Sixth & I 2022 Annual Report

2022 ANNUAL REPORT sixth&i

Sixth & I Wall of Fame

from our leadership

Dear Sixth & I community,

2022 was an exceptional year for our organization. After more than 18 months of serving people in their living rooms and navigating the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic, we welcomed audiences back to Sixth & I with open arms and a robust slate of arts, entertainment, and Jewish life programming. It was so good to see new and familiar faces around our sanctuary!

Sixth & I was proud to provide comfort, inspiration, and connection this year and to find new ways for you to engage in thoughtful dialogue and spiritual experiences. Whether navigating safe and responsible ways to fill our sanctuary during the High Holidays, finding exceptional guest speakers and moderators to share new ideas and perspectives with curious audiences, or remaining nimble and innovative in the face of a changing programming landscape, we pushed ahead and sustained our position at the forefront of cultural and spiritual engagement in Washington, DC.

And your generosity is what makes all of this possible.

It is nearly impossible to capture every touchpoint our community had with us or to share all of the amazing work that our staff, clergy, and board accomplished this year. But we’ve done our best to share some of our greatest highlights from 2022 in this report. We hope that the stories, photographs, and reflections enclosed fill you with a sense of pride and a thirst to learn more. We cannot thank you enough for all that you do to support Sixth & I and look forward to seeing you soon.

Gratefully,

Heather Moran CEO

Ilyse Fishman Lerner Board Chair

2022 by the numbers

45,919 people served

5,549 donations

32,501 downloads of our podcast, Sixth & I LIVE

418 programs produced

18,553 first-time attendees

11,424 books signed

15 lifecycle events

531 Shabbat meals served

6,600 High Holiday attendees

Marlon James

Dana Bash

Rabbi Aaron Potek

Kamasi Washington

Trivia

CELEBRATING

18 YEARS to life!

It all started in 2002 when a historic synagogue-turned-AME church was on the brink of being sold and converted into a nightclub. When our founders took a leap of faith and purchased the building, rededicating it as Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in 2004, no one could have imagined what the organization would go on to become.

18 years later, Sixth & I continues to break the mold by reimagining how culture, community, and Judaism can enhance people’s everyday lives. Our 18th anniversary brought our community back together after being separated for over two years due to the pandemic and set the stage for what’s to come. We reconnected with Sixth & I’ers past and present, reflected on all that we’ve accomplished, and laid out a clear vision for Sixth & I’s role as a vital cultural and spiritual resource in Washington, DC. L’chaim!

Sixth & I is a sense-making institution where we come together not individually, but as part of a community, and try to figure it out.

– Bestselling author and Sixth & I guest Daniel Pink

” “

Daveed Diggs

Fiona Apple

Purim

Hasan Minhaj

JEWISH

We opened our doors for dynamic and resonant programs led by Senior Rabbi Aaron Potek and Rabbi Nora Feinstein, all designed to help people meaningfully connect to one another and explore big questions through a Jewish framework.

happier holidays

For the first time since closing our building in 2020, we brought back monthly Shabbat dinners, providing a space for our 20s and 30s community to build new relationships over some of the best Israeli-inspired food in DC. Our social justice Shabbat series—including Pride Shabbat, National Refugee Shabbat, and MLK Shabbat—offered an opportunity to lift up shared values and embody a spirit of radical welcoming.

Sixth & I’ers also embraced unexpected ways to engage with Jewish holidays this year, whether dancing in the streets for Simchat Torah or dancing like no one’s watching at our music festival-inspired Purim party. The second annual Sinai Slam, our alternative Shavuot experience, raised up the voices of people who have chosen Judaism as an adult. And more than 6,600 people of all ages embraced new intentions for the New Year during the High Holidays, joining us in person in our sanctuary and at Calvary Baptist Church and tuning in virtually from home. These expanded services marked a welcome return to our roots as a hub for community building and celebration.

I have never in my life enjoyed services as much as this year. The intimacy, the thought-provoking sermons, and the beauty of the music made all services very memorable and meaningful.

– High Holidays attendee

Mardi Gras Shabbat

Musician Aaron Shneyer

LIFE

class act

Our low-barrier, accessible approach to Jewish education allowed hundreds of people to see Judaism as a value add in their lives. Our core series classes—Basically Jewish, the Jewish Welcome Workshop, and Interfaith Couples Workshop—continued to help Sixth & I’ers build community connections and explore Judaism in more sustained and substantial ways. Next Level, a new class series, offered a safe space to engage in nuanced conversations around difficult subjects such as ethical dilemmas and Israel. Other drop-in style classes approached timely topics through a Jewish lens like reproductive rights, friendship, guilt, gossip, and social media.

With an eye towards helping people rebuild their social circles after a prolonged period of deep isolation, we offered a variety of ways to connect socially including a series of intimate salon-style gatherings, happy hours at locations throughout the city, and the return of our popular trivia night at Wundergarten.

Excellent class, as much for the community building as for the content. Made me feel as if I could belong in Judaism and specifically, at Sixth & I. ”

– Basically Jewish participant

SPOTLIGHT ON JWW

Panel Discussion at the Adas Israel Mikvah

In February, members of our 5782 Jewish Welcome Workshop (JWW) cohort attended a special panel discussion at the Adas Israel mikvah. We invited six class alumni to meet with current students, share their personal journeys integrating into the Jewish community, and discuss how JWW has helped shape their Jewish lives since. The group toured the mikvah, where their own conversions may take place, giving them a sense of ease and comfort with the space. Our panel was deliberately diverse, including Jews of color, Jews from patrilineal backgrounds, and queer Jews. This unique opportunity highlighted Sixth & I’s inclusive approach to building community and making connections for our 20s and 30s community.

“[JWW] was absolutely one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in my life, and certainly the most impactful spiritually. I feel I have grown into not only my Judaism but my full humanity through this course.” – Jewish Welcome Workshop participant

JWW was absolutely one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in my life, and certainly the most impactful spiritually. I feel I have grown into not only my Judaism but my full humanity through this course. ”

– JWW participant

After completing the Jewish Welcome Workshop, participants said they:

Have an increased understanding of Jewish culture and traditions

Plan to light Shabbat candles regularly

Plan to spend time with Jewish friends regularly

Plan to attend High Holiday services annually

Have a greater desire to continue Jewish learning

TALKS

I describe this place to friends outside of DC as the premier book event venue.

–

LGBTQ activist and Sixth & I moderator Charlotte Clymer

TALKS

talk of the town

At a time of continued unpredictability and uncertainty, our 2022 talks series was a vehicle to expose audiences to new perspectives and help them make sense of the world around them. We hosted Netflix stars and Nobel Laureates; rock and roll’ers and roboticists; Pulitzer Prize winners and poets; minimalists and Master Sommeliers; and so much more.

Audiences engaged with their favorite pop culture influencers for experiences that couldn’t happen anywhere else, like singing “People Have the Power” with Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith, learning the dos and don’ts of online dating with Hinge Director of Relationship Science Logan Ury dreaming up an Afrofuturist utopia with actress and singer Janelle Monáe.

They were also hungry to hear from their favorite food personalities. James Beard award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi took audiences on a culinary journey of the African Diaspora, and events with pastry chef Claire Saffitz and “Somebody Feed Phil” star Phil Rosenthal sold out before you could say “preheat the oven.”

As of 2022, we have hosted:

85

#1 New York Times bestselling authors

30

Emmy winners

21

Pulitzer Prize winners

10

Nobel Laureates

Jonathan Van Ness

Some of our top political and historical minds visited Sixth & I to ideate on current events and engage in meaningful dialogue with our audiences. Whether combatting disinformation with former White House senior staffers Dan Pfeiffer and Jen Psaki, chronicling the life of Abraham Lincoln with acclaimed biographer Jon Meacham, or examining antisemitism with ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, we offered a variety of viewpoints on issues impacting today’s world.

Across all these experiences, we continued to honor our commitment to accessibility by offering virtual attendance options for most events and providing American Sign Language interpreters and real time closed-captioning. These services allowed our community to stay connected to their favorite authors, entertainers, and thought leaders in the ways that are most comfortable for them.

Patti Smith Clint Smith Jon Meacham

LIVE

music to our ears

Call it a comeback: live music struck a chord in 2022 as audiences returned for heart-pumping concerts with bluesy-rock duo The War and Treaty, jazz virtuoso Kamasi Washington, and British pop star Calum Scott.

We also welcomed back some of your favorite performers including reggae artist Matisyahu, who set a new record by returning to Sixth & I for the sixth time, and comedian Russell Howard, who reflected: “This is the best gig in the world. I’ve [performed at] this synagogue three times and every single time it gets better.”

Thanks to community support, we had the freedom and flexibility to take risks and pursue compelling new entertainment opportunities, harnessing the spirit of experimentation that has guided us since our founding. We took a chance on cult favorite podcast “Normal Gossip,” hosting one of their first live shows, which sold out within a matter of days. We also explored new and creative uses of our space, positioning ourselves as a destination for film and TV screenings thanks to partnerships with National Geographic and CNN.

Sixth & I is like no other place I have seen before. It is a real treasure and makes DC more enjoyable.

– Julian Lage concert attendee

“ ”

The War and Treaty

“Normal Gossip”

DIVERSITY, EQUITY,

AND INCLUSION

As part of our commitment to better reflect the city we serve, we prioritized lifting up the voices of people of color and marginalized communities in 2022. Across our talks series, authors and moderators of color represented 43% of the talent on our stage and 17% of speakers identified as LGBTQ+. At National Refugee Shabbat with HIAS, activist and educator Aziz Royesh spoke about his family’s experience immigrating to the United States from Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal and his continued efforts to safeguard school-aged girls and others through resettlement efforts.

We also sought to broaden the range of topics represented in our programming, from voting rights to antiracism, offering opportunities to put ideas into practice whenever possible. Leading up to the midterm elections, for instance, a talk on the history of the vote with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was complemented by a letter-writing campaign to historically disenfranchised voters with the voting access organization VoteRiders.

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Eric Holder Kat Chow and Ocean Vuong

Our 20s and 30s community engaged in a variety of direct service and learning programs to turn ideas into action and inspire those around them. At an interactive workshop with UC Berkeley faculty member and social entrepreneur Alex Budak, participants gained skills and developed resources to help guide them in generating positive change. During Purim, we amplified the work of local partners Capital Area Food Bank and the DC Fridge Collective, who combat food insecurity in the District, and also hosted additional food distribution events throughout the year.

Behind the scenes, Sixth & I’s internal Change Team, led by Imani Chapman and composed of representatives from all levels of the organization, continued to engage in authentic and meaningful conversations around the direction of Sixth & I’s equity efforts, spearheading such initiatives as a new compensation transparency policy designed to mitigate bias and increase pay equity for current and future staff. Staff members also participated in a six-week training on building racial stamina, conceived of and led by Dr. Deitra Reiser, with the goal of making our community more inclusive for Jews of color and people of color and promoting antiracism in all aspects of our work.

serving our city

For our neighbors in need:

event attendees come from all 8 Wards of DC

280 produce bags packed

50 toiletry kits assembled

90 hot meals distributed

Holiday donation drive

Food distribution

invest in us

Philanthropy is vital to our success.

As a non-profit organization, Sixth & I relies on our extended community to provide critical funding which fuels every aspect of our work. With your generosity, you are:

ƒ Building a unique community rooted in cultural and spiritual engagement

ƒ Providing a platform for timely discussions from diverse and compelling viewpoints

ƒ Safeguarding the future of American Judaism by serving the next generation of 20s and 30s Jews

ƒ Inspiring action and engagement in important social justice issues

ƒ Catapulting the careers of rising musicians and comedians

ƒ Maintaining and restoring our beautiful historic building in the heart of our nation’s capital

ƒ Enabling our hardworking staff to take risks and think creatively

ƒ Investing in the future of this radically welcoming, multi-faceted organization

Phil Rosenthal

Julian Lage

Trivia

Hannah Giorgis

our supporters

Sixth & I is deeply grateful to the community members who made all of our work possible through their generous support in 2022.

$100,000 and above

Charina Endowment Fund

Marcy and Neil Cohen

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

Department of Homeland Security

Dweck Philanthropies, Inc.

Shelley and Allan Holt

Arlene and Robert Kogod

Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development

Robert Pollin and Sigrid Miller Pollin

Shelton and Rory Zuckerman

$25,000 - $99,999

Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation

The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

Lois and Richard England Family Foundation

Galena-Yorktown Foundation

Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Foundation

Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation

Molly Levinson and Josh Wachs

The Morningstar Foundation

The Nussdorf Family

Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation

Revada Foundation of the Logan Family

Elliot and Evonne Schnitzer

Shapiro Family Foundation

Max Zuckerman

$10,000 - $24,999

Henry and Carole Berman

Bernstein Family Foundation

EJF Philanthropies

Esther and Bert Foer

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Patricia Karp

Bruce and Karen Levenson

Linda and Larry Mann

Jeffery Menick

Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation

Julien and Adam Teitelbaum

Carolyn and Bill Wolfe

$3,600 - $9,999

Anonymous (2)

Gary and Pennie Abramson

Wolf and Lynn Blitzer

Robyn and Bill Collins

Durbin Family Fund

Diane and Ron Eichner

Melissa and Steven Garfinkel

Lois Hall

Avital Ingber

Jewish Emergent Network

Herb Lichtenstein and Barbara Hylander

Jacob I. Melamed and Robert A. Baker

Sabina Menschel and Bill Priestap

RFI Foundation

Edwin and Sondra Schonfeld

Tina and Albert Small, Jr.

Stanley E. and Sally Harris Wertheim Family Foundation

George Wasserman Family Foundation

Laura Wertheimer and Andrew Pincus

Cindy and Rick Zitelman

$1,000 - $3,599

Anonymous (4)

3rd Coast Contractors, Inc.

Jillian Andrews

Jules Bernstein and Linda Lipsett

Kathleen Borschow

Alexandra Burns

Dorothy Canter

Gil and Claudia Carpel

Adam and Debra Cohen

Jean and Harrison Cohen, in honor of Shelton and Rory Zuckerman

Rose and Bob Cohen

Joel Croft

Arielle and Han Cronig

Nancy and Morris Deutsch

Bradford and Debra Dockser

Adam and Shelley Ducker

Mark Ellenberg and Nancy Abramowitz

Fred and Starr Ezra

Johnathan W. Feldman and Jill Vigdor-Feldman, in celebration of Senior Rabbi Aaron Potek

Ginny Feldman

Jill A. Fields, in memory of Barbara Pastor

Patricia and David Fisher

Rebecca Fitch

Amy and Eric Forseter

Chris Foust and Shayna Cherry

Michael and Risa Freedman

Richard and Marcia Gale

Kathryn Gansler

The Garchik Family Foundation

Mary R. Gasner

Mea Geizhals and Charles Plummer

Matthew Gever and Karen Livingston

Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn

Susan S. Goldman

Chris Gray and Emily Rosenblum

Peter Greenberg

Rabbi Arthur and Lauri Gross-Schaefer, in honor of Rabbi Nora Feinstein

Marisa Guzman-Aloia and Gerri Pozez

Marian Horn

Carol and Phil Horowitz

Aaron Hutman

Carl Hutzler

David and Malka Karr

Susan and Stanley Katz

Sara Keller

Kimberly Klaiman and Peter Sattler

Leslie Kogod and Laurie Goldberger

Bruce and Marilyn Kressel

Barbara Kurshan

Mark and Terri Laks

Elisabeth and Russell LaMotte

Ellen and Bob Leibenluft

Edward Lenkin and Roselin Atzwanger

Robin and Brian Levenson

Edward R. Levin, in memory of Susan Levin

Frederic Levy

Geralyn and Martin Lobel

Jay B. Lurie and Rachel Schwerin

Jim & Marcia Rosenheim

Carol and Richard Margolis

Marlene and Ken Markison

Scott Meisler, in honor of Charlie Meisler

Joshua Meyer and Andrew Wheeler

John Mintz and Emily Yoffe

Melanie and Joshua Olds

Kathryn and Robert Pincus

Juan and Deborah Prawda

Garrett Preis and Jacqueline Mackey

Isaac Privitera

Anita and Matt Rechler

Reinsch Pierce Family Foundation

Amy Rifkind and Bruce Brown

Elizabeth and Meghan Robins

Leslie Rogoff

Jeremy Roschelle and Audrey Garfield

Daniel Rosenbaum and Mila Kagan

Pamela Rosenberg and Daniel Gottlieb

Vanessa and Daniel Sacks

Bill and Ellen Sandler

Jason Scheff and Simon Jerome

Marissa Schlaifer

Schneider’s of Capitol Hill

Schnitzer Family Foundation

Eric Schultz

Estelle Luber Schwalb

Rhea S. Schwartz and Paul Martin Wolff

Dan and Teresa Schwartz

Susan Brett and Robert Shesser

Jerry and Judy Shulman

Howard and Marilyn Silver

Richard and Susan Silverman

Beth and Barry Simon

Rachel Snyder

Les and Ashley Starck

Susan and Scott Sterling

Marsha Swiss z’’l and Ron Costell

Peter and Carol Tannenwald

Jodi Tirengel

Susan Wedlan and Harold Rosen

Carol and Michael Winer

Rachel Wolkowitz

Jean and Jeffery Yablon

Rita and Jay Yurow

This list reflects contributions made to Sixth & I between Januar y 1 and December 31, 2022. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing. For more information, please contact Amelia Stanley, Senior Director of Development, at 202.266.3232.

Board of Directors

Chair: Ilyse Fishman Lerner

Vice-Chair: Max Zuckerman

Secretary: Hannah Dweck

Treasurer: Evan DeCorte

Immediate Past President: Marcy Cohen

Chair Emeritus: Shelton Zuckerman

Henry Berman

Reverend Thomas Bowen

Inna Dexter

Alana Eichner

Esther Foer

Avital Ingber

Molly Levinson

Sabina Menschel

Robert Pollin

Yolanda Savage-Narva

Elliot Schnitzer

Julien Teitelbaum

Creative Council

Chris Albert

Wajahat Ali

Lacey Schwartz Delgado

Liz Dolan

Jamie Gangel

Sandy Girard

Kristen Meinzer

Daniel Pink

Sean Plater

Anthony Shop

Staff

Sara Barrack

Alli Beard

Shirley Cooper

Kira Doar

Michelle Eider

Robin Farber

Rabbi Nora Feinstein

Nora Fitzpatrick

Brian Graber

Joshua Kagan

Ian Keener

Irella Lawless

Jackie Leventhal

Amanda Loerch

Linda Lombardi

Eve Lustig

Heather Moran

Nixon Olaso

Mark Perkins

Rabbi Aaron Potek

Molly Schantz

Shannon Segovia

Amelia Stanley

Joshua Villalobos

Jewish life team at Purim

Photo credits: Ari Strauss, Josh Brick, Karlin/Villondo, Derek Baker, Richie Downs, Corpora Studios, Elliott O’Donovan

OUR MISSION

Sixth & I is a center for arts, entertainment, ideas, and Jewish life in Washington, DC. We inspire more meaningful and fulfilling lives through an unexpected mix of experiences that embrace the multi-faceted identities of those we serve.

Sixth & I Wall of Fame