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.

Do you have children or grandchildren that are graduating from high school or college this spring? Let us know so we can celebrate them in the July/August AJ News! Send an email to [email protected] or call the office at 215.635.6611.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot and Shavuot Day Services and Luncheon

Thursday Evening, May 25, at 8:00 PM and Friday Morning, May 26, at 9:30 AM

Thursday Evening, May 25: Tikkun Leil Shavuot

DON’T COME FLEISHIG TONIGHT!

Join us at AJ as we participate in the tradition of Jewish learning. It will begin with Minhah-Ma’ariv at 8:00 PM. At 9:00 PM, we’re delighted to welcome scholar Dr. Ellen Frankel as our special guest. Dr. Frankel is a scholar, author, librettist, and storyteller. She is the author of twelve books, including The Five Books of Miriam (1997), The Classic Tales: 4,000 Years of Jewish Lore (1993), and The JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible, winner of the National Jewish Book Award in 2009. The Deadly Scrolls is Book One in a new series, The Jerusalem Mysteries. Book 2, The Hyena Murders, was recently released. Dr. Frankel served for eighteen years as Editor-in-Chief and CEO of The Jewish Publication Society. She has written the lyrics for a number of cantatas, chamber pieces, and two operas. Her program for Tikkun Leil Shavuot will be "Reclaiming the Lost Voices of Jewish Women." Then at 10:45 PM, Rav Shai will teach on Revolving Perspectives on Ruth. A bevy of cheesecakes will be served between sessions. Non-members are welcome at $18 per person.

Friday, May 26: Shavuot Services and Luncheon

On Shavuot Day, the Shavuot morning service, including Yizkor, begins at 9:30 AM. Following services, Ellen Frankel will join us again for lunch with a program based on her recent book, The Deadly Scrolls. The story centers around a genuine historic artifact, the “Copper Scroll,” whose many secrets still remain undeciphered by scholars and treasure hunters. She will discuss the genesis and evolution of her book, read selected passages, and answer questions.

Click here to learn more about both programs. Please RSVP today here!

"Howl"leluyah

Saturday, June 3 at 8:10 PM



Inviting all high school juniors, seniors, and college students to a Saturday night Howl. The moon will be full, and we will offer our blessings to the waxing luminary. Join us for services, Havdalah, Kiddush Levana (the blessing of the moon), refreshments, and a schmooze with your AJ chevre. We miss you, and we’re guessing you miss each other. Services begin at 8:10 PM. RSVP here.

165th Annual Meeting

Monday, June 5 at 7:00, in person and via Zoom



Please be with us to celebrate this past synagogue year and to inaugurate the new one!

Minyan and Meeting: 7:00 PM

Dessert Reception: 8:15 PM

The Zoom link will be the same as the one used for weeknight evenings.

Sundaes for Sara's Castle

Sunday, June 4 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM



Buy an ice cream sundae to benefit the upkeep of Sara’s Castle on the AJ Playground. Sara’s Castle honors Sara Burke, a very special AJ Preschool student who lost her life to brain cancer in 2008. Stop by!

If you would like to be a sponsor of Sara's Castle, click here.

AJMA Night at the Ballpark

Wednesday, June 21



Let the AJ Men's Association take you out to see the Fightin' Phillies battle the Atlanta Braves! The game is on Wednesday, June 21 at 6:40 PM. Tickets (in Section 327) are $40 each, including transportation. We have a bus leaving AJ parking lot at at 5:15 PM SHARP! You can purchase tickets online here, or alternatively send a check to Ed Moses, payable to Adath Jeshurun, (1129 Alton Place, Philadelphia PA 19115). You must include the following info: Name, cell phone number, email address, number of tickets you are purchasing, and the amount of the check you are enclosing. Questions? Contact Ed Moses at [email protected]. First come, first served — we can't hold tickets without payment. Thank you.

Devotion by the Ocean

Friday, June 30 at 6:00 PM



Kabbalat Shabbat at the beach, with a live band…what could be better? For more information, please visit www.ShiratHayamNJ.org or call 609.822.7116. Newport Avenue Beach, Ventnor, NJ 08406. Presented by Shirat Hayam Downbeach Synagogue, Ventnor, NJ. Other Devotion by the Ocean dates this summer: July 28, August 4, 11, and 18.

Congregation Adath Jeshurun, dedicated to the Jewish value of learning for its own sake (Torah lishmah), has partnered with the Orange County Community Scholar Program (CSP). As a partner, 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 do so. You can download a list of the courses and registration links for May here.

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.

***PLEASE NOTE: The start times (except where noted) on the CSP website are Pacific time, so remember to add three hours for the Eastern start time. The times above are Eastern time.***

Community Events You May Be Interested In

Sunday, June 4: Performance of Charles Davidson's I Never Saw Another Butterfly. ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir, Nashirah Jewish Chorale of Philadelphia, and Zachor Keneseth Israel Youth Chorale will be presenting a moving and powerful performance of AJ Hazzan Emeritus Charles Davidson's* I Never Saw Another Butterfly. A beautiful and heartbreaking tribute to the Jewish children imprisoned in the Terezin concentration camp, Davidson's composition is a poignant and evocative tribute to the resilience and humanity of those who suffered there. Terezin, a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia, was used by the Nazis as a propaganda tool to deceive the world about their treatment of Jews during World War II. Despite the horrific conditions including hunger, disease, and torture, children in the camp were encouraged to create art and poetry. Many of these works were smuggled out of the camp by survivors. It is from these works of art that the songs from ‘Butterfly’ are based. Premiered in 1971, Davidson's composition has become a widely performed work throughout the world. The music is haunting and evocative, with a sense of both sadness and hope. I Never Say Another Butterfly serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable horrors. The performance will feature 80+ singers and instrumentalists, who will bring this moving work to life. First Presbyterian Church, 201 South 21st, on June 4, 2023, at 4:00 PM. Tickets and information are available now at annacrusis.org. For more information, please contact Miriam Davidson at [email protected] or Julia Zavadsky at [email protected].

Tuesday, June 13: Rebecca Gratz Tea Party: With Melissa R. Klapper, PhD, Professor of History and Director of Women’s & Gender Studies, Rowan University, and Nina Warnke, PhD, Lead Editor, Rebecca Gratz Digital Archive, Gratz College. Open a window into the past of one of America’s most storied Jewish women of the 19th century. Rebecca Gratz, rumored inspiration for Gratz College, was a fierce proponent of Jewish education. Her creation of the first children’s classes for Jewish religion, history and culture eventually became the model for the modern Jewish Sunday School in the United States. Learn with us; sip tea; munch on scones and cookies; and feel free to wear your favorite Rebecca Gratz-esque hat as we venture back in time to the 19th century! Learn more and register here. 2:00 – 3:15 PM ET. $10, includes tea and snacks. Gratz College, in-person only. 

Another Volunteer Opportunity!

Individuals across Greater Philadelphia are experiencing period poverty. This past year, 1 in 4 women struggled to purchase period supplies due to financial limitations. JRA is aiming to be part of the solution by launching the Period Packs Project. Households with menstruating aged individuals can now opt-in to receive free supplies delivered directly to their doorstep alongside their monthly box of food. JRA’s recipients are some of the most impacted by Covid-19 and soaring inflation, forced to make tough choices like paying rent, buying groceries or purchasing menstrual products. The JRA is asking for volunteers to help pack and deliver the bags. All packing takes place at the JRA Warehouse at 10980 Dutton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154. Here are the upcoming packing dates for the rest of the year:

Thursdays at 10:00 AM: June 8, August 10, October 12, and December 14.

If you would like to make a donation to this project, click here.

COVID Guidelines

If you are planning to attend services or an event at AJ, you can find our current COVID-19 guidelines as of May 11, 2023 here.

Earn Money for AJ by Shopping at House of Kosher!

For any amount that an AJ member spends, House of Kosher will give 2% of the sale to AJ! All you need to do is mention AJ's unique Shopper Code 6611 and the discount is immediately applied as a credit to your organization.

Any first-time customer that is a member of AJ will receive a 10% discount on your in-store shopping of over $100! House of Kosher is located at 9806 Bustleton Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19115.

KleinLife: Montgomery County Update

Programs for Seniors at AJ 

Our Montgomery County location is OPEN for one in-person exercise class 10:30-11:30 AM, 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. You can also sign up for lunch after Tuesday class. For more information and/or to reserve your spot, please call 215.635.5244 or email [email protected]. You can find their calendar of events here.

UPDATE! KleinLife: Montgomery County has resumed a regular schedule of Tuesday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. They have also resumed in-person lunch with a boxed lunch on Tuesdays, and hot lunches on Wednesday and Thursday.

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.

You can download a May/June KleinLife newsletter here.