We invite all members of Or Shalom to attend this special program offering! Please scroll down to fill out the registration form for any/all of the events listed below.

Registration ends on Tuesday, November 11.

Or Shalom is honored to host internationally renowned teacher, presenter, and Sinai and Synapses founder Rabbi Geoff Mitelman as our Scholar in Residence this fall! Rabbi Mitelman will be facilitating interactive, thought-provoking sessions all weekend long that delve into the intersection of religion and science through an empirically informed, spiritually enriching lens. Keep reading below to learn more about him and the events being held throughout the weekend!

 About the Scholar 

Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman is the Founding Director of Sinai and Synapses, an organization bridging the scientific and religious worlds, incubated at Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. His work is supported by the John Templeton Foundation,  Emanuel J. Friedman Philanthropies, and the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation. Numerous books published by the CCAR press and HUC Press, as well as publications including The Huffington Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and My Jewish Learning, have featured his writings about the spiritual and scientific. He also appeared on Jeopardy! in March 2016.

A decorated graduate of Princeton University's Biblical and Judaic studies programs, Rabbi Mitelman was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and joined the premier cohorts for the Rabbis Without Borders fellowship and Balfour Brickner Rabbinic Fellowship. From 2007 to 2014, he served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in New York. He currently lives in Westchester County with his wife, fiber artist Heather Stoltz, and their two children.

 About the Events 

Open to the community | $18/adult, $12/child, free for 4 & under | registration required

Kick off this special weekend with dinner from Ami Jerusalem! Cost is $18/adult, $12/child, and free for ages 4 & under.

Open to the community | no cost to attend | NO registration required

For centuries, religion provided answers for our ancestors to all of life’s questions. But as modern Jews, we usually look to science to tell us where we came from, who we are, or even how we should act. During our Shabbat service, Rabbi Mitelman will deliver a sermon exploring how we can look at, think about and talk about the relationship between science and religion in today’s world.

After the service, we will gather in the Social Hall at 8:00pm for an oneg to share desserts and schmooze with the scholar!

All members welcome | no cost to attend | registration required

Please join Rabbi Mitelman for a Torah study with a twist! We'll be incorporating a uniquely scientific approach to our analysis and discussion of the Parashat HaShavua, Chayei Sarah.

All members welcome | no cost to attend | registration required

Whether you're starting your day or sticking around after Torah Study, you're invited to enjoy a light kiddush with us! Refreshments, including mini bagels, fruit, and coffee cake, will be catered by Wild Roaster.

All members welcome | $10/adult, $5/child, free for 4 & under | registration required

Please join us for an Italian-style dinner featuring pasta, salad, and more (catered by Rosati's)! Cost is $10/adult, $5/child, and free for ages 4 & under.

Members ages 16+ welcome | no cost to attend | registration required

How do we define “intelligence” and how do we define “artificial”? Does AI have consciousness? A soul? And while traditional Jewish texts wouldn’t know about ChatGPT, what analogies can we draw from Biblical, Rabbinic and later Jewish texts? Dig into all of these questions in a thoughtful discussion led by Rabbi Mitelman.

Babysitting services are available at no cost during this session (6:00 - 7:30pm). Please be sure any children you register for babysitting are toilet-trained and accustomed to being separated from their parents/guardians.

All members welcome | no cost to attend | registration required

It's been a busy day! Take a peaceful moment to reflect as we conclude the evening with a Havdalah service, complete with cookies for dessert.

For J² students only (see times for each grade below) | no cost to attend | NO registration required

9:15 - 10:00am - Grades 7 & 8

10:30 - 11:00am - Grade 6

11:00 - 11:45am - Grades 9 - 12 (Confirmation & post-Confirmation groups)