Shabbat, Music & Community
Join us for a vibrant lineup of Friday night Shabbat experiences and special community events this spring and summer.
One of the highlights of every Ahavat Olam summer is our annual BBQ & Pool Party at the home of Founding President Marc Freedman and Founding Member Laura Freedman.
Join us on Sunday, August 16, for an afternoon of great food, swimming, laughter, and the joy of spending time together.
Free for members and their families. Friends interested in getting to know our congregation are also welcome.
👉Visit the registration page for complete event details and to reserve your place.
One of Congregation Ahavat Olam’s favorite summer traditions is back!
Join us for a special Shabbat evening overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at the beautiful Back Shore Gloucester home of Scott Ginsberg and Stephanie Gardner Ginsberg.
Enjoy Shabbat, music, community, and a light summer dinner in one of the North Shore’s most breathtaking settings.
Everyone is welcome. Seating is limited, and advance registration is required.
📍 Friday, July 31, 2026, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Reserve your place today and join us for this special summer tradition by the sea.
👉 REGISTER HERE:
https://congregationahavatolam.ticketspice.com/73126-shabbat-on-the-road-gloucester
A special evening at North Shore Music Theatre for Congregation Ahavat Olam members and their guests.
Congregation Ahavat Olam members are invited to join us on Wednesday, July 15, for a special evening of Broadway, music, and community at North Shore Music Theatre as we enjoy Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat together.
The evening begins with an exclusive pre-show reception in the Broadway Club featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts, followed by the performance and seating together as part of the CAO group experience.
Tickets are $80 per person and available through July 9 (while availability lasts). Members may purchase tickets for guests and enjoy the evening together.
Virtual Shabbat services begin 6/26/26 as we prepare for our expanded synagogue space.
That evening’s Shabbat service is the beginning of Congregation Ahavat Olam’s transition to our virtual summer Shabbat schedule one week earlier than usual. As expansion and renovation work begin at our beloved ‘Shul@1600’, we’ll continue gathering online throughout the summer, with plans to welcome everyone back into our newly expanded space later this season.
We look forward to sharing this exciting next chapter with our community—and we’ll keep you updated on our progress along the way.
Rabbi’s Corner and our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program are taking a summer break and will return this fall. From exploring Torah and Jewish traditions to thoughtful conversations about current events through a Jewish lens, our Adult Education offerings invite learners of all backgrounds to grow, ask questions, and connect in community.
Click here to learn more about our Adult Education opportunities and join us this fall.
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Annual Meeting, followed by Friday night service with Tutti & Ron, along with a new Yahrzeit plaque unveiling ceremony.
We hope you’ll join us in expressing our gratitude to our esteemed board members for their leadership and support. We will also present our third Annual Volunteer Award.
Mazal Tov to Carol B., our second Adult Bat Mitzvah Graduate.
A reminder from our first adult Bat Mitzvah, Sherri, “I encourage you to have faith in yourself as you are challenged in life…and teach your children to do the same.”
Join us for a special Shabbat evening as we welcome back our college students and recent alumni for a joyful reunion filled with warmth, connection, and friendship. Our very own Justin Weiss will be our special guest speaker.
Reconnect with old friends, share stories from campus life, and enjoy a delicious Shabbat Oneg together.
We can’t wait to see you!
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Emmy’s Bat Mitzvah will be held at 5:15 PM, off-site. Zoom will not be available.
May the wisdom you gained as you studied for this day guide you throughout your entire life.
“There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” — Amanda Gorman
Our annual “Music of Freedom” with special guests at our shul: the Andover Baptist Church
Congregation Ahavat Olam is thrilled to welcome Pastor Myers, Minister of Music Michael Belcher, and members of the Andover Baptist Church Unity Choir for a special “Music of Freedom” Shabbat service.
Mark your calendars for this inspiring evening of music, with Pastor Myers delivering the sermon!
In this sacred moment of Yizkor, we remember that those we have loved and lost are never truly gone. They live on in the quiet rhythms of our lives—in our choices, our values, and in the love we continue to share.
Yizkor calls us to transform remembrance into a living tribute—to honor those we cherish through acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion. By bringing light into the world, we ensure that their legacy continues—within us, and beyond us.
May their memory be a blessing, and a light that continues to guide us.
On May 15th, we celebrated a special milestone, and we continue to be filled with pride and gratitude for our extraordinary Confirmation students and the meaningful journey that brought them here. 💙
This special evening reflected not only their dedication and growth, but the strength of a community that walks beside them every step of the way.
Mazal tov to our Confirmation Class and their families as they continue forward with curiosity, purpose, and Jewish pride. May you go from strength to strength. Chazak Ve’ematz.
🎥 Relive a few beautiful moments from this memorable Shabbat service.
A musical Shabbat service featuring our in-house band.
Tonight’s service will be filled with music and featuring a special appearance by the Ahavat Olam band.
Our Hebrew School students (and their families!) joined together for a joyful, hands-on experience with Franceen — exploring food, creativity, and the fun of working together in the kitchen. 
In true CAO spirit, the students’ beautiful fruit creations were shared later that day with our neighbors at Cor Unum Meal Center — spreading kindness far beyond our walls. From colorful creations to meaningful moments of connection, the morning was filled with energy, laughter, and learning.
With heartfelt thanks to Franceen Friefeld for her generosity, creativity, and the love she brings to our community. And of course, sending a huge community hug to Einat for all you do… every day. Take a moment to enjoy the highlights.
We may not have had sunshine—but we had something better. A small group from Congregation Ahavat Olam’s Next Chapter Social gathered for their first Second Act Sunday—a relaxed morning at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, followed by lunch and wonderful company.
Take a moment to enjoy a glimpse of the day 🌷 We’re just getting started—more opportunities to connect are on the way.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Congregation Ahavat Olam volunteers.
After a joyful morning of cooking with our Hebrew School students, the beautiful fruit creations the kids made were shared later that day with guests at Cor Unum — a simple act that brought smiles to many.
Moments like these remind us what community is all about: learning, giving, and showing up for one another. Thank you to everyone who made it so special.
This service was filled with music, featuring a special appearance by the Ahavat Olam band.
Enjoy!
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Our weekly newsletter is the best way to keep up with upcoming services, events, and everything happening in our community. 👉 Join our email list
In his message, Rabbi Idan reminded us that we dance in times of joy… and in times of uncertainty—not because everything is easy, but because our story continues. And then, together, we danced.
👉 The dancing begins about 3 minutes in—and it’s worth the wait. Take a few minutes to watch and reflect.
Congregation Ahavat Olam’s 4/17/26 Shabbat Service was a special Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration that featured a special keynote speaker: our member Bill Rosenberg, who shared his parents’ remarkable survival story, “A Place Called Sosúa: A Haven for Jews in 1938.”
You can watch Bill’s incredible story in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpgPUMk0A8U&t=1446s. In the meantime, we would like to share Tutti Druyan’s breathtaking rendition of “I Won’t Light a Candle” from Schindler’s List.
Want to stay in the loop?
Our weekly newsletter is the best way to keep up with upcoming services, events, and everything happening in our community. 👉 Join our email list
