So sometimes you have to get creative in town if you want to bring a country alive for kids! So I came across the 6th and I synagogue today and was reminded of how much of a rich Jewish heritage has been in the Penn Quarter for a long time. The 6th & I synagogue is a great place to start a tour of what I will call "Little Jerusalem" because it is a dynamic organization that hosts great cultural events and has restored the synagogue to its original splendor so students can really feel how it once was as a working congregation. This building was once sold to Turner AME Church and then recently was bought back as Turner moved to Maryland. As 6th & I works to recover the historical significance of its own building the historical richness of the neighborhood is now more evident. But don't think it stops here.
Just down the street on the corner of 3rd and G streets you will find the Historic 1876 Synagogue. This building now houses a museum that displays the work of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington and is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This would be a great place to come visit the history of the Jewish community of downtown Washington. These two destinations might not recreate a cultural experience of feeling like you are in another country but as I have stated many times before about how crucial religion is to understanding other cultures...this will still be a cultural experience worth undertaking.
Now in an attempt to bring in the Israeli flavor, why not get some hummus and falafel for lunch? The closest place will be Urfa Tomato Kabob which is a small Turkish place on 6th street in Chinatown. The space is very small so don't expect to take students in to sit down. You could walk over to the Building Museum if it is nice and sit on their benches and lawn. The food is not the greatest but it is passable and best of all it is in the neighborhood close to where you will be.
Your Next best option for hummus and falafel would be Maoz which is located on M street close to 19th street. This place was started by an Israeli couple in Amsterdam and it is very tasty but far from where you started your tour with very limited seating also. Contact Info:
The 6th and I Historic Synagogue
600 I Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 408-3100
www.sixthandi.org
Historic 1876 synagogue | |
| Corner of Third & G Streets, NW Open to the public Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. For admittance, call (202) 789-0900 or ring doorbell at our office. www.jhsgw.org Urfa Tomato Kabob 740 6th street NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 347-1176 Maoz Vegetarian 1817 M Street Northwest Washington, DC 20036-2503 - (202) 290-3117 www.maozusa.com | |
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