Welcome to P’nai Or of Central CT

We invite you to join Congregation P’nai Or of Central Connecticut, a Jewish Renewal prayer and celebratory community!

“P'nai Or” means “Faces of Light.” We are one of many Jewish renewal groups around the world affiliated with ALEPH (the Alliance for Jewish Renewal). See www.aleph.org for more information.

We begin the year with meaningful and uplifting High Holy Day services, followed by monthly Shabbat services, and several holiday celebrations, all led by our inspiring rabbi, Andrea Cohen Kiener.  On Shabbat we share a pot luck lunch, and sometimes a discussion or teaching.  We also gather informally each month, for singing, study, movies, or meals.

Our davennen/prayer includes singing, chanting, stories, dance, guided imagery, meditation, sharing, and Torah discussion. Our services, which include Hebrew and English, are designed to be accessible to people from varied backgrounds. We combine traditional liturgy with new melodies and creative translations, and refer to God in ways that transcend traditional images. Through our prayer we touch all four worlds that the Jewish mystics teach about: Assiyah (action/body), Yetzirah (feeling/heart), Briyah (thought/mind), Atzilut (spirit).

In addition to our worship, we offer a Rosh Chodesh women’s group,  Kabbalistic Meditation, a Spirit Buddies program to support each other’s spiritual journeys, and adult education classes.  

We welcome people of all ages, sexual orientations, religious backgrounds and lifestyles to our services. We are grateful that P'nai Or has attracted a rich diversity of members. As a community we are dedicated to creating an environment that is open and affirming, and serves the needs of all our members. We welcome your presence, your voices, your spirits, your families, and your friends.