• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

  • Home
  • About
    • Overview
    • Rav Gavrielle Pescador
    • Our History
      • Photo Gallery
    • Our Values and Vision
    • LGBTQ Inclusive
    • Our Board
    • Our Sacred Objects
    • About Reconstructionist Judaism
    • Jewish Ann Arbor
  • Programs
    • Shabbat and Holidays
    • B’nei Mitzvah
    • Tikkun Olam
    • In the (Washtenaw Jewish) News
    • Health and Safety Expectations for In-Person Gatherings
    • Join our Mailing List
  • Religious School
    • About Beit Sefer
    • Teachers
    • Enrollment and Tuition
    • 2025-26 Beit Sefer Calendar
  • Blog
  • Calendar
  • Membership
    • Thinking about joining?
    • Member Area
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

Uncategorized

Congratulations 2020 AARC Graduates!

June 28, 2020 by Gillian Jackson Leave a Comment

Congratulations to this year’s graduates! AARC graduates earn an extra gold star for their ability to demonstrate strength and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mazel tov to the graduates on their accomplishments and to the parents and families of these outstanding young adults!

___________________________________________________________________________

Caleb Shoup is graduating from Pioneer High School and is headed to the University of Michigan, where he will attend the Residential College.

___________________________________________________________________________

Jonas graduated from the MSU Honors Program this past December with majors in Theater and Economics. He earned the Board of Trustees scholarship award for “attaining the highest cumulative grade point average in the graduating class of fall 2019.” The award was presented at a board meeting held in the same place where he was arrested for protesting during his first year. Jonas lives in Lansing. He works stocking shelves at Meijer and is in the process of becoming certified to operate a forklift. He is active in immigrant rights organizing and other community activities. 

___________________________________________________________________________

Marley graduated from Macalester College this May. where he majored in History and minored in Theater. For most of his years at Mac, Marley worked in the Theater Department’s scene shop. He participated in many productions as actor, director, assistant manager, and stage tech. While he was a student, Marley became acquainted with the large and active theater scene in the Twin Cities. He was also active in the Macalester Jewish Organization. Marley is hunkering down at home due to the pandemic, and hopes to return to the Twin Cities when theaters open once again.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Eli Kirshner graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in History, with Highest Honors. His thesis, “Race, Mines, and Picket Lines: The 1925-1928 Western Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Strike,” is based on over two years of research on 1920s race relations and coal mining in the Pittsburgh area, a topic that has many connections to the present day. Eli’s Zoom presentation of his thesis was a festive opportunity for friends, family, and former teachers to to tune in. (His parents were kvelling offscreen).  Eli’s Zoom talk is here, and the written thesis is here!


AARC congratulates Caleb, Jonas, Marley, and Eli on their many accomplishments and looks forward to seeing them carry those achievements out into the world.

Photo credit: https://www.pikrepo.com/fehbo/group-of-graduating-students

Filed Under: Simchas, Uncategorized Tagged With: graduates, students

AARC Featured in the Toledo Jewish News!

May 24, 2020 by Gillian Jackson

Emily Gordon is the author of a lovely piece about AARC in last month’s Toledo Jewish News. Featuring in-depth interviews with Rabbi Ora and Board Co-Chair Rebecca Kanner, the article goes to the heart of what makes our congregation special!

There are approximately 100 Reconstructionist congregations and havurot, mostly in the United States. Although there are three in Ohio, AARC is the closest to Toledo.

Might AARC’s emphasis on inclusivity extend to our neighbors to the south? Absolutely! We hope that when in-person events are able to be held once again, we will have the opportunity to welcome Ohioans who read about us in the Toledo Jewish News.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Beit Sefer Celebrates Tu BiShvat at the Botanical Gardens

February 17, 2020 by Gillian Jackson

Beit Sefer spent last Sunday morning enjoying the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. AARC member Drake Meadow led the group on an informative tour. Students learned about many of the beautiful and bountiful plants at the Botanical Gardens. Drake described three categories of fruits that feature in Jewish lore: Beriah (fruits with soft cores), Yetzirah (fruits with a pit) , and Asiyah (fruits enclosed in an inedible shell). The students enjoyed categorizing the different fruits they found around the gardens.

After the tour, families gathered to eat a special Tu BiShvat snack of trail mix, fruit, and hot cocoa, accompanied by Jewish folktales told by Clare Kinberg and Drake.

What a lovely way to celebrate the “birthday of the trees,” with both fun and learning! If you know of a family that might like to participate in similar events with our lively Beit Sefer program, please direct them to our website.

Please enjoy the photos below!

“Jews Wandering In The Desert.” Photo credit: Fred Feinberg.
Drake teaches AARC students and families about the edible plants at the Botanical Gardens. Photo Credit: Clare Pritchard.
Marcy adds some interesting tidbits of knowledge to Drake’s tour! Photo Credit: Clare Pritchard.
Drake shares a story about using the low view when making plans for environmental sustainability.
Clare shares Jewish folktales with Beit Sefer students during a special Tu BiShvat snacktime.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Beit Sefer, tu b'shevat, University of Michigan Botanical Gardens

Upcoming Kid, Teen, and Family Events Happening around Jewish Ann Arbor!

January 27, 2020 by Gillian Jackson

This winter and spring around Jewish Ann Arbor are filled with meaningful family events. Take a look these upcoming programs — we hope to see you there!

LGBTQ and Ally Teen Shabbaton with Keshet

Keshet, a Jewish non-profit that advocates for LGBTQ equality, will host the Midwest/Mountain Area LGBTQ and Ally Teen Shabbaton in Detroit this year! This event brings together LGBTQ teens from around the Midwest and Rocky Mountain area to celebrate Shabbat together and “explore the intersections of our Jewish and LGBTQ identities.” Keshet hosted the LGBTQ advocacy training that members of our congregation attended in the Fall. AARC is involved in a year long leadership program to make our congregation more welcoming to the LGBTQ community. For a refresher on this important work, see this blog post from last December.

Talking to Children About Race with Bend the Arc Ann Arbor

Bend the Arc Ann Arbor will host an event aimed at engaging Jewish children in conversations about race. The goal of this workshop is to learn about raising children who are empowered to act against racism. For details on this event, visit Bend The Arc’s Facebook page.

Yiddish Book Center’s Summer Learning Programs

The Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts will host various learning programs focused on Yiddish literature for high school students, college students, and young adults. Most programs take place on the campus of the Yiddish Book Center in Massachusetts. Scholarships are available!

Foundations of Jewish Family Living Series

The PJ Library and the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan will host a year-long series beginning in February to explore Jewish family values across all Jewish denominations. This monhly series will be hosted by the JCC of Ann Arbor. The cost is $50 for the entire series. For more info, visit the Melton School’s website.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: family

AARC Joins JCC/St. Joe’s “Stop the Bleed” Training

January 12, 2020 by Gillian Jackson

Take this Free Training!
Learn the Single Most Important First Aid Skill!

By Dave Nelson, AARC Safety Coordinator

The JCC and Community Security Committee will host a “Stop the Bleed” first-aid training on February 4 at the JCC. If you have enough hand strength to wring out a wet washcloth, you should attend and learn these skills. This excellent hands-on training is run by St. Joseph Mercy Hospital’s Trauma Center. In one hour, you’ll learn everything you need to know to give someone a fighting chance after an accident, disaster, or violent attack.

Our local first responders can generally reach the scene of an accident or injury in around seven minutes. But someone who is bleeding severely will die from blood loss within five minutes. A national effort is underway to train as many people as possible to recognize and treat life-threatening bleeding. You are the help until help arrives.

AARC has already begun to distinguish itself as a congregation that works to be both safe and welcoming: We refuse to hire armed security, or search people at the door, or limit access to our services and gatherings. Instead, we choose to train ourselves to be better equipped to offer a safe space and protect those who gather with us. This is a great opportunity to further expand our capacity to help when help is needed, and keep ourselves open to those around us who may struggle to find a spiritual home and feel safe there.

See you at the training!


WHEN: Tuesday, February 4, 9 am-10:30 am
WHERE:  Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor COST: Free!
REGISTER: email Events@JewishAnnArbor.org


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: first responder

Rabbis Corner, in April 2019 Washtenaw Jewish News

April 19, 2019 by Emily Eisbruch

This piece, highlighting Rabbi Ora’s use of poetry in services appeared in the April 2019 Washtenaw Jewish News.

washtenaw jewish news

Filed Under: Articles/Ads, Poems and Blessings, Uncategorized Tagged With: poetry, Washtenaw Jewish News

Purim Mania!

March 19, 2019 by Gillian Jackson

A summary of Purim Happenings around Ann Arbor

The weeks leading up to Purim have been eventful; the Beit Sefer kids have been celebrating for two weeks now! Last week the children made Hamentaschen with the Hebrew Day School and this weekend they attended the Jewish Cultural Society’s Purim Festival. I think this year the students will have the whole story down before Friday Services!

But the fun doesn’t end there! There is still lots of Purim fun happening around town this week, culminating in our very own Purim service, Megillah reading, potluck, and games on Friday night!

AARC Purim Service, Potluck and Games. Friday, March 22nd, 6:30pm.

Our theme this year is “Dress Up As Your Personal Hero!” We will read the Megillah as a community after an abbreviated Shabbat service. After Megillah reading, we will hold a vegetarian community potluck followed by songs and games. We still need folks to sign up to read from the Megillah, bring Challah, and help clean up. Please sign up here!


Hamentaschen Making Party, Marcy Epstein’s House. Thursday, March 21st, 6:30-8:30pm.
Please join us for this fun event! We will bake hamentaschen for our Purim celebration and also make mishloach manot for friends and elders in our community. Friends will gather to share Purim stories, eat snacks, and celebrate the equinox and Worm Moon!! RSVP to Marcy at dr_marcy@hotmail.com; plan to bring a hamantaschen filling of your choice.

Other Purim events in the community this week:

Purim Dinner and Play at Beth Israel. Wednesday, March 20th, 6pm. Kick off your Purim celebration by watching the BIRS students perform their annual Purim Shpiel, to be followed by a family-friendly dinner. Children (high school aged and younger) are free; adults are $8.00 per person. Our menu is vegetarian chili and a baked potato bar! RSVP by Friday, March 15. Click here to sign up online.

Megillah Reading at Temple Beth Emeth, March 20th, 6pm.

Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, March 20th, 6:30pm. This event will include a family-friendly celebration at 6:30 p.m. with pizza and hamantaschen, face painting, Purim games, and costumes galore!

Detroit Jews for Justice, March 19th 5-8pm.
This congregation is creating a short play, dance party, costume contest, and a beautiful spread of nosh (including hamentaschen of course).

Wow, that is a lot! I hope that everyone gets their fill of Purim fun. I look forward to seeing everyone this Friday. Chag Purim Sameach!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6

Primary Sidebar

Search

Join Our Mailing List

Sign up for our twice a week newsletter to get details on upcoming events and catch up on our latest news.

This field is required.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Upcoming Events

  • All day, June 13, 2026 – Elliott Levinson-Brennan B'Nei Mitzvah
  • 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, June 13, 2026 – Second Saturday Shabbat Morning Service
  • 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm, June 14, 2026 – AARC Book Group
  • 9:00 am – 10:00 am, June 15, 2026 – Rosh Chodesh Minyan Tammuz [ZOOM]
  • 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, June 26, 2026 – Fourth Friday Kabbalat Shabbat

Latest News

  • WHY MIRC NEEDS OUR HELP NOW May 27, 2026
  • Time to stand up for our immigrant neighbors! by Steve Merritt May 19, 2026
  • Wine & Vegan Cheese Tasting to Draw Attention to Link Between Food and Climate by Steve Merritt May 14, 2026
  • AARC Has a New Member Area April 30, 2026
  • RSVP to “Lesson of the Homeland” and the Stories We Tell: A Conversation with Anat Zeltser April 16, 2026

Footer

Affiliated with

Copyright © 2026 Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation