July

Kayaking at Fountainhead Regional Park With The J

Monday, July 14, 9:00am – 11:00am

Hear the birds singing and take in the commanding views of the Occoquan on a kayak paddle led by ACA certified paddling instructor and NOVA Parks Roving Naturalist, Matt Felperin. Expect to observe songbirds, Great Blue Herons, Cormorants, Osprey, and maybe even some Bald Eagles! We will begin with a brief paddling instruction overview before heading out.

Meet at the Fountainhead Regional Park Boat Launch in Fairfax Station at 8:45am.
https://www.novaparks.com/parks/fountainhead-regional-park/things-to-do/boat-launch

*Optional lunch at Glory Days 12:00pm-1:30pm
Join us afterwards at Glory Days Grill in Burke for a casual lunch around noon (on your own tab): 9526 Old Keene Mill Rd, Burke.

Note: This activity has a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 14 participants, on a first come, first served basis.

Fee: $45 JCC Members/$50 Non-members (includes guided tour, kayak rental, paddle, and Personal Flotation Device). Register here

Sweet Summer Series – Fairfax

Sunday, July 20, 1:00pm

Join us for our Sweet Summer Series—a delicious way to cool off and connect! Meet up with J-Family Ambassadors and other local families for ice cream. Come for the dessert, stay for the community and summer fun. We will be joining Olam Tikvah Preschool in Fairfax, come out and meet the preschool director Debbie in an informal setting! Location provided upon registration – not at the synagogue. Register

Echoes of Identity: French Opera and Jewish Life

Thursday, July 24, 7:00pm – 8:30pm at the Pozez JCC

In Collaboration with Canto Vocal Programs
Featuring Maurice Lugassy, professor of French culture and Canto Vocal artists

What can opera tell us about identity, exile, and belonging?
Join Maurice Lugassy for a thought-provoking musical lecture that explores how Jewish stories, composers, and themes found a place on the grand stage of French opera.

From the powerful drama of Halévy’s La Juive, an opera of love, faith, and persecution, to subtle threads of Jewish identity woven into the works of Bizet, Saint-Saëns, and others, this journey uncovers how opera became a space to express both cultural pride and profound struggle.

Blending history, storytelling, and live musical excerpts, this lecture reveals how Jewish life shaped, and was shaped by, the world of French opera. Whether through bold characters, coded messages, or the complex lives of composers, Jewish voices echoed through the opera houses of France — sometimes in harmony, sometimes in conflict.
The presentation will conclude with an open Q&A session. Ages 18+
Fee: $15 Members; $20 Non-members (includes dessert)

Register

Disney ’80s–’90s Celebration in Concert at Wolf Trap

Saturday, July 26, 8:00 pm at Wolf Trap

Get ready for a magical night under the stars! Join Brie and your Growing Jewish Families friends for an evening of music and nostalgia at Wolf Trap’s Disney ’80s–’90s Celebration in Concert. Sing along to your favorite throwback Disney hits from beloved classics like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and more. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and enjoy this family-friendly concert on the lawn!

IMPORTANT: You must purchase your own lawn tickets through Wolf Trap. https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar/performance/25filene/0726show25.aspx

Cost: Varies by ticket

Let us know you’re coming so we can save you a spot!: https://forms.gle/eUGqwAwen53VngTJ8

Questions? Contact: Growing Jewish Families, Amy Lummer 703-537-3037, Amy.Lummer@theJ.org

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