Sinai and Synapses, fiscally sponsored by Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, is excited to announce the next selection of nine communities as part of its project Scientists in Synagogues.
As in previous rounds, these institutions will be drawing on a combination of their own internal expertise and leadership, as well as guest speakers, to present classes, talks and events on topics ranging from to “Mada U’Chokmah – Science & [Jewish] Wisdom” to “Science Shabbat Series: Judaism, Technology, and AI” to “Seeds of Inquiry: Science, Food, and Jewish Values.
The selected organizations represent five different U.S. states plus Uganda; three of them were Reform communities, two were Conservative, one was Orthodox, one was pluralistic, and two were unaffiliated. Funding for Scientists in Synagogues comes from The John Templeton Foundation and other donors, and the program is run in consultation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion (DoSER).
The communities will receive $5000 for programming, as well as guidance and mentorship from both Sinai and Synapses and AAAS DoSER. They will run a minimum of three programs addressing issues around science and religion between September 2026 and December 2027, at least one of which will be open to the larger public, and create multimedia content on how they explore the interaction of Judaism and science in their communities.
“Once again, I was struck by the diversity of perspectives and scientific topics that excite the Jewish community,” said Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman, Founding Director of Sinai and Synapses. “Science and technology are not academic topics, they pose new questions and ways to approach truth, discovery and knowledge, which go to the core of our humanity. As we have seen in our previous rounds, the Jewish community wants to know what our tradition has to say about topics such artificial intelligence, health and wholeness, and even the food we eat. How can timeless Jewish wisdom help inform these timely scientific topics?”
The selection of these communities now brings the total number of synagogues that have been part of this project to 84, reaching over 20,000 people in live programming since 2016. Sinai and Synapses is excited for the work that these eleven communities will be doing to elevate the conversation on science and Judaism.
The selected communities for September 2026 are:
Abayudaya Jewish Congregation Uganda, Mbale, Uganda — “Spirituality and Health”
Congregation Kerem Shalom, Concord, MA — “Science and Religion: Searching for Truth”
Congregation Kol Ami, Cherry Hill, NJ — “Medicine, Science and Jewish Tradition: A Sacred Intersection”
Contemporary Kabbalah Institute, Bethesda, MD — “Discovering, Harmonizing and Co-Creating: Achieving greater spiritual connection and content in a science-based world”
Contra Costa Midrasha, Walnut Creek, CA — “Mada U’Chokmah – Science & [Jewish] Wisdom”
Mekor Habracha/Community Orthodox Minyan, Philadelphia, PA — “Conflict or confluence: Interface between the sciences and Judaism”
Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, Boston, MA — “Science Shabbat Series: Judaism, Technology, and AI”
Temple Emanuel, Kensington, MD — “Seeds of Inquiry: Science, Food, and Jewish Values”
University of Delaware Hillel + Jewish Graduate Organization, Newark, DE — “There’s a First Time for Everything”
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