Post-denominational, independent Jewish community underpinned by Jewish values, rhythms & practices.
Kesher Pittsburgh is a post-denomination, independent community underpinned by Jewish values, rhythms and practices. We seek to build a village-minded community which celebrates life’s joys and supports through life’s challenges. Our guiding values + principles include:
-Liberatory environment - Kesher strives to center the experiences of those who have been most marginalized in order to build solidarity and move toward a more liberated world.
-Gender inclusivity - we celebrate expansive gender both in our community members and in our understanding of the Divine. We welcome a range of expressions of Jewish spirituality and level of practice, providing companionship and cultural sensitivity to each individual’s Jewish journey.
-Earth-based, Embodied Practice - we honor the book, the body and the earth as equal sources of wisdom, inviting each participant to practice Judaism in ways that include intellectual, embodied and connected to the elements as well.
-Come As You Are - we welcome a range of expressions of Jewish spirituality and level of practice, providing companionship and cultural sensitivity to each individual’s Jewish journey.
-Leave Slightly Different - whether through silence or song, we seek to shift our internal landscape and be transformed by the experience of prayer. We know that a Friday night gathering was successful if our Saturday is different as a result.
-Judaism & Social Action - we believe that by engaging deeply with both Jewish practice and social justice, they become mutually reinforcing and ultimately indistinguishable.
-Depth Over Growth - we are committed to fostering experiences of depth, unlearning and personal growth which lead to strengthening our connections to ourselves, to one other and to the Divine.
-Prophetic Voices - we speak our consciences as a way to spark conversation and provide a moral compass which informs and guides our activism.
