Juneteenth has long been celebrated by African Americans in the U.S., recognizing June 19, 1865, when many enslaved people in Texas learned they had been freed. Although President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier, it could not be enforced in many places until after the end of the Civil War in April 1865. Two months after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.

Washington Hebrew and our Jews of Color group will recognize the holiday with a weekend full of celebration, including:

• A special Shabbat service (also available via livestream) on Friday, June 17
• Guests for the service include:
  • Sabrina Sojourner, Community Chaplain
  • Dee Sanae, Mosaic Visions
  • Toreno Hebert, Adas Israel
  • Joe Levin-Manning, Capital Qvellers
• A film screening of Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America (Sunday, June 19, 10:00 am, Edlavitch DCJCC).

Thanks to our co-sponsors of this weekend of events

Adas Israel Congregation, Bet Mischpachah, B’nai Israel, Edlavitch DCJCC, Fabrangen, Mosaic Visions, OneTable, Temple Micah, Temple Sinai, Linda & Jonathan Greenblatt, Karen & Brendan Herron, Joan Kuriansky, Laura Loeb & Howard Morse, Marla & Bruce Schulman