On September 21, Tzedek DC and friends celebrated our mission at the first-ever virtual Eat Well, Do Justice!, raising an Eat Well Do Justice-record $274,000 in support of our mission over the course of a fun, substantive, and tasty bagel-themed evening. A huge thank you to all who made the evening a special one!
The program was emceed by Emmy Award-winning television journalist and author David Gregory, who led attendees in a reflection on the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Z”L), a “fierce trailblazer for equal rights.” Her 2018 letter to Tzedek DC applauding our “efforts to serve a pressing need in our own community” will inspire our work for years to come.
Emcee David Gregory pausing for a moment of silence in honor of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The program kicked off with a video, including testimonies from client community members and community partner stakeholders. Founding Director Ariel Levinson-Waldman shared remarks, emphasizing that “[b]eing poor is not a crime, and is not a moral or character flaw. Every community member deserves to have full economic citizenship, and with your help, we are, step by step, getting closer to achieving that goal.”
Attendees were also able to experience beautiful virtual performances from Grammy Award-winning band The War on Drugs, and renowned vocalist Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell, as well as remarks from DC Councilmembers Elissa Silverman and Robert White. UDC David A. Clarke School of Law Dean Renée McDonald Hutchins emphasized the school’s saying, “practice law, promote justice, change lives,” and noted that “Tzedek DC’s mission and work embody that saying so well.”
From left to right: Client Esan Fullington from the EWDJ video, The War on Drugs guitarist Adam Granduciel, Vocalist Anthony Moredchai Tzvi Russell, DC Councilmember Elissa Silverman, DC Councilmember Robert White, UDC School of Law Dean Renée McDonald Hutchins
Though the event was virtual, attendees enjoyed a delicious variety of bagels and schmears, many of them picked up from the Eat Well Do Justice staging station at Temple Sinai’s parking lot in DC. The four talented and generous local bagel maker teams were recruited by honorary event chair Bonnie Benwick, pictured above preparing the bagel gift bags. Special thank yous to Jeremiah Cohen of Bullfrog Bagels, Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira of Call Your Mother, Oliver and Allee Cox of Pearl’s Bagels, and Yael Krigman of Baked By Yael.
Pearl’s Bagels Owners and Chefs Oliver and Allee Cox were this year’s winner with their delicious sesame seed bagel topped with a veggie cream cheese schmear featuring red bell peppers, carrots, and celery. Pearl’s Bagels won both the popular and the judges’ vote, and while it was a close race, we hope to avoid any allegations of a “schmear” campaign as Tzedek DC Board Chair Irv Nathan warned!
Honorary event chair Bonnie Benwick at Temple Sinai
We are grateful to guest judges Judy Lichtman, of the National Partnership for Women & Families, Michelle Singletary, writer of The Washington Post’s “Color of Money” personal finance column, and Chef Ed Hardy, 2019 Eat Well, Do Justice champion! The judges certainly took care during their deliberations, with Ed even constructing the ultimate bagel whiteboard matrix to help him pick his favorite.
From left to right: Emcee David Gregory and Judges Judy Lichtman, Michelle Singletary, and Ed Hardy
The Bagel Ballot was the fourth year of the Eat Well, Do Justice event co-chaired by Courtney Weiner, June Kress, and Nina Simon. The event’s host committee and sponsors were also instrumental to the evening’s success. For those who couldn’t tune in, visit the event webpage to watch an abridged event recording.
As announced at the event, gifts to Tzedek DC are being matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000 thanks to the generosity of event Host Committee members Thorn and Sharis Pozen. That match has not yet closed. Please consider donating now to double the impact of your gift.
As in 2019, the 2020 Eat Well, Do Justice event sold out days before the event. We don’t know if 2021’s Eat Well, Do Justice event will be in person or virtual, but we hope you will join us and secure your tickets when they become available this summer!