Prayer Communities
The Center for Jewish Life (CJL) is home to five different prayer communities and offers daily, Shabbat, and holiday services.
Shabbat Evening Services
Kesher (Reform) – Every Friday night during the academic year.
Koach (Conservative) - Every Friday night during the academic year.
Yavneh (Orthodox) - Every Friday night year-round.
Zamru – One Friday night a month, September through June.
Shabbat Morning
Conservative Egalitarian Minyan – Every Saturday morning year-round. To be certain that there are services during academic breaks, the summer, or on a secular holiday weekend, e-mail Professor Martha Himmelfarb.
Koach (Conservative) - Held once a month throughout the academic year. For dates visit our Service Times page.
Yavneh (Orthodox) – Every Saturday morning year-round. Also meets for Minchah (afternoon) and Ma’ariv (evening) services on Shabbat.
Daily Minyan
Yavneh (Orthodox) – Meets for Shacharit (morning), Minchah (afternoon), and Ma’ariv (evening) services every day during the academic year. Also meets every day during academic breaks and the summer when a minyan is available. E-mail Professor Sam Cohen or Daniel Mark to confirm if there are services on a particular day.
Holiday Services
Conservative Egalitarian Minyan – High Holidays services are held at Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall. Meets at the CJL for morning services one or two days at the beginning and end of Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot. E-mail Professor Martha Himmelfarb to confirm particular services.
Kesher (Reform) – High Holiday services are led by Rabbi Sara Rich, Jewish Educator at the CjJL, students,and a guest cantorial soloist. Kesher sponsors some holiday services during the academic year.
Koach (Conservative) – High Holiday services are led by Rabbi Julie Roth, Executive Director of the CJL, students, members of the Conservative egalitarian minyan and a guest cantor. Koach also sponsors Simchat Torah and Purim services.
Yavneh (Orthodox) – Meets for evening and morning services for all holidays year-round including the High Holidays.
Prayer Community Descriptions
Conservative Egalitarian Minyan – This traditional, fully egalitarian, Shabbat and holiday morning service is led by its members, who consist of University faculty, staff, and students, as well as residents of Princeton and other nearby communities. The service includes a lively discussion of the weekly Torah portion. Services begin Saturdays at 9:45 am at the CJL. To subscribe to the mailing list, e-mail Renee Altman.
Kesher (Reform) – This student-led Friday night service features guitar-led singing, English readings, and a discussion of the weekly Torah portion. The service is conducted in both English and Hebrew and often uses a prayerbook written by Princeton students. Faculty, alumni, and members of the community are welcome to join. Service times vary depending on the time of year. To subscribe to the mailing list, e-mail listserv@lists.princeton.edu 'subscribe kesher' in the subject of the e-mail.
Koach (Conservative) – This student-led minyan holds traditional, egalitarian services on Friday nights and holidays. Services are in Hebrew and feature lively singing and a brief reflection on the Torah portion. Faculty, alumni, and members of the community are welcome to join. Services are held at either 5:30 or 6:30 pm depending on the time of the year. To subscribe to the mailing list, e-mail listserv@lists.princeton.edu 'subscribe koach' in the subject of the e-mail.
Yavneh (Orthodox) – This Orthodox observant community is comprised of students, faculty, visiting scholars, and community members including families with young children. During the academic year, services are organized by student leaders. Rabbi David Wolkenfeld, a modern Orthodox rabbi on the staff of the CJL serves as an advisor to Yavneh. In addition to prayer services, Yavneh often sponsors classes and Torah discussions on Shabbat. For more information, check out the Yavneh website or e-mail yavneh@princeton.edu.
Zamru – This progressive, independent, egalitarian community holds monthly Friday night services featuring vibrant, musical prayer. Zamru is led by a volunteer group of Princeton-area residents, including Rabbi Julie Roth, Executive Director of the CJL, along with the talented New York musician Dan Nadel. Services include Hasidic, Yemenite, and North African melodies, sung in Hebrew with guitar accompaniment. Held on the Princeton University campus, services are at 6:30 pm followed by a vegetarian pot-luck dinner. For more information, check out the Zamru website or e-mail info@zamru.org.
