P'nai Or Jewish Renewal Congregation of Philadelphia

06/20/2025

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Reb Zalman
Sunday, June 22 | 4pm ET / 1pm PT | Zoom

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z”l is the grandfather, visionary, and inspiration of the Jewish Renewal movement. For the past few years, we have gathered to honor his legacy and life by connecting with his stories, songs and teachings.

We’ll gather to mark his yahrzeit (day of his passing) and remember him together. Led by Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael, join as Reb Zalman’s friends, family, and students share their memories in tribute to this incredible soul.

The event will include tributes from:
Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman, Shonna Husbands-Hankin, Gabriel Meyer, Rabbi Leah Novick, Rabbi Michael Paley, Rabbi Shlomo Barya Schachter, Rabbi Shalom Schachter, Rabbi Jonathan Seidel, PhD, Shalvi Waldman, M.Sc.
And more!

Register here:

https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/H3_dHSVAAsJ4MEF9E0H9eg

02/10/2025

Join us for a special and moving time as we honor our Rabbi Marcia Prager and remember our dear Hazzan Jack Kessler.

Luncheon Registration at this link:

https://pnaior-phila.org/luncheon/

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Luncheon at P’nai Or Philadelphia

To Honor Rabbi Marcia and Remember Hazzan Jack!

A Fundraiser For The Future of P’nai Or

March 23, from 12:30 to 3:30

Upstairs at Summit

SEATING IS LIMITED!

Register NOW if you would like to attend

https://pnaior-phila.org/luncheon/

At this link, you can register for seating at the luncheon, register for Zoom attendance, or make a donation in

honor of Rabbi Marcia and Chazzan Jack. Summit is located at 6757 Greene Street, Philadelphia PA 19119

_._,_._,_
Groups.io Links:
You receive all messages sent to this group.

View/Reply Online ( #26511) | Reply to Sender | Reply to Group | Mute This Topic | New Topic

Email guidelines are posted at http://pnaior-phila.org/email-lists/

The P'nai Or Chesed Social Support Committee is available to talk with you.
Please send an email to [email protected]
Your Subscription | Contact Group Owner | Unsubscribe [[email protected]]
_._,_._,_

01/02/2025

Save the Date! Sunday, March 23, 2025

Luncheon at P’nai Or Philadelphia

to Honor Rabbi Marcia and Remember Hazzan Jack –

A Fundraiser For The Future of P’nai Or

Details to Follow

For more info, contact Rabbi Abby Michaleski

by phone or text @ 856-912-7609

09/22/2024

We are deeply saddened at the passing of our dear Hazzan Jack Kessler. We will miss him in so many ways. One of our congregants, Lisa Cohen put it beautifully:

“Rabbi Marcia Prager and her beloved husband, Cantor Jack Kessler have served our congregation side by side. Breath by breath they blessed us with their leadership. Together, they prayed, chanted, drummed, strummed, taught, mentored, counseled, laughed, cried and have held each of us in their enlightened hearts. Today, at Shabbat services, we held space for their enormous presence while fully aware of Cantor Jack's physical absence. Tomorrow we will accompany Reb Marcia and their family to Cantor Jack's funeral.”

Hazzan Jack z”l, was the Founder and Chair of the ALEPH Ordination Program’s Hazzanut Department and Director of the Cantorial Program.

We send love, comfort and strength to our dear Reb Marcia Prager, Dean Emeritus of the ALEPH Ordination Program and P’nai Or’s Rabbi Emerita.

The funeral will be held on Sunday, September 22 at 11am ET at Germantown Jewish Center in Germantown, PA.

From Aleph: “May the music Hazzan Jack taught us bless all our days and bring comfort as we mourn. A great light of the Jewish world has gone out and yet his legacy will live on in our hearts, souls, and spirits."

View Jack Kessler's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/03/2024

We are so honored to present:

Tribute to Rabbi Marcia Prager and Hazzan Jack Kessler

DATE: Sunday, April 7
TIME: 4pm ET/ 1pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom (register below)

Rabbi Marcia Prager and Hazzan Jack Kessler are the visionaries behind the Aleph Rabbinic and Cantorial programs. Their work as spanned decades- creating, sustaining, and endowing the AOP program in order that Reb Zalman's inspirational legacy- with their tireless dedication- will continue to flourish for generations to come.
Let us gather in tribute to these two extraordinary people with music and stories that celebrate their accomplishments, their efforts, and raise funds for the Aleph. Ordination Program. The program will feature many of their students- Cantor and Rabbi- co creators and students.

Hosted by Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael, AOP student Miryam-Margo Wolfson, Cantor Soloist Laura Lenes, Hazzan Abbe Lyons, AOP student Elisheva Hurvish, Rebetzin Eve Ilsen, Hazzan Leah Frey-Rabine, Cantor Cindy Freedman, Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, Rabbinic Pastor/Chapain Kate Shulamit Fagan, AOP student Lisa Sokolov Rabbi Shawn Zevit and many more!

Register here:

Virtual Programs About this Program ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal’s virtual programming includes our Tikshoret Program and Renewing Our Collective Soul: A Virtual Program For Our Times, which was created in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers and leaders from all over th...

02/08/2024

Hear Rabbi Marcia Prager’s remarks on receiving the Reb Zalman’s Distinguished Service Award. The energy in the room was palpable, stories were told, laughter was shared, and joyous songs arose! Blessings of love and appreciation permeated this historic gathering. Congratulations Reb Marcia!

Video credit: Janice RubinIf you'd like to make a donation in honor of Reb Marcia and Hazzan Jack, you can do so here: https://aleph.org/civicrm/contribute/t...

01/11/2024

As MLK weekend approaches, here again is Hazzan Jack Kessler's moving Haftara rendition of excerpts from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches, in haftara trop.

https://www.dropbox.com/.../Haftara%20for%20MLK%20Shabbat...
https://kolaleph.org/.../a-haftarah-for-martin-luther.../...

01/10/2024

In case you missed the tribute to my beloved Hazzan Jack Kessler for his birthday, here is the lovely tribute video!

A loving tribute to Hazzan Jack Kessler on his 80th birthday

01/10/2024

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
January 12-January 15, 2024

Friday January 12 7:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Main Line Reform Synagogue 410 Montgomery Ave, Wynnewood, PA

Featuring the Unity Choir, members of Main Line Reform, Beth Am Israel, Ardmore Zion Baptist Church and P’nai Or, will sing songs of freedom and praise throughout the service. Live Stream available www.mlrt.org/livestream.

Saturday January 13 P’nai Or Shabbat Davvenen

Join us as we weave the music and words from the civil rights and gospel traditions throughout our davvenen. Special guest Gary Allard will help lead P'zukei D'zimra on Zoom.

The D'var Torah, Lifting Up Unsung Heroes will be followed by our MLK, Jr Haftara

Sunday Jan 14 10:30 am (arrive early for seating) The Unity Choir will be hosted by Ardmore Zion Baptist Church 219 W Spring Ave, Ardmore, PA

Monday Jan 15 MLK Day of Service- look for ways to volunteer in your community. Philadelphia https://mlkdayofservice.org/
Philadelphia Orchestra Free concert 3:00 pm Girard College Tickets required https://www.philorch.org/

12/12/2023

So heart and soul warming to be together this Hanukkah, on zoom and in the room! Blessings to all who planned and participated in our Hanukkah party!

09/20/2023

A closing chant for the end of Yom Kippur as sung at P'nai Or Philadelphia
Shema Yisrael...
Baruch Shem K'vod Malchuto...
and
Yah Hu HaElohim

A closing chant for the end of Yom Kippur as sung at P'nai Or PhiladelphiaShema Yisrael...Baruch Shem K'vod Malchuto...andYah Hu HaElohim

09/12/2023

A Musical Shanah Tovah gift to you from P'nai Or!

register for our High Holidays now.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z0r655bbixo28kqml5puw/Rosh-HaShanah-Piano-Medley-copy.m4a?rlkey=59pnei26tn09k8hnaz3in8flr&dl=0