Or Zarua Photos

Rabbi Shelly attends M2 Relational Judaism Conference in Los Angeles, February 2020


Tu Bishvat Seder with M2!

Working in Tri-Vruta!

Learning together in the natural beauty of California!

Honoring our teacher, Tanya!

Showing our concepts of relational learning not only through words, but through hands-on creations, as well.

Time to create our vision for ourselves and our communities through the creative arts.

We come together from all places within Judaism at M2! Grateful for these connections!


Tu Bishvat Celebration, February, 2020 - Thank you, Debby and Tom Swirsky-Sacchetti!



January 30, 2020 - Ian Lustick speaks about his new book, "Paradigm Lost" at the Narberth Bookshop. Yasher Koach, Ian!

Sunday, January 19, 2020 - Interfaith Services at Bethel AME Church of Ardmore





Musical, inspirational, uplifting, hopeful! As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "The time is always right to do what is right."

Or Zarua, Bethel AME, Beth David Reform, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian, Gladwyne Presbyterian, Baha'i Community, Old Haverford Friends Meeting


Marching for peace, understanding, love.


Olam Chesed Yibaneh... We will build a world of love... Od Yavo Shalom Aleynu.

Peace will yet come upon us...


The joy of interfaith fellowship through song, prayer and service.


We'll walk hand in hand, we will live in peace....


Clergy in fellowship!



We shall overcome!


Community Lunch and Interfaith discussion on building 'oneness' - led by Homa of the Baha'i community.



Bern and Homa



Reverend Carolyn and Marissa - in unity!


Or Zarua MLK Day of Service - Monday, January 20, 2020 at Spruance Elementary School.

Or Zarua served with HIAS and other service groups, painting and beautifying Spruance!


Careful preparation by NancyLee and Phil!

Spruance mural - "Many Voices - One Song" See the Hebrew at the bottom?


Thank you to our gracious and appreciative hosts at Spruance!

Meeting Walter from Guatemala. Speaking Spanish and English together.

Students of different nationalities and languages at Spruance.

Monthly Or Zarua Torah Study with the Bala Rebbe... - Freedom Theme, January 15, 2020


Always uplifting, always something to ponder. Building thoughtful and caring relationships at Or Zarua through the study of Torah.

Reb Arnie always inspires.

Freedom Poetry Workshop with Cathy Cohen, Montgomery County Poet Laureate, January 14, 2020 - preparing for MLK Jr. Day


We read and created our own poetry on the theme of "Freedom".

December 15, 2019 -

"The Vial" - documentary film by Pecki Witonsky - the inspiring story of Pecki's family saving others with vials of penicillin during the time of the Holocaust.

Kol Hakavod, amazing Pecki, for sharing your family's story with us!

We were so honored to have Pecki share her film with us, and then, sadly, a mere two weeks later, our dear Pecki z"l, passed away. She will always be our hero, our inspiration, our role model of generosity, kindness and caring. May Pecki's memory be for a blessing!

Or Zarua and Narberth Havurah come together for Kristallnacht Shabbat morning services with Holocaust survivor, Rita Ross - November 9, 2019 Thank you, Rita and Narberth Havurah for a morning of light and inspiration!


OR ZARUA SUKKAH REJOICE PARTY! October 19, 2019

Our Or Zarua Sukkah Party 2019/5780!

Putting up our Or Zarua Sukkah!

Helpers of all ages!

Time for decorations!

Beautiful Or Zarua Yizkor Tree of Life created by Sari Fogel and Carol Cole.

Preparing for Yom Kippur at Or Zarua

Contemplative Teshuvah Walk at Riverbend Environmental Center in Gladywne

Contemplation during these days of Teshuvah 2019

Sharing reflections and poetry following our walk


Or Zarua 5780 Rosh Hashanah Family Services, Community Lunch and Tashlich


Little RBG always inspiring us!

Preparing the Meeting House for 5780 High Holidays!

Beautiful! All set and ready for the High Holidays!

Pre-High Holiday Poetry/Prayer Writing Workshop with our own Cathy Cohen - September 22, 2019

Anti-Gun Violence Demonstration at Senator Toomey's Office - August 12, 2019

Gathering for Immigrant and Refugee Rights - Friday, July 12, 2019 Durham, North Carolina

June 23, 2019 - Shut Down Berks Detention Center - HCAN, Or Zarua and other congregations come together



Thursday, May 2, 2019 Yom Hashoah Evening - Irma Pretsfelder, Rabbi Shelly's mother, speaks about her experiences in Germany.

April 13, 2019 - Pre-Pesach MMM (Melody, Meaning and Mindfulness at the Barnathan home.

Sharing OZ family Haggadot, sharing sweet Pesach family memories creating new memories.

Discussion and sharing, Torah, prayer, learning.


Wednesday, April 10, 2019- Or Zarua and Old Haverford Friends host the Haverford Ministerium of Religious Leaders in Haverford Township.


Sunday, April 7, 2019 -Haggadah Workshop with Elliot Cole and his beautiful Haggadah collection.


What an amazing collection of over 100 Haggadot! Kol Hakavod to Elliot and Carol Cole! It was a true Or Zarua afternoon of sharing from the heart.

OR ZARUA and NARBERTH HAVURAH - March 30, 2019 - Meditative Shabbat - a beautiful morning of soulful movement, song and prayer.

Thank you, Rabbis Simcha and Shawn Zevit, and all who attended!


Meaningful, spiritual Qigong led by our own Beth Berman!

Meditation and mindfulness in our Shabbat circle...

OR ZARUA PURIM - March 20, 2019 - At Old Haverford Friends Meeting House - freilich and fun !

Der Bala Rebbe!



"In the Gallows" by Rabbi Gaga and Marissa Bradley Cooper Barnathan!

Marvin Weinberger fiddles on the fiddle - Az der Rebbe Elimelech!

January 26, 2019 - Meditative Shabbat

Or Zarua and Narberth Havurah come together for song, movement and sharing. Thank you to Nicole Levin for leading us in soulful, gentle yoga - a beautiful blend of mind, body and spirit. A heart-filled Shabbat morning!


Rabbi Simcha, Rabbi Shelly and Nicole Levin - wonderful to create holy time and space together!

Monday, January 21, 2019 - MLK Day of Service -

HIAS Basket Packing at the Herman/Small home. Thanks to all who contributed items and to all who assembled Mitzvah baskets. Your generosity of time and spirit is so appreciated!



MLK Jr. Interfaith Services , January 20, 2019 at Bethel AME Church in Ardmore

MLK 2019 Interfaith Services - Or Zarua, Old Haverford Friends, Gladwyne Presbyterian and Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Churches join in unity. What a meaningful day of fellowship in song, prayer, preaching, a shared meal and deep discussion! Reverend Carolyn Cavaness preached from her soul! Our hearts were full of gratitude!

Fellowship choir practice with the multi-talented Harold Thompson!

Jan. 19, 2019 - TU BISHVAT Kabbalistic Seder hosted by the Silvermans - travelling through the four Kabbalistic worlds with fruit, wine, song and discussion! Thank you to all for this new Or Zarua tradition!


Tikkun Olam - Among our many Or Zarua Kabbalat Shabbat Tzedakah endeavors, on Friday eve, November 3, we raised $ for 5 new Kindle Fires for local refugee families. Thank you, David Broida, for delivering these Kindle Fires and for bringing smiles to these young faces!

November, 2018 - Intergenerational learning

R. Shelly's Mom, Irma, a Holocaust survivor, talks about Kristallnacht. "Never forget."


November, December 2018

Weekday learning and sharing at Or Zarua.


Night Six of Chanukah 5779, December, 2018- Candlel-ighting, song, silence, and prayer with the Friends of Old Haverford Meeting


Chanukah 5779 is here, December, 2018!


Interfaith Thanksgiving with the Haverford Ministerium. Song, fellowship, prayer and food. Giving thanks for all of our blessings, November, 2018

Learning how to advocate for rights of local immigrants - November, 2018




Interfaith Music, Silence and Prayer at Old Haverford Friends Meeting House - November, 2018. Songs of peace and unity. "The Answer is Blowin' in the Wind," "Olam Chesed Yibaneh"- We will Build a world with Love...

Song, fellowship with our Quaker Friends. Oma Irma Pretsfelder enjoys herself in fellowship, as well!



OUR FIRST HIGH HOLIDAYS - 5778/ September, 2017!

Preparing for the High Holidays at Old Haverford Friends Meeting House, September 2017

Contemplative Walk for the Ten Days of Teshuvah - Riverbend Environmental Education Center, September 2017

Artist Carol Cole - "Words Matter" Art Exhibit, Nov. 2017

HIAS Day - helping families find useful household items, December 2017



Women's March, Praying with our Feet and Voices, January, 2018

Packing bags with household items for local HIAS families, January, 2018

Jamming in preparation for Musical Kabbalat Shabbat, January, 2018

Purim at the Hirsh-Pasek home, February, 2018

Supporting students walking out for gun safety - Haverford High School, March 2018

March for our Lives Philly - Praying with our Feet, Saturday, March 24, 2018

Uniting, walking, chanting for an end to gun violence!

#Enough -- End Gun Violence!

May 6, 2018 - Or Zarua is one of the participating faith organizations in the Main Line Anti-Gun Violence Day Awareness Program

September, 2018 - Preparing for our second OZ Rosh Hashanah 5779/2018 at the wonderful Old Haverford Meeting House!

Shanah Tovah!

Setting Up for Rosh Hashanah 5779

Tashlich at the beautiful Farrar Kessler home

Teshuvah Nature Shabbat Contemplative Walk - at Riverbend, September 15, 2018


Preparing for Yom Kippur at the Meeting House, 5779/2018

Sari Fogel and our New Or Zarua Yahrtzeit Board

High Holiday Food Drive for the Upper Darby Food Pantry

Food Donation for Upper Darby Food Pantry

High Holiday Family Service 5779

High Holidays 5779

Sukkah Build 5779

Lulav and Etrog time

Or Zarua Sukkah Party!