Ohev Sholom Community Gathers Amid Federal Workforce Challenges

April 29, 2025

By Zoe Bell for Washington Jewish Week

When Rabbi David Wolkenfeld (YCT ’08) joined Ohev Sholom Congregation in the summer of 2023, he oversaw a “small but reliable” minyan every morning and evening. Ten to 15 members — plus travelers and members of neighboring synagogues that might not have a daily minyan — would show up every gathering.

That all changed with the Trump administration’s January return-to-office mandate for federal employees.

“We lost at least two men who came [to daily minyan] fairly regularly due to the back-to-work order,” Wolkenfeld said. “Three came very frequently and another three came somewhat less regularly, but frequently, and are almost never available anymore. Another three to four are able to come much less frequently now.”

Some members who work in federal roles have been able to adjust their schedules to attend the 7 a.m. minyan before starting the work day. Some middle school students have also been able to attend the morning and evening minyans.

“We’ve managed to continue, but it’s definitely been a headwind to push against,” Wolkenfeld said.

Despite some attendance challenges, Wolkenfeld has persevered in his efforts to keep the twice-daily minyan alive.

“We’ve tried to make the experience pleasant and always teach a little bit of Torah and try to encourage a little bit of schmoozing time before and after,” he said.

As a rabbi working in Chicago before relocating to the nation’s capital, Wolkenfeld is accustomed to a larger demographic of retirees who can not only attend minyan, but stay after to sip on coffee, eat cookies and socialize. The Ohev Sholom community, in contrast, is younger, made up of predominantly married families with children living in the house.

These members often work long hours on top of shuttling kids back and forth to school, sports games and extracurriculars. They may also be caring for aging parents as well as tending to the children, which consumes much of their time.

“All of those things take people away from the ability to come each morning and evening to the shul,” Wolkenfeld said.