USDA Sukkot Celebration

Friday September 29

Our Sukkah Dedication Ceremony is from 11:45 am - 1:00 pm

Secretary Vilsack’s remarks begin promptly at 12:15 pm

Please note: In the event of rain, we may move this event indoors in which case you will need an ID. If it is raining, please arrive at 11:30am to allow for extra time for a security screening.

Location: Sukkah, at the People’s Garden, (Mall side of Whitten Building by 12th St. SW)

Leadership Remarks featuring:

• Secretary Vilsack, USDA
• Melissa Rodgers, Director, White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
• Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Department of State
• Samantha Joseph, Director, USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
• Jason Isaacson, Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, American Jewish Committee
• Ben Sax, Chair, ADL Board of Directors
• Rabbi Sarah Krinsky, Adas Israel

If you have time, stop by the USDA Farmers Market first to make decorations and visit the petting zoo from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Location: Farmers Market, USDA parking lot at 14th Street & Independence Ave., SW

Why should I attend?

• Hear directly from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about our commitments to the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism
• Learn about the Jewish holiday of Sukkot
• Hear from USDA’s great partners including ADL, AJC and others about our shared commitments
• Receive a book about the holiday of sukkot from PJ Library!!

After our event, there will be another sukkah dedication at the World Culture Festival on the National Mall – we hope you’ll join!

Co-hosted by: Adamah, American Jewish Committee, ADL, Capital Jewish Museum, Jewish Farmer Network, Jewish Federations of North America, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Met Council, and PJ Library

Logistical Information

People’s Garden Drop-off Address for Uber/Lyft: 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250 – Then walk down Independence half a block to the corner of Jefferson and 12th Street

Parking: There is limited metered parking along the National Mall and nearby Federal buildings. Parking will also be impacted by the World Culture Festival; we recommend utilizing metro to travel to and from USDA.

Directions to USDA from Metro: If you are taking the metro, please exit at the Smithsonian Metro Station, located on the orange line. Walk towards the National Mall exit and proceed to the USDA People’s Garden Across the street. From the People’s Garden, please walk down Jefferson Drive towards the Monument. The USDA Farmers Market is on your left in the parking lot at the corner of 14th and Independence Avenue. Please note that the USDA Farmers Market has temporarily relocated to the parking lot at 14th Street and Independence Avenue.