Congregation Ahavat Olam welcomed all to join us as we celebrated Chanukah together — seven nights on Zoom, a Chanukah Night of Music Shabbat Service, and a special community-wide 8th-night celebration on the North Andover Common.
Sunday, 12/14/25, our Hebrew School students, preschoolers, and families enjoyed a wonderful Chanukah celebration filled with creativity and connection — making Chanukah projects, playing dreidel, and enjoying yummy sufganiyot.
We closed the school day with our weekly Torah raffle and a joyful candlelighting.
That evening, we gathered once more for our first community Chanukah candle lighting on Zoom, celebrating the Festival of Lights together as one community.
💙 Grateful for the learning, joy, and togetherness that make Chanukah at Ahavat Olam so special.
In case you missed it, we gathered on the North Andover Common for the 8th and final night of Chanukah — lifting our voices, sharing blessings, and lighting the menorah together as one community.
The evening continued with a joyful celebration at the Stevens Center on the Common, filled with music, warmth, and Chanukah spirit. May the light we shared continue to shine long after the candles are out. 💙🕯️
Our annual meeting will be held at the ‘Shul@1600’ from 6-7 PM, immediately followed by our Shabbat Service.
We will be joined by TUTTI & RON for our Shabbat Service.
A Zoom link will be provided via the Newsletter for the community to attend. Not signed up for our weekly Newsletter? Click here to subscribe.
We’ll kick off the new year with Shabbat on the Road. Stephanie and Scott Ginsburg will host Shabbat at their home in Gloucester overlooking the water. The event is FREE & OPEN TO ALL! TIME: 6 – 8:30 PM.
Preregistration is required. To learn more and reserve your spot, please click on the button below.
Laura and Marc Freedman will host a Member BBQ & Pool Party at their home. This is a member and member family -exclusive event. The celebration is FREE & OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS & THEIR FAMILY. TIME: 1 – 5 PM.
Come splash, savor, and celebrate the legacy we’re creating together! Preregistration is Required. Click on the button below to learn more and reserve your spot.
We will host a New Members Open House celebration at the ‘Shul@1600’ from 6 – 7 PM, immediately followed by our Shabbat Service. We will be joined by TUTTI & RON.
‘’A Reporter’s Notebook: A Time for War and a Time for Peace?’ Congregation Ahavat Olam’s Rabbi Idan hosted and moderated a conversation with Steven Rosenberg, editor and publisher of the Jewish Journal of Greater Boston. Mr. Rosenberg shared his eyewitness report, reflections, and experiences from his most recent trip to Israel. You can read his published article here. A moving discussion for all who attended.
WOW! 
Tiny Tutti‘s inaugural visit to Congregation Ahavat Olam Sunday afternoon was filled with singing 
dancing 
and smiles for miles. Thank you to our soloist, Tutti Druyan, for bringing her 
creative, and inspiring show, Tiny Tutti to us, for such a fun and engaging afternoon of music! ** Check it out for yourself in some fun pics. **
We are blessed to have such talented members in our Shul and love continuing to offer programs for our young children and families
. And a joy-filled shoutout to all who were in attendance! We are already looking at future dates for Tiny Tutti’s next visit!
On April 5th, Congregation Ahavat Olam hosted an amazing night, featuring the SHA’ATNEZ Duo.
The evening was filled with music, wine, champagne, Mediterranean food, and great company! We are incredibly fortunate to have experienced a live performance from two of the most talented and virtuosic musicians in the world! Three-time Grammy Award winner Alon Yavnai and our own flutist, Amir Milstein, filled our holy space with beautiful music.
If you missed Amir on the 5th, you can catch him at our next High Holy Days!
Congregation Aavat Olam is truly blessed with exceptional music and musicians.
MEMBERS and MEMBERS’ FAMILIES EVENT
What a joy it was to gather 60 of us for our community Seder—thank you, Einat, for creating such a warm and memorable evening. Heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who arrived early, stayed late, and showed what it means to be part of this caring congregation. We honored those still longing for freedom with a special Seder plate and prayer—and even surprised Ilahy with a 16th-birthday Passover cake, making the night truly unforgettable.
✨Our 5/16/25 Confirmation class service at Congregation Ahavat Olam was so moving and meaningful.
🎉Our students’ reflections and insights were outstanding! Said with grace, passion, and great composure.
💙 Rabbi Idan Irelander shared this during his sermon: “Laila, Emma, Eliud, Ofer, Finley, and Ilahy, I would like to thank you for enriching my knowledge with your wisdom the past couple of years. Mazel tov to all of you; the world awaits your unique contributions, and I have every confidence that you will do your part to make this world a better place.” This snippet video includes their commitment statement.
We are so proud of you! The beautiful photos are courtesy of our talented Bob Friedenson photography.
We experienced an amazing, uplifting, and flourishing service on May 30th. The sense of community, friendship, and love was deeply felt in our sacred space and beyond.
🫶From the beautiful voices of the Andover Baptist Church, MA choir, led by Minister Michael Blecher, and the Ahavat Olam Ensemble, to the inspiring words of Reverend Lyndon Myers, and witnessing our Bar Mitzvah student, Ben, lead us in prayer; it was truly a “WOW” moment! A great milestone in the life of our congregation.
🎶 Thank you to everyone who participated, and a special thank you to Sari Lafferty for capturing these special moments through her photography.
** Rabbi Idan Irelander’s introduction, ‘Music is the universal language for the Soul’, is followed by this highlight video that includes pictures and musical performances of this special Shabbat service
