The Pelham Jewish Center is a creation of its members. Every aspect of life at the PJC — worship, the Learning Center, adult education, the comfort of mourners and the celebration of simchas, governance, finance, social action, interfaith and community relations — involves leadership and heartfelt participation by the shul community.
Becoming a member of the PJC is an affirmative act. Pelham, and its neighboring towns and villages throughout Westchester, have no scarcity of Jewish resources and institutions. Many members pass at least one other shul on their way to the PJC. They come to the PJC because they have chosen to engage with and build a synagogue that is open, intimate, and authentic.
Openness: to Jews of all origins, colors, levels of observance, and at all stages of their journeys, and to their partners, whatever their gender identification or religious background. Fifteen percent of our congregation consists of interfaith families, many of whose non-Jewish members are regulars at services and active participants in synagogue life.
Intimacy: with people whose acceptance is a given; at melodious services where all of us make up the “choir;” when we attend shiva and, inevitably, sit shiva ourselves; when we linger at kiddush long after the last black-and-whites and rugelach are gone and with a rabbi whom each one of us expects to know and who wants to know each one of us.
Authenticity: the opportunity to be oneself. Our services are in Hebrew and there are transliterated siddurim if you need one. The Shabbat dress code is informal. There are no assigned seats, or even tickets, at High Holiday services and honors don’t bear price tags.
The PJC traces its beginnings to 1953, when a small group of devoted founders established it above a storefront, in a town with few Jews. Fifty years later, our community was hosted by local churches for two years while our building was renovated. The PJC’s growth in size and stature over the generations, while retaining its intimacy and spirit of self-reliance, is a testament to those who created it, and who have continuously nurtured it.
High Holidays 2024 – 5785
The PJC is excited to celebrate, pray, learn, and sing with you in the coming High Holiday period. Our schedule is displayed here, and can be clicked for a printable copy.
Full details, including registration requirements, can be found here.
High Holiday Appeal
The PJC is here to serve the congregation throughout the year, and it takes donations from the community to keep it going. This High Holiday season, please consider giving Tzedakah by donating to support the PJC.
To donate, please click here: High Holiday Appeal. Donations can be made by non-members as well as members, and confidentiality can be selected if desired.
Upcoming Events
Sukkot Dinner in the Sukkah – 5785
We are so excited to offer our Sukkot community dinner in the Sukkah on Sunday, October 20th. A meat dinner will be served at 5:30pm. While the dinner is free and open to the entire community, please consider sponsoring this event to help offset our costs. Any donation will be greatly appreciated.
Register by October 14th: Click here
Family Shabbat Dinner – November 1st
Food for children will be available beginning at 5:30pm sharp as candle lighting has to happen before 5:33pm. Shabbat services begin at 6:00pm and dinner will be served immediately following services at approximately 7:00pm.
Please RSVP by Monday, Oct 28 to receive the reduced price:
- Adult: $15 ($18 after 10/28)
- Child: (Ages 3 to 12): $7 ($9 after 10/28)
- Toddler: Always Free
This fall, join Rabbi Resnick to explore Jewish Science Fiction. Fresh off the publication of his first book, he looks forward to sharing his thoughts on the genre and discuss the nature of Jewish storytelling. Sessions will be Tuesdays from 7:30 – 9:00 pm starting November 5.
Please contact the office to register.
Suggested donation $75.
The PJC Stands With Israel
As a community, we offer prayers for our beloved State of Israel and for the valiant military defending our holy land. We lift our voices in affirmation of that which has sustained us for millennia and sustains us now – HaTikvah, our eternal hope.