Hanukah Freedom Concert and Coffee House – Washington, DC

Hanukah Freedom Concert and Coffee House

We invite you to join this community wide celebration of freedom featuring local Jewish, folk, and social justice musical performances. Proceeds will benefit the local social justice work of Jews United for Justice and the work of the New Israel Fund to promote democracy and peace in Israel. The concert will close with candle lighting, refreshments, and sufganiyot.

The event is sponsored by the Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community.

December 22, 2024

3-5pm

Tifereth Israel Congregation

7701 16th St NW

Washington, DC

Proceeds benefit Jews United for Justice, Bend the Arc, and the New Israel Fund.

Featuring Performances By:

SongRise: Women’s Social Justice Acapella

Aaron Shneyer & Friends

Rings of Maple: Folk duo Lisa Einstein and Wren Elhai

Reb David Shneyer: Songs of Freedom Sing-a-long

Performer Bios:

SongRise is Washington DC’s very own women’s social justice a cappella group made up of 20 passionate and dynamic women working toward positive change in the community! Founded in 2010, SongRise inspires action through song amplifying the fight for social change on a wide range of issues from civil rights to worker rights, ending LGBTQ+ discrimination and racism, highlighting environmental justice, and supporting women’s rights just to name a few. They offer up their singing talents at community events, fundraisers, rallies, protests, churches, farmer’s markets, civil rights celebrations, arts showcases, schools, and more.SongRise’s goal is to inspire action through song. We use our music to support the fight for social change and advocacy. We endeavor to encourage perseverance, raise awareness, and break down barriers. We hope that our listeners will walk away feeling energized to continue the fight for social justice or to start contributing to a cause they are passionate about. https://songrisedc.org/

Rabbi David Shneyer is the founder, director and spiritual leader of Am Kolel. Reb David studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary and in Israel, earning degrees in Judaic studies from Rutgers University and Baltimore Hebrew College. He received his “semicha” ordination from the Aleph Seminary founded by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shlomi. The past president of Ohalah, the Rabbinic Association of Jewish Renewal Rabbis, Reb David is also an accomplished musician, founding and leading The Fabrangen Fiddlers, and a composer of new liturgical music. He also helped found Jews United for Justice, and is active in the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and T’ruach a Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, J Street, and other social justice organizations. Reb David is also a founding spiritual leader of Kehila Chadasha, a havurah based in Bethesda. https://www.amkolel.org/staff

Rings of Maple (Lisa Einstein and Wren Elhai) is a DC-based folk and Americana band that writes and performs songs about love, friendship, and making a difference in the world. Over the past several years, they have enjoyed playing for Jewish community gatherings and services around the DC area. You can follow them on Instagram at @ringsofmaple and online at www.ringsofmaple.com.

Aaron Shneyer’s music weaves together influences from across the world, aiming to celebrate life and heal our divides. In 2008, a Fulbright-MTVu Fellowship to study music’s power to build mutual-understanding took him to Jerusalem where he formed www.heartbeat.fm, an organization that brings together and empowers Israeli and Palestinian youth musicians. He’s a 2025 Artist Fellow with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Since 2015 he has been the Musical Director at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue and since 2023 has also served as the Service Leader/Shaliach Tzibur at Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Synagogue in Bethesda, MD. www.aaronshneyer.com