

Years spent abroad deepened the Jewish value that feels most central to the family today: welcoming the stranger. As they said, “Treating people of all faiths — or no faith — the way we, as members of a minority faith, would want to be treated, and seeing the worth in every human being.”

In a congregation as richly varied as WHC, the Ross family — spanning continents, generations, and cultures — embodies exactly that spirit.

Read more about their story in the April 2026 issue of the WHC Journal.

“When I first walked through the doors, I remember thinking that it felt a lot like my synagogue back home. Now, this is my home, too.”

— Hannah Birnbaum

“My time in Confirmation not only brought me closer with my generation of Jewish students at Washington Hebrew, but also with those from centuries ago, and from all over the world.”

— Emma Davidoff

• 58 Households increased their membership dues, with 15 new Sustaining Members
• 150 Expectant moms sharing the joys & oys of pregnancy*
• 200 New moms served, connected, and pampered*
• 316 New members to the congregation in 2025-26 (117 households)

*Since 2020

We will strengthen and develop excellent Jewish learning and tikkun olam opportunities as the essential building blocks of a Jewish life and strong Jewish identity.

Washington Hebrew Congregation’s commitment to lifelong Jewish learning shines through at every age and stage. For example, Tot Shabbat welcomes 100+ families with children ages 0–5 each month for prayer, story, and song, followed by a complete Shabbat dinner.

As we continue looking to the future of early childhood education, our D.C. Early Childhood Center consolidated into RJW ECC in Potomac — ensuring the next generation begins their Jewish journey with excellence.

Our Religious School classes at Temple and JBSC experienced tremendous growth, with 400 students enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade (111 new last year). While most Religious Schools around the country are shrinking, ours is not — especially in Pre-K through 2nd grade, where we added additional classes due to increased enrollment. This is a tremendous indicator of long-term growth and congregational health.

Our teens continued to grow as leaders, too. We had 25 madrichim (Teen Assistants), 13 Confirmation students, 16 WHECTY board members, and 73 Jr. WHECTY participants throughout the year.

For adult learners, Mondays@Macomb offered six engaging courses, drawing nearly 300 students over the past year for classes on great American and Israeli scripture, living mindfully, our signature 12 Jewish Questions, and more.

Member Spotlight: William Marcus

When Candice Marcus first walked into Washington Hebrew Congregation, she was searching for something many parents take for granted: a Jewish community where her son could simply be himself.

Candice’s son William, who has learning differences, attends WHC’s Religious School alongside his sister, Olive. Candice explained that her family gravitates toward spaces that are inclusive and welcoming of everyone — and at WHC, they feel that spirit every time they walk through the doors.

Much of that feeling comes from one person in particular: Morgan Metsch, the Religious School teacher who works one-on-one with William each week.

“Inclusion is not treated as an afterthought. It’s woven into the culture of the Religious School,” said Metsch.

William’s story is an important lesson, and is not unique at Washington Hebrew: there has always been space here for every child to learn, grow, and belong. At WHC, inclusion is not an exception to Jewish education — it is the heart of it.

Read more about William’s story in the September 2026 issue of the WHC Journal.

“I was very impressed with the diversity and thoroughness of views expressed by the classmates.”

— Joseph Petrillo, Strengthen Your Steps

“I was so inspired driving home after this class!”

— Michelle Federman, Great Israeli Scripture

“I just wish it was longer!”

— Sophie, Great American Scripture

“Before the classes started, I thought I had a reasonable amount of knowledge about Judaism. I was totally wrong! Thank you for opening my eyes to all the topics we discussed.”

— 12 Jewish Questions Student

• 15 author conversations were held through the Amram Scholar Series, WWHC Literary Club, and Wednesdays@Wonderland program
• 10 WHC teens went to Capitol Hill for the Religious Action Center’s L’Taken Weekend, meeting with members of Congress and learning about advocacy
• 14 elective classes were offered at Religious School — and 7 were new this year!

At Washington Hebrew Congregation, tikkun olam is not only at the core of what we teach — it is the tangible expression of our Jewish values and our mission as a synagogue. This is what values-driven philanthropy looks like at its best: intention translated into action, generosity matched with responsibility, and compassion delivered with consistency. It is a testament to what is possible when a community combines thoughtful leadership and commitment in the pursuit of justice

The WHC Hunger Project represents the very best of what Washington Hebrew Congregation has to offer: It answers Isaiah’s call to feed bread to the hungry (115,000 meals packed in 2025-26) and brings our mission to life in a tangible, hands-on way.

It’s also a true intergenerational, community-wide effort, with children as young as three working alongside members in their 90s and beyond, strengthened by the involvement of wonderful partners.

“For our residents who no longer drive, it means so much when WHC congregants come to them [with WHC in the DMV and Kol Rinah]. They feel that connection – that strong sense of Jewish pride and shared values passing from generation to generation. We are so grateful for the mitzvot you do to honor and respect the elderly (kibud z’keynim).”

— Monica Mayer, Volunteer Coordinator, Charles E. Smith Life Communities

• 29 WHC in the DMV events: Whether helping at Food & Friends, playing bingo with seniors at Charles E. Smith Life Communities, or making dinner for families at Children’s Inn at NIH, this program continues to grow.
• 10,000 Bags of Trail Mix Filled: Just one of the myriad projects volunteers participated in. Everything from packing toiletry kits and crafting dog toys, to building bookcases and making lasagnas.
• 2,500 Pounds of Food Collected During the 2025 High Holy Days: You also donated shoes, winter coats, toys, diapers, school supplies, and more for WHC Collects projects throughout the year.

We will enhance WHC’s position as a leader of Jewish thought and a leading proponent of Jewish values and ideals in the Jewish and interfaith communities locally and in the broader community.

This year, Washington Hebrew Congregation showed up — in front of national audiences and within our own community — as a leading voice in Jewish life. Our clergy, staff, and lay leaders were sought after for their expertise on the most urgent issues facing the Jewish people, from rising antisemitism to the future of American Judaism.

We deepened our bond with the State of Israel and our commitment to Zionism as Rabbi Shankman and Board Member Rachel Erlebacher represented WHC as delegates in the World Zionist Congress election, part of a congregation-wide push for participation that reflected just how invested our members are in Israel’s future.

WHC was often sought out as the voice of the Jewish community. Clergy, staff, and members were featured in more than two dozen media stories, including USA Today, WJLA-TV, and WTOP Radio, extending our reach into the broader Washington community and beyond.

From hosting the American Conference of Cantors for their annual meeting, to welcoming powerful speakers like Noa Tishby, Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, and Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, WHC created space for the conversations our community demands — convening leaders, sparking dialogue, and standing firmly at the center of Jewish communal life, across the DMV and the nation.

Attendees at Major WHC Events in 2025-26

• 1600: Rabin Lecture with Rachel Goldberg-Polin & Jon Polin
• 800: Noa Tishby
• 700: Rabbi Shankman & Cantor Bortnick 25th Anniversary Shabbat
• 500: Central Synagogue’s Rabbi Angela Buchdal for Amram Scholar Series
• 450: MLK Shabbat@WHC Interfaith Service

Other Data

10: Softball championships won by the Washington Hebrew Nationals after winning their 2026 title

In an era when Jewish institutions across the country continue to face heightened security concerns, WHC has invested significantly in ensuring our campuses remain welcoming, warm spaces where our community can gather without fear.

In FY26, WHC was awarded $660,000 in grant funding across seven separate grants, supporting armed security personnel and physical security enhancements at both Temple and JBSC.

This year, we hired armed security to protect everyone attending services, programs, and events, as well as during normal business hours. We also fully implemented metal detector screening for all religious services at both campuses and for select other events, adding a third metal detector through generous donor funding. Our roster of off-duty police officers now totals 26 across both locations, ensuring reliable coverage whenever needed.

Infrastructure improvements included a new Eagle Eye video surveillance system at both Temple and JBSC, funded through grant support, along with new security fencing around the JBSC lawn (donated) and the Temple parking lot (grant-funded).

We were also fortunate to receive an anonymous $500,000 donation this year to help cover security expenses — support that made a meaningful difference, since the security fees charged to members fall well short of covering WHC’s actual security costs.

These efforts would not be possible without the dedication of our Security team and the generosity of our donors and grant partners, who together help ensure WHC remains a safe and sacred space for all who walk through our doors.

At Washington Hebrew, membership dues provide a critical foundation, but they cover less than 40% of our operating expenses.

This year, 1,300 donors went above and beyond, contributing $2.45 million to support WHC’s ongoing operations with more than $675,000 for special projects. This included more than 850 donors to the Lewis S. Wiener Annual Fund, 228 of whom gave for the first time.

The individuals recognized in this report contributed $3,600 or more, through a combination of membership and charitable giving, including Sustaining Membership, gifts to the Lewis S. Wiener Annual Fund, and support for other funds at WHC.

We are deeply grateful for your generosity, which sustains meaningful worship, Jewish learning, pastoral support, security, and the welcoming spaces that bring us together.