Donations
If you'd like to make a donation to AJ, you can make a donation online, on our website. Or, you can click here to download a donation form.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE
Handicap parking spaces are available outside the front entrance of the synagogue. Please do not park in the spaces that are reserved for individual congregants; they have paid to ensure that their space is available to them when they come to the synagogue. Thank you.
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RSVP Today for Spring Series "Israel in Perspective,"
Featuring AJ Scholar in Residence Emory Professor Ken Stein!
Presented by the AJ Adult Education Committee
NOTE CHANGE: Because of a very generous donation, lunch with Ken Stein following Shabbat morning services is now free of charge (with registration).
As Israel approaches its 75th birthday in 2023, how is its third attempt at national sovereignty faring? With a critical eye and guidance from informed observers, we’ll revisit Israel’s first two attempts, examine the founding of the modern state in 1948, and peer across Israel’s current borders. Our spring series will then culminate with a trip to Israel in October where our studies will come alive — and where the pieces will come together.
We're calling this series "Israel in Perspective: A spring series of expert-led encounters with Israeli politics and Jewish history." It will feature two unique speakers who will bring their years of study and experience to two three-session series.
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Professor Kenneth Stein of Emory University will bring his decades of intimate knowledge of Israel and the Middle East to Congregation Adath Jeshurun over the weekend of April 8-10. On Friday night, Prof. Stein will speak about former President Jimmy Carter and his shifting attitude towards Israel. During lunch on Shabbat, Prof. Stein will speak on the century leading up to the establishment of the State of Israel. The topic for Sunday brunch will be why negotiations no longer work.
Kenneth Stein is professor emeritus of Contemporary Middle Eastern History at Emory University. Prof. Stein accompanied President Carter on three trips to the Middle East in 1983, 1987, and 1990. He was the first permanent director of the Carter Center and remained affiliated with the Center until Carter published Palestine: Peace not Apartheid (2006). Stein then resigned citing Carter’s multiple errors and omissions. Professor Stein became the founding director of Emory’s Institute for the Study of Modern Israel.
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Dr. David Bernat will help us look back at Israel through history using biblical and Rabbinic material. Dr. Bernat will present “Stones, Bones, and Stories: Archaeology & History in the Holy Land” in three sessions, every other Tuesday starting April 12. First, we will focus on Hezekiah’s tunnel and the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrian king Sennacherib during Hezekiah’s reign [~700 BCE]. Then, we will take up Israel during the Roman era, focusing on the reign of Herod [37 – 4 BCE] and his massive building projects that have stood the test of time and technology. Finally, we will explore the evidence of how Judaism was observed in its nascent days by looking at artifacts and texts.
Dr. David Bernat is a consultant in Outreach and Development with JALSA, The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action. He has a Ph.D. in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies from Brandeis, is the author of Sign of the Covenant: Circumcision in the Priestly Tradition and co-editor of Religion and Violence: The Biblical Heritage. Dr. Bernat has held faculty positions at UMass Amherst and Wellesley College, and regularly leads adult education tours to Israel with an historical and archaeological focus.
To find out more about both programs, click here. To register for the Ken Stein events, click here. (Please note: the lecture and luncheon on Saturday, April 9 is now free of charge for all, but you MUST register.) To register for the David Bernat events, click here.
The Ken Stein Scholar-in-Residence program is supported by the Donsky | Hunn Endowment Fund.
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Mitzvah Food/Toiletry Drive
Now Through April 3
As we gather at our seders to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt, we will proclaim “Let all who are hungry come and eat.” In an effort to fulfill that proclamation, we will be collecting canned food, personal care items, and reusable bags at AJ now through April 3. Bins will be located near the doors in the front and rear of the building to collect the donated items. The items will be delivered to the Mitzvah Food Pantry to help our neighbors in need.
Requested items:Canned Protein Items (lower salt preferred)
Canned beans (legumes, chick peas, etc.); nut butters; canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines, etc. ***PLEASE: Canned food only and NO matzoh***
Toiletry items: Shampoo/conditioner; toothbrushes; toothpaste; body soap; deodorant;
feminine hygiene products; adult diapers; baby diapers; baby wipes
Cleaning items:
Laundry detergent; dish soap; cleaning supplies; toilet tissue; tissue; paper towels
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Pesah Bowl
Friday, April 1 at 6:15 PM (in person)
Test your knowledge of Passover for prizes during the Kabbalat Shabbat service. Only those who attend in person may participate. 6:15 PM
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Men's Shabbat
Saturday, April 2 at 9:30 AM (in person and via Zoom)
Join the men of AJ as they lead the Shabbat service. The service will be followed by a delicious luncheon. 9:30 AM. If you plan to attend in person, please click here to register in advance so we can plan.
BE A MEN’S ASSOCIATION MENSCH!
Donate $18 to AJMA and help defray the cost of the luncheon. A donation of $50 or more designates you as a “MEGA MENSCH”! Kindly make checks payable to the AJMA and forward to the synagogue office. Alternatively, you can donate online here. AJMA thanks you in advance for your generous support.
Bonus Event! During lunch, Rav Shai will discuss some of haggadahs’ different features and to preview the newest hagaddah from the Jewish Publication Society, Marcia Falk’s Night of Beginnings.
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Learn More About the AJ Trip to Israel!
Sunday, April 3 at 7:30 PM (in person and via Zoom)
At the end of each Passover seder, we all sing, “Next year in Yerushalayim!” Well, next year is almost here.
Congregation Adath Jeshurun will be taking its first congregation trip to Israel with Rav Shai from October 13-27. We’ll arrive for the last few days of Sukkot and enjoy the holiday like no other place on the planet!
Kayla Ship, one of our tour directors, will be speaking at AJ (and on Zoom) on April 3 at 7:30 PM. Kayla will be here to answer your questions about anything and everything related to the trip. We are officially accepting deposits for our two tracks—pioneers and veterans—NOW!
The program will start around 7:30 PM, following evening minyan at 7:00 PM. Evening minyan and Kayla’s presentation will be in person in the sanctuary and available via Zoom on the evening minyan link.
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Kabbalat Shabbat with Strings Attached
Friday, April 8 at 6:15 PM (At AJ and via Zoom)
Unplug from a busy week with an acoustic Shabbat service led by Hazzan Howard Glantz with familiar tunes that will put a smile on your face and a song in your heart. For all ages, from babies to bubbies. Bring your friends for this relaxed, casual, and enjoyable service! 6:15 PM. In person and via Zoom.
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Pesach/Shabbat Information
Beginning Friday, April 15
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We will begin Pesach services on Friday night, April 15, at 6:15 PM. Because Pesach coincides with Shabbat, there is no Kabbalat Shabbat service, thus, the prayers will be relatively brief. Friday night prayers will be on Zoom ONLY.
Saturday morning services for the first day of Pesach, April 16, will begin at 9:30 AM and feature the choir and organ. About two weeks ago, Hazzan Glantz announced that the search for a new choirmaster has concluded and that we will welcome Dr. Julia Zavadsky and Soyeon Bin. You will have the opportunity to hear them on the first day of Passover, April 16, when our sanctuary service will include the AJ traditional choral arrangements and accompaniment. So mark your calendars to be here no matter the hour your seder concludes the night prior. In the course of the service, we will offer a choral prayer for Ukraine. You can hear the prayer in an initial sing-through by Nashirah here. Saturday morning services will be in person and via Zoom.
There will be no services on Saturday evening.
From Sunday, April 17 through Thursday, April 21, all services will be Zoom ONLY. Monday through Thursday morning services will begin at 7:00 AM. Evening services will be at 7:00 PM.
Friday, April 22 will be the last day of Pesach and chag services will begin at 9:00 AM in the sanctuary and on Zoom. Yizkor will be recited during this service.
As a result of sunsetting the second day of chag, Pesach is only seven days. But, this year, since the seventh day of Pesach leads directly into Shabbat, we effectively have eight days of Pesach. We cannot buy or acquire anything on Shabbat, including hametz. If you are using AJ as your agent to sell your hametz, your hametz will not revert to your possession until the end of the eighth day of Pesach. This year, your hametz will not be yours until motzei Shabbat, Saturday night, at roughly 8:30 PM.
(On Friday morning, April 15, the Siyum Bechorot and the Fast of the First Born will begin at 7:00 AM and will be both in person and via Zoom.)
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Kehillah of Old York Road Yom HaShoah Program
Wednesday, April 27
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The Kehillah of Old York Road will commemorate Yom HaShoah by presenting a program called "In Her Own Words." After a brief Yom HaShoah service, honor the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust this Yom HaShoah by hearing the incredible story of Sophie Rosenbaum, who escaped by the Vienna Kindertransport. Learn about Sophie's journey through her own words as well as her son's, Dr. David Bader. Dr. Bader and his mother highlight her journey on a Kindertransport from Vienna, Austria to Manchester, England, when she was five years old in 1939. Through this program, they will paint a picture of their family's life in Vienna, the jailing of Sophie's father in Dachau during Kristallnacht, and the family's ultimate reunion in America.
The community service and program will be held at 7:00 PM at Old York Road Temple – Beth Am (971 Old York Road, Abington PA) and the program will start at 7:30 PM. You can attend in person or virtually. Please register here.
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Congregation Adath Jeshurun invites you to AJ’s 2022 Annual Fundraiser as we honor Amy Devine-Stretch and Calvin Thompson for 20 years of service at AJ! The night will include entertainment by comedians Johnny Lampert and Dan Naturman.
Johnny Lampert is considered one of the premier comedians in the country. He is a regular at New York City’s and Los Angeles’ best comedy clubs including The Gotham Comedy Club, The Comic Strip, Caroline’s on Broadway, and The Improv. Johnny has also made numerous television appearances on MTV, A&E, NBC, HBO “Comedy Showcase,” a multitude of shows on Comedy Central, and most recently on AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live!
Dan Naturman’s charming combination of self-deprecation and outright grouchiness has had audiences howling from coast to coast and has earned him four appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, his own “Comedy Central Presents...” special, and a starring run on NBC’s America’s Got Talent.
DATE: Sunday, May 1, 2022
TIME: Minyan at 6:15 PM; Doors open at 6:30 PM; Program starts promptly at 7:00 PM; Dessert Reception to Follow
Look for your invitation in your mailbox soon! You can RSVP using the response card in the invitation or click here.
Let Amy and Cal know how much you appreciate them by placing an ad in this year's Tribute Journal and sending in your information ASAP. The form will be included in your invitation or you can download it here.
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Beginners' Israeli Dancing Group at AJ
Tuesday Afternoons from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
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Do you have ru’ach (spirit?) Did you do Israeli dancing a while ago and want to do it again? Never done it? Just want to do some easy dances? Join Susan Novack each Tuesday from 1:00 to 3:00 PM for a beginner group. The basic steps and dances will be taught and reviewed. The group meets in the Orleans at AJ. Email Susan at [email protected] to sign up.
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An Adult Education Resource for AJ Congregants
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Congregation Adath Jeshurun, dedicated to the Jewish value of learning for its own sake (Torah lishmah), is excited to announce a partnership with the Orange County Community Scholar Program (CSP). As a partner with CSP, we’ll join a small group of synagogues enjoying the best Jewish learning available. AJ has the distinction of being the first Pennsylvania synagogue to partner with CSP.
You can find details on all of the programs and the presenters for February and March at https://occsp.net/current-online-events/. If you register and can’t attend, a link will be sent after the event to a recording. There is also an archive of classes that you can view here.
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Last week, David Myers and Nomi Stolzenberg gave a fascinating presentation called “American Shtetl: Kiryas Joel.” Myers is a Jewish Studies scholar at UCLA and Stolzenberg is a law professor at USC. Together they described how Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum was able to create a mythic shtetl—only in America. You can use the link above to the archived classes to see it. (If it's not available yet, please check back next week.)
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***PLEASE NOTE: the start times on the CSP website are Pacific time, so remember to add three hours for the Eastern start time.***
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Community Events You May Be Interested In
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Tuesday, April 5: Shusterman Distinguished Scholar Lecture at Gratz College: A Multiracial Jewish Family in Early America. An obsessive genealogist and descendent of one of the most prominent Jewish families since the American Revolution, Blanche Moses firmly believed her maternal ancestors were Sephardic grandees. Yet she found herself at a dead end when it came to her grandmother’s maternal line. In this talk, Professor Laura Leibman, Ph.D. overturns the reclusive heiress’s assumptions about her family history to reveal that her grandmother and great-uncle, Sarah and Isaac Brandon, actually began their lives as poor, Christian, and enslaved in Barbados. Leibman traces the siblings’ extraordinary journey around the Atlantic world, using artifacts they left behind in Barbados, Suriname, London, Philadelphia, and, finally, New York. While their affluence made them unusual, their story mirrors that of the largely forgotten people of mixed African and Jewish ancestry that constituted as much as ten percent of the Jewish communities in which the siblings lived. 7:00 pm ET Online. Register here.
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Thursday, April 28: The Center for Holocaust Studies And Human Rights at Gratz College Presents An Evening of Honor and Remembrance in Commemoration of Yom HaShoah. Gratz College invites you to a free program open to all. We will be commemorating Yom HaShoah and honoring extraordinary individuals whose leadership, advocacy, and scholarship have significantly advanced Holocaust education and human rights in the world. Program Highlights: Keynote address by the Honorable Irwin Cotler, Isaacman Distinguished Visiting Professor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies;
Presentation of the Gratz Medal to Violet P. Zeitlin, Gratz alumna and Assistant Director of the Gratz College Holocaust Oral History Archive; and a musical performance of "The Mandell Fantasy" by Ronna Zallman Honigman, Gratz alumna. 6:30 pm ET Online. Please register here.
Hebrew Ulpan Classes
Want to improve your Hebrew before the 2022 AJ trip to Israel? Gratz is offering Hebrew Ulpan classes in the spring. Their Continuing Education department is offering a number of sessions at various levels and times. To register for any of them, click here.
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ROSH HODESH NISAN
SHABBAT HaHODESH | TAZRIA
April 1, 2, 2022 | 1 Nisan 5782
Light Shabbat Candles: 7:06 PM
NEW GUIDELINES:
Effective immediately, wearing masks is optional for services.
Up-to-date vaccinations and boosters are still required for entry.
See updated protocols here.
Friday Evening
Kabbalat Shabbat
Pesah Bowl!
6:15 PM
In Person and Via Zoom
(Pesah Bowl participation for those attending in person only)
Saturday Morning
Morning Service
Men's Shabbat,
followed by a luncheon;
Lunch 'N Learn with
Rav Shai to discuss
"Choosing a Hagaddah"
9:30 AM
In Person and Via Zoom
Look for this weekend's pew pamphlet
in the Password email that will be sent out tomorrow.
Saturday Afternoon/Evening
Minhah-Ma’ariv-Havdalah
7:10 PM
Via Zoom
PLEASE NOTE:
This weekend, Sunday evening services will be in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. After the service, Kayla Ship from Keshet Educational Journeys will be at AJ to talk about the AJ October Israel trip and answer questions. This discussion will also be available on Zoom, at the same link used for Sunday evening services.
*See the info below regarding
COVID-19 requirements and
pre-registering for in-person services.
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REGULAR WEEKDAY SCHEDULE
Evenings
Sunday through Thursday: 7:00 PM
Mornings
Sunday: 9:00 AM
Monday and Thursday: 7:20 AM
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday:
7:30 AM
Through the Zoom platform, congregants can attend services virtually.
We have three Zoom links for AJ services.
For Friday evening and Saturday morning services:
By computer:
By phone:
Please dial 929.436.2866 or 301.715.8592.
Meeting ID: 970 5403 7610
(Password required)
For Saturday evening services:
By computer:
By phone:
Please dial 929.436.2866 or 301.715.8592.
Meeting ID#: 933131679
(Password required.)
Congregants should see the separate email for the latest password for Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Saturday evening services.
For all other services (Sunday through Friday morning and Sunday through Thursday evening services):
By computer:
By phone:
Please dial 929.436.2866 or 301.715.8592.
Meeting ID#: 109428724
(No password required.)
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Attending AJ Friday Evening or Saturday Morning Services in Person
Our current COVID-19 requirements for attending services in person are below:
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Pre-register for services by completing the April online registration form, or by calling the office.
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Use hand sanitizer before entering the sanctuary. Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building.
- Effective immediately, wearing masks is optional for services.
- Up-to-date vaccinations and boosters are still required for entry.
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AJ requires proof of a booster shot for all those eligible to receive the booster or your second vaccination should have been within the last six months.
If you would like to attend Friday evening and/or Saturday morning services, you must pre-register by 2:30 PM Friday afternoon.
All other services will still be by Zoom only.
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If you are having trouble with links for AJ services or events that are held via Zoom, here's another way to get into a meeting.
1. Go to https://zoom.us.
2. Click on "Join a Meeting" in the upper right. It looks like this:
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You'll see a screen that looks like this:
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3. A meeting ID is included with all Zoom information we distribute. Type or copy and paste the meeting ID into the box (just the numbers).
4. Click "Join." You will be placed into the meeting or be put in a "Waiting Room" until the meeting starts, or until the host of the meeting lets you in. Enjoy your meeting!
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Looking for Ways to Help the People of Ukraine?
Some Ideas from AJ Acts
From a post by Social Action Committee lead Michele Rifkin on the AJ Acts Facebook page:
I know many of us are trying to figure out how to best help the country and people of Ukraine. They are fighting hard to retain their democracy with courage and pride. Here is some organizations that you can consider:
- CARE.org
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UNICEF: Emergency services, fresh water, health supplies, protection of children
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Sunflower of Peace: Organizations send backpacks of medical supplies to frontline medical professionals. Each backpack can service five individuals.
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Vostok SOS: Emergency aid hotline for humanitarian aid and psychological support
Rav Shai also suggests these donating to these organizations:
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Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Federation has launched an emergency fund for Ukraine. From Michael Balaban, Jewish Federation’s President and CEO: Emergencies happen without notice, which is why we’re very grateful for your support in times when it matters most. As fighting intensifies, millions of Ukrainians, including tens of thousands of Jews, are attempting to flee the country. Thanks to the incredible generosity of this community, more than $500,000 has been raised to provide humanitarian aid on the ground and help individuals and families escape to safety. As the fighting escalates, the needs in the region continue to grow. If you would like to make a gift in support of the emergency response efforts, please click here.
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HIAS: HIAS has a partnership with Right to Protection (R2P), an NGO in Kyiv. You can read an article in The Forward by Mark Hetfield, CEO and President of HIAS, regarding its personal connection with Ukraine here.
The cousin of AJ's administrative assistant (Beryl Rosoff-Verbit) has gone to Ukraine to help. She recommends donating to the NGO that she is working for: Rapid Aid Liaison Group. She also recommends:
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Tikva Children’s Home, whose core mission is to care for the homeless, abandoned and abused Jewish children of Odessa and neighboring regions of the Former Soviet Union.
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American Jewish Committee (AJC) has launched an emergency fund to provide humanitarian relief to Ukrainian refugees, assist Ukrainian Jews who wish to make Aliyah to Israel, and support and protect Ukrainian Jews who have chosen to stay in Ukraine, particularly the elderly.
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Yom HaShoah Yellow Candles
A Project of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs
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Sharing Light For Remembrance
Light candle at sundown on Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Last year AJMA raised over $800 for KAVOD, an organization that provides immediate relief to Holocaust survivors in the Philadelphia area. KAVOD partners with the Jewish Family Service. To receive a Yellow Candle, kindly send your request to Ed Moses at [email protected]. You can pick up it up at AJ starting Tuesday, April 4. If necessary, we can mail one to you by first class mail. AJMA thanks you!
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AJ is Israel Bound in 2022!
Thursday, October 13 to Thursday, October 27, 2022
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In just under a year, AJ will be embarking on our first Israel tour with Rav Shai as the congregation’s rabbi. He made two executive decisions, and then our tour operator, Keshet, and our amazing Israel committee filled in the framework. We’ll be leaving for our two-week trip on October 13, 2022 — Hol HaMoed Sukkot! That means that we’ll be spending the first four days of the trip in Jerusalem celebrating Sukkot, Shabbat, and Shmini Atzeret/Simhat Torah. You’ll be able to grab falafel or schwarma and eat it in a sukkah. You’ll also be able to check out a variety of shuls from Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue to a Modern Orthodox minyan where women read Torah to the Conservative synagogue on Agron Street. The program will be run on two tracks. The first track, the “Pioneers,” is for folks with limited exposure to Israel. The second group, the “Veterans,” will be focusing on food, energy, and the environment. Every night we’ll reconvene for dinner, swap stories from the day, and, sometimes, enjoy another program for all of us.
We’ve tried to make the trip affordable — $5,099 per person, double occupancy, land only. The detailed itinerary for the "Pioneers" is here, and the itinerary for the "Veterans" is here. Since you’re wondering — YES! It will sometimes be possible to jump tracks on occasion. We are capping each track at 24 people.
We just received pricing for the flight on El Al: Economy is priced at $1,244 each and premium at $2,304 each.
Bernie Dishler is chairing the Israel Committee. Send him an email to let him know if you’re interested, if you have questions, or if you’re ready to put down a deposit. We’ll start meeting in January 2022 to best prepare.
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Megillah Medley Match Follow-up!
If you enjoyed the music from the Megillah Medley Mash on Saturday, March 5 and want to listen to the full songs, click here for the playlist to listen to them!
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More Learning Opportunities!
Learn About Religions and Ecology!
The environmental crisis is more than a political, economic, or technological concern; it is a moral and spiritual call to long-term change. Developed over several years, these courses draw on a rich variety of lectures, videos, readings, and interviews with scholars, religious leaders, and environmental practitioners from around the world.
Do you want to gain new understandings of the world’s religions and their ecological perspectives? Are you interested in exploring the impact of engaged religious climate action? Learners in this five-course specialization will:
- Explore the ecological implications of religious texts
- Learn how religious beliefs and practices inform attitudes about the environment
- Gain new perspectives on biodiversity, food systems, and environmental justice
- Become familiar with engaged religious responses to the climate crisis
All courses are open for enrollment and are available as follows:
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AJ Early Learning Center Shomer Shabbat Program
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AJ Early Learning Center is proud to offer a Shomer Shabbat program for children 18 to 36 months. Its features include:
- Keystone Star 4 Early Childhood Education Program
- Warm and safe environment with experienced, loving teachers
- Curriculum that includes Tefilah, preparations for Yamim Tovim, Shabbos and birthday celebrations, nature, music, Hebrew language, cooking, baking, yoga, potty readiness, and more
- Extended hours
- State-of-the-art playground
- Acceptance of ELRC
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Looking for Teachers for the AJ Early Learning Center!
The AJ Early Learning Center is hiring! We have immediate openings for both full-time and part-time educators for our infant room and pre-K. If you or someone you know has experience working with children and enjoys the attention, love, and responsibility the position requires, please apply today. Contact Anita Block at [email protected] or 215.635.3490.
AJELC is an equal opportunity employer in the state of Pennsylvania.
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It's Not Too Early to Think About Summer Camp!
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Ramah Sports Academy Information Session
On Monday, March 28 at 7:30 PM (via Zoom), AJ will be hosting a Ramah Sports Academy Information Session! The mission of Ramah Sports Academy is to provide a premier sports program that empowers campers to achieve their greatest potential as confident athletes, while building character and fostering a deep love for Judaism and Israel. Their mission is fulfilled by committing to four guiding principles: the 4 Cs: Confidence, Coaching, Community, and Connection. Join us to learn more about this overnight camp option for your child's summer. Click here to register.
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One Happy Camper Grants
This program is for first-time overnight campers who attend a Foundation for Jewish Camp-approved camp. Campers must be attending 12+ consecutive days of camp. One Happy Camper provides grants of up to $1000 to families with children attending nonprofit Jewish overnight camps for the first time. One Happy Camper, a program of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, is funded locally by Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Families can learn more and apply here.
Need-Based Day & Overnight Camp Scholarships
This program is for financial aid scholarships for camp. Campers can receive up to 30% of the cost of camp; determination is made based on need. The website has been updated so that the criteria are very clearly laid out, and there is another important change: awards will be made on a rolling basis. The sooner parents apply, the sooner they will know about their award. Families can learn more and apply here.
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Programs for Seniors at AJ
Our Montgomery County location is OPEN for one in-person exercise class 10:30-11:30am Tuesday through Thursday with some virtual classes still available, as well as other special programs. Reservations are appreciated one week in advance to partake in the in-person classes. For more information and/or to reserve your spot, please call 215.635.5244 or email [email protected]. You can download their Newsletter here. You can find their calendar of events here.
Grab & Go Meals! Kleinlife is now offering Grab & Go frozen meals once a week from AJ. You MUST RESERVE at least a week ahead of time for 5 frozen kosher meals. Thursday is the regular pick-up day, between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Call 215.635.5244 for more details.
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Do you have a question about any of the events or announcements in this email? Call the synagogue office at 215.635.6611.
Do you have good news to share? We can always use it! Let us know and we'll include it in the weekly email.
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APRIL
4/1
Pesah Bowl. Test your knowledge of Passover for prizes! During Kabbalat Shabbat service. Only those who attend in person may participate. 6:15 PM
4/2
Men's Shabbat. Join the men of AJ as they lead the Shabbat service. The service will be followed by a luncheon. 9:30 AM.
4/2
Lunch 'N Learn with Rav Shai. During Men's Shabbat lunch, Rav Shai will discuss some of haggadahs’ different features and to preview the newest hagaddah from the Jewish Publication Society, Marcia Falk’s Night of Beginnings. 12:30 PM (in person only)
4/3
Keshet Educational Journeys Presentation on AJ Israel Trip. Are you interested in AJ’s Israel trip in October but want to learn more? Kayla Ship from Keshet Educational Journeys will be visiting AJ in person to talk about the trip! There will be a presentation and time for questions. The program will start around 7:30 PM, following evening minyan at 7:00 PM. Evening minyan and Kayla’s presentation will be in person in the sanctuary and available via Zoom on the evening minyan link.
4/8
Kabbalat Shabbat with Strings Attached. Unplug from a busy week with an acoustic Shabbat service led by Hazzan Howard Glantz with familiar tunes that will put a smile on your face and a song in your heart. For all ages, from babies to bubbies. Bring your friends for this relaxed, casual, and enjoyable service! 6:15 PM. In person and via Zoom.
4/8
Program with Scholar in Residence Dr. Ken Stein: "Jimmy Carter: Calculated Ambivalence." While teaching at Emory University since 1977, Professor Stein played an important role in the organization and development of the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. For more than a dozen years in the 1980s and 1990s, he advised former President Carter about Middle Eastern matters, traveled with him to the region, and wrote a book with him. When Carter wrote the highly controversial book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, in 2006, Dr. Stein dramatically split with Carter for his false claims about Israel and American Jews. Stein will speak about how Carter and other presidents develop their attitudes toward Israel and the negotiating process, and particularly on the roots and evolution of Carter’s involvement in peace negotiations and the growth of his animus towards Israel over the years. Kabbalat Shabbat begins at 6:15 PM. 7:30 PM. Please register here.
4/9
Shabbat Luncheon with Scholar in Residence Dr. Ken Stein: Intelligent Design and Not the Big Bang Theory: The Zionist State, 1848-1949. Was there a Jewish State in 1939? With the use of archival and published sources of the period, Dr. Stein will unfold with us the causes and political choices that contributed to Zionist state making before the tragedy of the Holocaust was known to the world. What roles did the British, Palestinian Arabs, and Jewish leaders play in carving out a Jewish territory in Eretz Yisrael? Was the Jewish state’s establishment inevitable? What is the historical context for Israel’s unfolding and the Palestinian dispersion in the period from 1945-1949? What do the sources tell us? Shabbat services begin at 9:30 AM. Lunch begins at 12:30 PM. Lecture and lunch are free. Please register here.
4/10
Program and Brunch with Scholar in Residence Dr. Ken Stein: Why Negotiations Don’t Work Anymore. Why did Arab-Israeli Negotiations work in the 1970s but Palestinian-Israeli talks are dead in the water in 2021? What criteria/elements were present then but are not there now? Why have six Arab countries recognized Israel, and removed the Palestinian issue as the top priority on inter-Arab and national agendas? What does survey research tell us about the differences in American Jewish and Israeli attitudes about Israeli security, the settlements, and whether a two-state solution is doable? What do Arab sources reveal about Palestinian politics? Morning services begin at 9:00 AM. Brunch begins at 10:00 AM. Cost: $36 per person for members, $54 per person for nonmembers, and $18 for all students. Please register here.
4/11
Executive Committee Meeting. Beginning with evening minyan, at 7:00 PM.
4/11
Robyn Orodenker Book Club. Plunder, by Menachem Kaiser. Please read the book before the meeting! 7:30 PM. Sponsored by AJWA Sisterhood.
4/12
Adult Ed Series with Dr. David Bernat. Session 1 of 3. This virtual three-session Adult Ed class will look back at Israel through history with Biblical and Rabbinic material. Tonight, we will focus on Hezekiah’s tunnel and the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrian king Sennacherib during Hezekiah’s reign [~700 BCE]. Dr. David Bernat is Consultant in Outreach and Development with JALSA, The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action. He has a PhD in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies from Brandeis, is the author of Sign of the Covenant: Circumcision in the Priestly Tradition and co-editor of Religion and Violence: The Biblical Heritage. Bernat has held faculty positions at UMass Amherst and Wellesley College, and regularly leads adult education tours to Israel with an historical and archaeological focus. Other dates: April 26 and May 10. 7:30 PM. Please register here.
4/15
Erev Pesah. Virtual Siyum Behorot (Fast of the Firstborn). It has been a traditional practice of our people that the first-born attend services on Erev Pesah and take part in a siyum (a study period based on a Rabbinic text). The service will be at 7:00 AM with the morning Shaharit service, followed by the Siyum Behorot.
4/15
Evening Service. Via Zoom only. 6:15 PM.
4/16
Pesah, Day I/Choir and Organ Shabbat. In person and via Zoom. 9:30 AM. No evening service.
4/17
Pesah, Day II. Morning Service, 9:00 AM. Evening Service, 7:00 PM. Both via Zoom.
4/18
Pesah, Day III. Morning Service, 7:00 AM. Evening Service, 7:00 PM. Both via Zoom.
4/18
Board of Directors Meeting. Beginning with evening minyan, at 7:00 PM.
4/19
Pesah, Day IV. Morning Service, 7:00 AM. Evening Service, 7:00 PM. Both via Zoom.
4/20
Pesah, Day V. Morning Service, 7:00 AM. Evening Service, 7:00 PM. Both via Zoom.
4/20
Pesah Healing Service with Hazzan Glantz. Hazzan Glantz leads this service that includes healing prayers that may be familiar, steeped in our ancient liturgy, as well as more contemporary and current selections. Join him on Zoom at 6:15 PM.
4/21
Pesah, Day VI. Morning Service, 7:00 AM. Evening Service, 7:00 PM. Both via Zoom.
4/22
Pesah, Day VII. Morning Service, 7:00 AM. Including Yizkor service. In person and via Zoom.
4/26
Adult Ed Series with Dr. David Bernat. Session 2 of 3. This virtual three-session Adult Ed class will look back at Israel through history with Biblical and Rabbinic material. We will take up Israel during the Roman era, focusing on the reign of Herod [37 – 4 BCE] and his massive building projects that have stood the test of time and technology. Dr. David Bernat is Consultant in Outreach and Development with JALSA, The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action. He has a PhD in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies from Brandeis, is the author of Sign of the Covenant: Circumcision in the Priestly Tradition and co-editor of Religion and Violence: The Biblical Heritage. Bernat has held faculty positions at UMass Amherst and Wellesley College, and regularly leads adult education tours to Israel with an historical and archaeological focus. Last date: May 10. 7:30 PM. Please register here.
4/27
Yom HaShoah Service. Please join us on April 27, 2022, at 7:00 PM at OYR Temple-Beth Am (971 Old York Road, Abington) for the Old York Road Kehillah’s annual observance of Yom HaShoah—Holocaust Remembrance Day. After a brief Yom HaShoah service, honor the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust this Yom HaShoah by hearing the incredible story of Sophie Rosenbaum, who escaped by the Vienna Kindertransport. Learn about Sophie's journey through her own words as well as her son's, Dr. David Bader. Dr. Bader and his mother highlight her journey on a Kindertransport from Vienna, Austria to Manchester, England, when she was five years old in 1939. Through this program, they will paint a picture of their family's life in Vienna, the jailing of Sophie's father in Dachau during Kristallnacht, and the family's ultimate reunion in America. Service at 7:00 PM; program at 7:30 PM. Please register here.
4/28
Yom HaShoah.
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