A Community of Friends

We’re very excited! Adat Reyim, Hebrew for “a community of friends and neighbors,” continues to thrive in 2008. What began in 1981 as a small group of Northern Virginia families worshiping in one another’s homes has grown into a congregation that is more than 300 families strong.

Under the effective leadership of Rabbi Bruce D. Aft, our unaffiliated Progressive Conservative congregation strives to honor Jewish values and traditions while reflecting the needs and concerns of modern society. We welcome members with diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds and share a commitment to inclusion, participation, and Tikkun Olam, or healing the world. Congregation Adat Reyim offers myriad opportunities for education, worship, service, and fun.

Our Home

Our synagogue is located in Springfield, Virginia, on five wooded acres. A new education/administrative wing, opened in fall 2002, houses adult education classes and speakers as well as our religious school for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The building is also home to our weekday preschool and preschool summer camp. Our newly renovated library focuses on Jewish values and traditions.

Adat Reyim has traditional Friday evening and Saturday morning Shabbat services, a weekly minyan, erev holiday and holiday services, and periodic interfaith services with local churches. Our Adult Choir and Shir Energy, our children’s choir, contribute at select services. Babysitting during the second Friday evening service of each month enables congregation members with children to enjoy the services even more. Special family services and services with folk music and songs offer still other worship opportunities. Of course, members can also celebrate life-cycle events—such as births, weddings, anniversaries, confirmation, bar mitzvahs, and bat mitzvahs—at the synagogue.

Our Ruach

We are a congregation of great ruach, or spirit. Adat Reyim members have a deep interest in the welfare of people in the D.C. metropolitan area, our nation, and the world. Social action and community outreach projects have focused on collecting and delivering food and clothing for area homeless shelters and victims of natural disasters, building homes for the needy, and holding an annual blood drive. Adat Reyim frequently partners with the Ecumenical Council Helping Others (ECHO). Our b’nai mitzvah students are also encouraged to help others.

Adat Reyim sponsors many fun, engaging, and educational social activities. Our many social groups include Sisterhood, Men’s Club, Empty Nesters, Young Family Havurah, Dinner Club, and Junior and Senior Youth Groups. Members of these groups organize dances, scavenger hunts, museum visits, ski and hiking trips, holiday bake-offs, casino nights, swim parties, ice cream socials, bingo nights, art auctions, and klezmer band performances. Our congregation also has an annual retreat and marks Purim with a carnival and a Purim family party.

Our Rabbi

What makes Adat Reyim so unique? Rabbi Aft continues to distinguish himself in the community and with our congregation. He is a wonderful teacher and spiritual leader, is caring and very approachable, and is particularly committed to our youth.

A spirit of volunteerism imbues all of Adat Reyim’s efforts and activities, and our lay board of directors often solicits and welcomes input from members. With our many opportunities for education, worship, service, and fun, it is easy to identify at least one interest! Click here to contact us to find out more about our very special place of worship and community of friends.