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P'nai Or is a unique congregation which grew in response to our search for innovative approaches to Jewish prayer, learning and celebration. Philadelphia P'nai Or was founded in the early 80's by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi along with students and colleagues who envisioned a new form of intentional Jewish community. Here Jewish teachers and learners would co-create contemporary forms of Jewish statement in a dynamic relationship to Torah, Hasidic prayer and teaching, the Jewish mystical tradition, meditation and current approaches in psychology and personal growth.
Upcoming Events
Monday Feb. 4, 2008, then every 2 weeks for a total of 12 weeks
Mussar Class: Jewish Ethical Soul Development, Eileen Nathanson, facilitator
Our sages teach that each of us has the task of fulfilling our soul’s potential, of bringing ourselves to wholeness and holiness. Mussar, the Jewish path of ethical or soul development, was developed to help us do that. Our text will be Everyday Holiness, by Alan Morinis, which covers 18 different soul or character traits. Starting with the trait of Humility, we will select an additional 5 traits to work on, spending two weeks on each. Participants will meet as a group every two weeks and with a study partner on the intervening weeks, for a total commitment of 12 weeks.
Transformation occurs in the doing—in addition to the readings and discussion, we will work with affirmations and journaling.
Time: 10:30 am-12 pm
Location: Home of Sandi and Jerry Cohen
call 215-248-2322, or email fptp@comcast.net
for directions LE
Questions/To register: Please RSVP to Eileen if you
are ready to walk this path: 215-991-5940 or email
enathanson77@comcast.net
FREE. Bring a copy of the book Everyday Holiness to
our first meeting.
Art Meets Midrash: Enlivening Torah Study led by Elanah Naftali in her home. This will be a monthly gathering to make paper art based on the weekly torah reading. Simple art materials will be used as a springboard for diving into salient Torah texts, while witnessing the magic that happens. Supplies: bring glue, scissors, used gift wrap or colored paper, 1 poster board. Elanah will continue to offer this creative opportunity in late February, March, April, May, September, October and November.
Interested parties, along with Elanah, will establish the dates for this activity. Contact Elanah: enaftali @vnaphilly.org
MARCH EVENTS
Sunday March 9, 3:00-5:00 pm
The Jewish Calendar as a Foundation for Healing
The Jewish Calendar is designed to support the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of each person. The 100 daily blessings, the weekly cycle with Shabbat, the monthly cycle with Rosh Chodesh (new moon), the yearly cycle of holidays and festivals, provide us with deep preparatory practices for healing. We will meet monthly, on the Sunday afternoon nearest the new moon (see dates below), and explore through journey, chant, time travel, study and exploration, gathering the threads of healing available for each of us as we come to live within the Jewish calendar.
Facilitator: Ellen Weaver, LCSW, MTh, Rabbinic Pastor
Location: P’nai Or
Questions/To Register: Call Ellen 215-635-6003
FREE
March 21, 7:00 pm
New Members' Dinner
Please RSVP to Sandi Cohen: ftpt@comcast.net or 215-248-2322
March 30, 12-5 pm
Please join other members of your community in a day of service for
P'nai Or. This involves spring-cleaning, organization, recycling, repurposing, and general sprucing up. Everyone's help is welcome--we need as many hearts and hands as possible. Come for an hour or two and pitch in to beautify our davenning space and children's room. Bring some empty boxes and large garbage bags and some cleaning supplies and rags if you have them!
During this day of service to P'nai, Abby will be facilitating a discussion around the beautification of our davvening space. We began this discussion at our steering council meetings and will continue to brainstorm ways to beautify our walls and environment. Please join me at P'nai Or, from 1:30 to 3:00 to share your ideas and perhaps begin some redecorating. If you are not able to join us this Sunday, feel free to share your ideas with me online and I will bring them to the group that gathers.
We'll order some dinner for around 5 pm (on the house), and then go to the Bright Morning Star concert at the Folk Factory (pay your own way). (www.folkfactory.org)
Please call or email Elyse at 610-793-0511 or knejoseph@comcast.net with any questions.
APRIL EVENTS
April 5, after our Shabbos pot luck lunch (approximately 2 pm)
CROSSING THE LINE: TWO JEWISH AMERICAN WOMEN SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES TRAVELING TO ISRAEL AND OCCUPIED PALESTINE.
This is a special participatory presentation by Rosi Greenberg and Danielle Strandburg-Peshkin. They say will “[we will be] examining our Judaism and bringing forth insights from the current situation as we witnessed it in the West Bank. Through testimonies from people we met as well as stories of our own experiences, we seek to share our "crossing the line" with our home communities. Our intent is not to delve deeply into the politics, but rather to examine our Jewish values in relation to the human implications of the occupation for Palestinians and Israelis, as well as for American Jews, by extension."
While in Israel, Rosi studied Judaism in a women's seminary under tutelage from Aish HaTorah. There she lived and learned in an ultra-ultra- ultra- Orthodox Jewish community to "walk in their shoes". Rosi also lived with a Palestinian family in a refugee camp near Bethlehem. There she learned Arabic, developed relationships, and got the chance to "walk in their shoes". Danielle spent a full year studying and working in Haifa, Jerusalem and Ramallah. Please plan to stay after lunch to learn and to support these young women in their first sharing with communities at home.
April 6,3:00-5:00 pm
The Jewish Calendar as a Foundation for Healing
(see description above, March 9)
MAY EVENTS
May 4, 12:30-2:30 pm
The Jewish Calendar as a Foundation for Healing
(see description above, March 9)
May 10,
Social gathering, starting about 7 pm with a short havdalah service for those who wish it. A fun evening to relax & connect with one another. Feel free to bring games, musical instruments, puzzles, art and craft supplies, poems, songs, ideas to amuse, enlighten, delight, enchant, anything we can bring to entertain each other.
Location: Rich Heiberger’s house (on membership list)
May 14, 7-8 pm Location: P’nai Or
Classic Israeli Circle Dances and Arabic Debkas
No experience necessary, just your ruach (spirit) & comfortable shoes.
Leader: Anna Beresin, Folklorist at University of the Arts
Time:
Questions/To Register: Contact Anna at aberesin@yahoo.com
FREE
May 21 , 7-8 pm Location: P’nai Or
Classic Israeli Circle Dances and Arabic Debkas
(see description above, May 14)
THIS IS BEING RESCHEDULED - WATCH FOR A NEW DATE
May 24, Lag B’Omer, 2 pm, after Shabbat Pot Luck lunch
VISITING AUTHOR, AMICHAI HEPPNER
I Live in a Chickenhouse, by Amichai Heppner
From the time I was 8 until I was 11, I hid from the Nazis in
a chickenhouse with my parents and their friends. Since the
experiences I recall are those of a preteen, I hope to connect
with children about that age, as well as adults. In my book,
I tell about my rescue from the Holocaust based on drawings
I made as a child. I use my art, and the art of my teachers--
my father and his friend Heinz--to help explain what life
was like for us, as we ran away from our apartment in
Amsterdam, moving from town to town because no one
wanted us to hide with them for more than a few days,
fortunately ending up in the chickenhouse of family friends.
Location: P’nai Or
Appropriate for preteens and adults
FREEMay 28, 7:30 pm Location: P’nai Or
Rabbi Mike Comins, author of A Wild Faith and creator of Torah Treks will be speaking about his book, his spiritual wilderness trips, and encountering G!D in nature. This free event is jointly sponsored by the Germantown Jewish Centre, Mishkan Shalom, P'nai Or, and the Shalom Center.
JUNE EVENTS
June 1, 3:00-5:00 pm
The Jewish Calendar as a Foundation for Healing
(see description above, March 9)
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
September 7, 3:00-5:00 pm
The Jewish Calendar as a Foundation for Healing
(see description above, March 9)
NOVEMBER EVENTS
November 9, 3:00-5:00 pm
The Jewish Calendar as a Foundation for Healing
(see description above, March 9)
November 30, 3:00-5:00 pm
The Jewish Calendar as a Foundation for Healing
(see description above, March 9)
Davvening Leaders/Davveners Meetings
Davvening leaders/davveners meetings are usually the 2nd Saturday of the month after kiddush, around 2ish - 3:30. All members are welcome to attend and learn more about the services. Our community benefits from everyone’s thoughts, questions and feedback. Your interest is all that is needed!
Steering Council Meetings
The next Steering Council Meeting is currently being rescheduled. The new date will be posted here. All members are invited to attend.
THE FOLLOWING IS NOW OBSOLETE BUT LEFT HERE TO GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT ANNUAL EVENTS AROUND THE HIGH HOLY DAYS.
Sukkot services
Join us for Sukkot Festival morning davenen' in our sukkah or our davenen' space on Thursday Sept. 27 at 10:30 AM.
Shabbat morning davenen' Sept. 29 Chol HaMoed Sukkot. Torah study starts at 9:15AM and davenen' starts at 10:30AM.
Simchat Torah Davenen and Dance
Thursday night Oct 4, 8 PM to 11PM
Endings and new beginnings meet on Simchat Torah as we close the past year's cycle of Torah readings and begin anew.
Dates and Times for High Holy Day Services 5768 (2007)
| Date | Service | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, September 8 | Selichot | 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday, September 12 | Erev Rosh Hashanah | 6:00 PM |
| Thursday, September 13 | Rosh Hashanah, First Day | 10:00 AM |
| Friday, September 14 | Rosh Hashanah, Second Day | 10:00 AM |
| Friday, September 21 | Kol Nidre | 6:00 PM |
| Saturday, September 22 | Yom Kippur | 10:00 AM |
For more detailed information on High Holy Days, please visit the High Holy Days page.
P'nai Or Philadelphia
6757 Greene Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19119
(215) 951-6821
Mailing Address: 6445 Greene St #A-401