Who We Are
Our Community
Our Vision
Rabbi, Staff & Leadership
Our Story & Building
Cemetery
Our Community
Our Vision
Rabbi, Staff & Leadership
Our Story & Building
Cemetery
Our Community
The JCA offers an environment of warmth, joy, compassion and belonging, in our daily lives and in times of celebration and crisis.
Founded in 1969 to foster a “spirit of Jewish community” in Amherst, today we have a diverse membership of more than 300 households with families, couples and individuals from towns throughout Western Massachusetts and beyond.
We value openness and welcome all to our community, including all sexual orientations, people of color, interfaith couples and their children, people with disabilities and those of limited economic means.
The JCA is committed to non-exclusion with universal access and equal participation to spiritual and cultural life, regardless of a person’s visible or invisible disability, physical or mental health concerns, and chronic illness. We celebrate that all are made B’tzelem Elohim (in G-d’s image), and we honor the divine in ourselves and others when we remove the stumbling blocks (Leviticus 19:14) that marginalize disabled members of the community.
Embracing the values of our heritage, we honor the assertion in Pirkei Avot (Teaching of the Sages) that the world stands on Torah (study and mizvot), Avodah (worship), and Gemilut Hasadim (acts of loving kindness).
We share and enhance our understanding and practice of Jewish ritual and tradition through prayer services, cultural experiences and lifelong educational programs.
We provide many opportunities for participation and volunteer engagement within the JCA and in the wider world. As our community struggles with issues of oppression, social justice, peace, a clean and safe environment, and true equality, we strive to place our actions in a context of chesed (kindness) and tikkun olam (repair of the world).
OUR AFFILIATION
In 2002, the JCA affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism (at that time named the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation) after 30 years as an unaffiliated congregation. This affiliation matched the JCA well with its diversity of Jewish practice and belief, respect for traditional Jewish worship, study and culture, and emphasis on tikkun olam – improving the world and ourselves. Central to Reconstructing Judaism is the belief that we are individually and communally involved in and responsible for the evolution of Judaism, and for shaping the spiritual and cultural legacy we leave to future generations.
Our Vision & Mission
Our vision is to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse community that supports individuals in their pursuit of Jewish spirituality, social justice, and lifelong learning. We strive to create a warm and welcoming environment that embraces individuals and families of all backgrounds and orientations, and fosters a sense of belonging and connectedness.
We envision a community that engages in meaningful prayer and ritual, drawing on Jewish tradition and contemporary creativity to inspire and uplift. We seek to promote social justice and pursue tikkun olam (repair of the world) through advocacy, education, and direct action.
We aspire to be a community that encourages curiosity and intellectual growth, and provides opportunities for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, to deepen their knowledge of Judaism and their connection to its rich cultural heritage.
Rabbi, Staff & Leadership
Our Story & Building
Cemetery
Our lovely country cemetery is an integral part of the JCA. In 1979, through the leadership efforts of Normand Berlin, one of the founders of the community, and with support from the first Cemetery Committee, the JCA purchased appropriate land and established a cemetery following the Jewish tradition of providing burial space for all members. Plots are available for purchase to members and non-members who agree to adhere to the guidelines below. We will gladly provide any further information you need, and welcome your inquiries.