Congregation Ahavas Israel, Grand Rapids, MI

Congregation Ahavas Israel, Grand Rapids, MI Congregation Ahavas Israel is a Conservative Synagogue in Grand Rapids, MI. This page is only for the posting of the weekly eVoice update.

For the Ahavas Israel Group, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ahavasisraelgr/

Divre Harav – Summer, 2026Our Ahavas Israel book group has run out of steam. We have plenty of avid readers, but the num...
05/31/2026

Divre Harav – Summer, 2026

Our Ahavas Israel book group has run out of steam. We have plenty of avid readers, but the number who were willing to read a Jewish book and meet, by zoom or in person, to talk about it has dwindled below the point of viability. Over the past 8 years, it had met four times a year. That’s about 32 books, some of which I would have read on my own, but most of which I read only because they were chosen by the group....

Our Ahavas Israel book group has run out of steam. We have plenty of avid readers, but the number who were willing to read a Jewish book and meet, by zoom or in person, to talk about it has dwindle…

Divre Harav – May, 2026“Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it;...
05/01/2026

Divre Harav – May, 2026

“Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before Adonai alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them. And fire came forth from Adonai and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of Adonai. Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what Adonai meant when God said: …...

“Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before Adonai alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them. And fire came forth…

Condolence Announcement - Roby Cohen -
04/29/2026

Condolence Announcement - Roby Cohen -

ZIP Code: 48105 Shiva times for Dexter, Michigan - The Cohen's Home: Friday: Following funeral; service 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 2-11 p.m.; service 9:30 p.m. Sunday: Visiting hours 1-7; service 5:30 p.m. There will be a Shiva minyan on Wednesday, May 6th, 6:00 p.m., at Ahavas Israel.

Divre Harav – April, 2026Jews and Judaism are strongly connected to the written word. Intellectual and spiritual develop...
03/31/2026

Divre Harav – April, 2026

Jews and Judaism are strongly connected to the written word. Intellectual and spiritual development is centered on a reading of Torah that incorporates both a literal understanding of its stories, and an interpretive tradition that draws out both modes of practice, which we call mitzvot, and pathways of ethical behavior. As we celebrate Pesaḥ we reframe the literal story with midrash that invites us to imagine that we were slaves in Egypt and God set us free....

Jews and Judaism are strongly connected to the written word. Intellectual and spiritual development is centered on a reading of Torah that incorporates both a literal understanding of its stories, …

Condolence Announcement - Lois Gerard -
03/22/2026

Condolence Announcement - Lois Gerard -

We are saddened to share the news of the death of Lois Gerard on Saturday, March 21. We extend condolences to her children, Brian & Beth Chesla, Timothy Chesla, Kelley & Todd Macqueen, and Jamie Chesla and their families, including many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchild...

Divre Harav – March, 2026Some years ago I came up with a book title that is sure to become a best-seller: Judaism is not...
03/05/2026

Divre Harav – March, 2026

Some years ago I came up with a book title that is sure to become a best-seller: Judaism is not for Children. It is about the phenomenon we find in contemporary religious schools that teach an unsophisticated Judaism aimed at making Judaism fun and appealing for children. We tell cute stories about spiders and sing cute songs about Noah’s Arky-Arky, and for the most part stay away from using the word G-o-d....

Some years ago I came up with a book title that is sure to become a best-seller: Judaism is not for Children. It is about the phenomenon we find in contemporary religious schools that teach an unso…

Divre Harav – February, 2026The Talmud defines a small town as one which has 10 people of leisure (“asara bat’lanim”) wh...
02/01/2026

Divre Harav – February, 2026

The Talmud defines a small town as one which has 10 people of leisure (“asara bat’lanim”) who are always available to come to shul and make a minyan. Most synagogues’ Shabbat morning minyanim rely on a core of people like this to ensure that they’ll have 10 people for a minyan every week. When I arrived in Grand Rapids 32 years ago, there was a certain group of seniors who fulfilled that function....

The Talmud defines a small town as one which has 10 people of leisure (“asara bat’lanim”) who are always available to come to shul and make a minyan. Most synagogues’ Shabbat morning minyanim rely …

Divre Harav – January, 2026Last month I placed a short announcement in the Voice that received only a couple of response...
01/08/2026

Divre Harav – January, 2026

Last month I placed a short announcement in the Voice that received only a couple of responses. I had just learned about Sapir: Ideas for a Thriving Jewish Future. It is a journal exploring the future of the American Jewish community and its intersection with cultural, social, and political issues. It is published quarterly by Maimonides Fund with Bret Stephens serving as Editor-in-Chief....

Last month I placed a short announcement in the Voice that received only a couple of responses. I had just learned about Sapir: Ideas for a Thriving Jewish Future. It is a journal exploring the fut…

Condolence Announcement - Anne Miller -
12/22/2025

Condolence Announcement - Anne Miller -

We extend condolences to Paula and Ed Miller on the death of Paula’s mother, Anne Miller, this past Saturday, December 20th. We also extend condolences to Anne’s husband of 67 years Alan Miller and to her loving grandchildren: Lindsay & Ryan Kagin and their children Eliana and Shira; Danielle ...

The Senate passed a bill to fund and reopen the government, the House agreed, and the President signed it. And so my fas...
11/13/2025

The Senate passed a bill to fund and reopen the government, the House agreed, and the President signed it. And so my fast for SNAP has ended. I want to thank those who responded to my request to join me in this fast. 140 people signed up at the FastforSNAP.com website either to fast (if they were able) or to support the effort and take other action, for those who were not about to fast....

http://embodiedtorah.com/2025/11/13/my-fast-for-snap-has-ended/

The Senate passed a bill to fund and reopen the government, the House agreed, and the President signed it. And so my fast for SNAP has ended. I want to thank those who responded to my request to jo…

Address

2727 Michigan Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI
49506

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