ABOUT

The JCrafts Center for Jewish Life and Tradition was established to fill the need for rich, experiential Jewish education.

69% of Jewish children in the Greater Washington area are not enrolled in any form of Jewish education¹, but they can delve into meaningful, enticing Jewish content at JCrafts.

The center is an inviting, culturally rich environment where families feel welcome to explore their Jewish heritage and traditions.

For thousands of unaffiliated Jews, JCrafts has been their first-ever Jewish experience or their first Jewish experience in decades. Some participants reach out to other Jewish organizations after their experience at JCrafts. For some, we are the only address for Jewish belonging.

In 2017, JCrafts rolled out a special program geared toward public schools. “Embracing Differences” cultural workshop series was designed to introduce children in public schools to key aspects of Jewish life, with the goal of fostering tolerance and increasing cultural awareness. By exploring the positive elements of cultural diversity, students of all backgrounds will discover the rewards that come from overcoming prejudice and acquire the early skills for learning from those who have different beliefs and ways of doing things.

Jewish educators in the DMV area, and across the Jewish spectrum, have endorsed the JCrafts initiative.

From 2012-2022, JCrafts was primarily a mobile and on-the-go operation, executing programs throughout the state of Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC. The mobile track offers a combination of fun, Jewish, and hands-on workshops to 100+ schools, synagogues, and JCCs throughout the region (the mobile track continues to offer these services).

The permanent space was established with the goal of creating more sophisticated programs and expanding our scope in terms of age, content, and background with the help of innovative educators, and with experts in technology-enriched theater.

The versatile space is outfitted with:

  • A powerful audiovisual system that drives the multi-sensory impact of each workshop.

  • Sophisticated sound equipment.

  • A 35-foot iMax-type screen.

  • Cutting-edge QLab software (the same software used in Disney World).

  • A custom lighting rig.

JCrafts is also a venue for Hebrew school graduations, educational conferences, and a Bar-Bat Mitzvah hall. We recently hosted the Maryland state-level Jew-Q championship in February 2023, and created an exciting, college-bowl type experience through our audiovisual and live-streaming equipment.  

There are lots more to come down the pipeline, and we look forward to announcing the new releases soon. Stay tuned!

 ¹ 2017 Greater Washington Jewish Community Demographics Study