3 synagogues, 2 traditions, 1 school

October 13, 2015Kristin E. Holmes (Philly.com)

Joining a nascent national movement, three synagogues are joining forces in Elkins Park, PA, to tear down walls separating students - and religious traditions.

Two Conservative synagogues and one congregation from the liberal Reform tradition have formed one religious school on Old York Road, becoming among the first in the country to take such a step.

It is a move that challenges the synagogues to compromise while still preserving tradition, all in an effort to adapt to an evolving Jewish community whose connection to matters of faith often differs vastly from that of previous generations.

Called JQuest B'Yachad (which stands for Jewish Quest Together), the initiative, which started last month, has merged pre-K through sixth-grade programs at Congregation Adath Jeshurun, Beth Sholom Congregation - two conservative synagogues - and Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel.

The synagogues - less than a mile apart - bring together 420 years of history and tradition, 34 school staffers, and 215 children.

Read the rest of this article on Philly.com.

Have something to say about this post? Join the conversation in The Tent, the social network for congregational leaders of the Reform Movement. You can also tweet us or tell us how you feel on Facebook.

Related Posts

The URJ Pulse+ Survey Can Elevate Your Story

The URJ Pulse Survey and the newly expanded URJ Pulse+ Survey showed that participating congregations were experiencing similar trends. Having the ability to compare your data with that of other URJ congregations will paint a picture that will help you assess where you are and share a more detailed story with your congregants and donors.