Welcome to Germantown Jewish Centre
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Spotlight Event
Is Anything Behind the Curtain? Spirituality in a World Without Promises
a Tish'ah b'Av program with Rabbi Josh Bolton
Monday, July 31 at 8:00 PM
Service & reading of Eicha (Lamentations) after program.
If the temple that stood in Jerusalem was God's dwelling place, how does Jewish spirituality continue to make sense in a world where God's presence has been upended? Guided by this question and by selections from the textual tradition, we will consider two religious narratives: One in which faith is accompanied by a world of certainty and promise. And another in which faith is retained in a world without such promises. The session will include reflective text study and ample time for discussion.
Rabbi Josh Bolton is the Director of the Jewish Renaissance Project at Penn Hillel. He is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and holds an MFA in poetry from UMass, Amherst. Rabbi Josh and family are proud members of the GJC community. His children include a graduate of and current student in GJC's Early Childhood Program.
GJC in the News
"Germantown Jewish Centre's Klezmukah: A Very Jewish Christmas Eve"
Read the full article in the Broad Street Review
"New Translation of Jewish Mystical Text for a New Audience"
Read the full article on Philly.com
Who We Are
The Germantown Jewish Centre (GJC) has been the heart of the Jewish community in Northwest Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs for 75 years. We are a vibrant, pluralistic and egalitarian synagogue located in Mount Airy and committed to sustaining and strengthening Jewish life in greater Philadelphia. Affiliated with the Conservative movement and receptive to the wisdom of many sources in Judaism...read more
Rabbi's Blog
The horrible gun violence in Virginia directed at Republican members of Congress this week shocks us, and of course we condemn it and pray for the recovery of its victims. At the same time, we must think about why this particular incident has received so much attention, when the unfortunate truth is that gun violence on a much larger scale happen every day in this country with little notice. In this, the great contrast between how Israelis and Americans react to incidents of gun violence and how they view the idea of safety is instructive. Sadly, Israelis have become accustomed to gun violence that has a political motive, but such violence that has a personal or criminal motive, which is extremely rare in Israel, shocks and appalls them. By contrast, Americans have become so accustomed to the extremely high level of gun violence in America that has a personal or criminal motive that it barely registers, but such violence that has a political motive, which is extremely rare in the U.S., shocks and appalls us.
Live Stream
Changing the World at GJC
GJC members changing the world!
Featured Videos
Get a taste of Kol Zimrah, our monthly musical Friday night service featuring beautiful melodies and hand percussion. The service is followed by a festive wine & cheese oneg.
"Haman Goes Down (and the Jews Go Up)" A fresh new look at the story of Purim - Original rap by Kitah Vav (GJC Religious School's 6th grade class), in partnership with Bible Raps