Congregation Or Ami: Jewish History and Community in Lafayette Hill, PA

Congregation Or Ami is dynamic reform synagogue in the suburbs of Philadelphia that is one of vision, community, and a deep commitment to Jewish life. Beginning with a small group of Jewish families in 1947, Or Ami, from the Hebrew “light of my people”, grew from its Roxborough roots into a thriving Reform Jewish community in Lafayette Hill. At the heart of Or Ami is a strong sense of community. Members support one another through life’s challenges, celebrate its joys, and create meaningful Jewish experiences together. It is a congregation where members stay for generations, often with people who grew up at the synagogue who have moved back to the area to raise their families, people know and care about each other and members join to be part of a the local community. There are at least four families that span 4 generations of members.

Sanctuary

The sanctuary at Congregation Or Ami is a sacred space where the congregation comes together to connect with the holiness within themselves, in one another, and throughout the world. The community honors this special space by being fully present, treating it with respect, and participating in worship to the best of their ability. At Congregation Or Ami, Jewish prayer is understood as a communal experience rather than a performance by the service leaders. Everyone is encouraged to open a prayer book and participate in the service in whatever way feels meaningful to them. For some, that may mean joining in the prayers and songs; for others, it may be a time for quiet reflection and contemplation. Often, the current clergy team of Rabbi Glenn Ettman and Cantor Jordan Franzel will intersperse modern non-liturgical music that reflects the themes of Shabbat to make the prayer service relevant to modern times.

Religious Events

Congregation Or Ami, Shabbat offers an opportunity to rest, reflect, meditate, and connect with the community. Through Shabbat, congregants reflect on the past week while seeking to bring hope and holiness into the week ahead. Services blend traditional and contemporary expressions of prayer and are designed to be musical, informative, contemplative, and joyful, guided by the congregation’s original prayer book, Or Tefillah, the Light of our Prayers. This prayer book and its compendium Mahzor, Or Teshuvah, were created by members of the congregation to better reflect the synagogues prayer style and commitment to inclusivity and understanding. These books have been used since 2006.

Education

Congregation Or Ami’s Religious School, in partnership with families and the entire synagogue community, seeks to foster the learning, growth, and maturation of engaged and knowledgeable Jews. Both the Rabbi and the Director of Education are committed to celebrating the students’ attendance. Students are encouraged to take pride in their Jewish heritage, understand and practice Jewish traditions, and develop the knowledge and enthusiasm to share Judaism with others. The program nurtures a lasting connection to Eretz Yisrael as well as to Am Yisrael, encouraging students to visit Israel and contribute to its well-being, while helping them develop a lifelong commitment to Jewish learning, community, tradition, and values. Or Ami also houses a vibrant Preschool for children 0-5, which serves as a gateway to the Religious School.

Historical Backgrounds

Jews were present in Pennsylvania as early as 1655, when records document Jewish traders from New Amsterdam conducting business along the Delaware River, before the establishment of Pennsylvania as a colony by William Penn. Between 1681 and 1683, Jewish settlers likely lived in southeastern Pennsylvania around the time William Penn took possession of the land and arrived in the colony, marking the beginnings of a Jewish presence that would continue to grow throughout the region.

In 1703, Jonas Aaron became the earliest individually recorded permanent Jewish resident of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania’s Jewish community grew from a small population of colonial traders into a thriving and influential community, supported in part by William Penn’s principles of religious tolerance. Early Sephardic Jews arrived from New York and the Caribbean, while permanent communal life developed in the 1730s and 1740s with the establishment of Philadelphia’s first Jewish cemetery and Congregation Mikveh Israel.

Beginning around 1825, German-speaking Ashkenazic Jews arrived in growing numbers, followed by more than 100,000 Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe between 1881 and the early 1900s. As Jewish communities expanded throughout Pennsylvania, they became increasingly integrated into the state’s economic, political, academic, and cultural life. Pennsylvania also became an important center of Jewish summer camping, with programs developing throughout the Poconos and other rural areas.

Which brings us to 1947.

In 1947, marked an important moment in American sports and civil rights when Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s racial barrier. On April 15, 1947, Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American player in the modern major leagues.

In 1947, Pennsylvania was undergoing a major post-World War II transition, with strong industrial production, infrastructure development, and a growing population of approximately 10.2 million. The state was also experiencing the early baby boom, while returning veterans contributed to the changing social landscape. That August, Williamsport hosted the first Little League World Series, establishing a tradition that would become closely associated with Pennsylvania.

For Pennsylvania’s Jewish community, 1947 was a significant period of increased engagement with Holocaust relief efforts and the Zionist movement. Many Pennsylvania Jews supported the founding of the State of Israel in 1948.

It was in that year, 1947, that Jews first established a place of worship first Roxborough and then moving to Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. Organized Jewish life in the area began with the founding of the Jewish Community Group of Roxborough. The group grew from a small gathering of women who met regularly for social evenings and envisioned creating a Jewish community for local families. The fledgling congregation held its first High Holy Day services in an empty house donated by one of its members.

The group soon expanded its vision beyond social gatherings, working toward the creation of a Jewish community center and congregation. In 1949, with 25 member families, the organization established the Ivy Ridge Jewish Community Center, initially housed at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Roxborough. The center quickly became an important hub of Jewish life in the area. The congregation voted to affiliate with the Reform Movement and joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now the URJ). This decision marked an important step in the congregation’s development and laid the foundation for the community that would eventually become Congregation Or Ami.

As many congregations moved to the suburbs, the congregation purchased land in Lafayette Hill, where the present building was dedicated on May 20, 1960, enlarged in 1964, and renovated in 1972 and 1990. In 1965, the Ivy Ridge Jewish Community Center became Congregation Or Ami, meaning “light of my people,” reflecting the congregation’s vision of Judaism. Congregation Or Ami welcomed its first full-time rabbi, Rabbi Tibor Fabian, in 1961, followed by Rabbi Seymour Prystowsky, Rabbi Kenneth Carr, Rabbi Glenn Ettman, part of its current clergy leadership. Cantor Jordan Franzel became the congregation’s first full-time cantor, enriching the community through music and spiritual leadership.

From its beginnings as a small gathering of Jewish families in 1947 to the vibrant community it is today, Congregation Or Ami has continued to grow while remaining rooted in Jewish tradition, learning, and community. Through generations of families, clergy, educators, and congregants, Or Ami has created a place where Jewish life is celebrated, shared, and continually renewed. Its history reflects a lasting commitment to faith, connection, service, and the enduring light represented in its name, “light of my people.”

Contact Information:

Congregation Or Ami, 708 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444

Phone: 610-828-9066

Email: office@or-ami.org

Website: https://www.or-ami.org/about-us