When are Shabbat services? Rabbi-led services are held once a month, most often they are Friday evening at 7:30 pm but sometimes they are on Saturday morning at 10:00 am. In addition, the rabbi leads Torah Study and Adult Education groups once a month. All rabbi-led services and study groups are available both in person and by Zoom. Lay-led services are sometimes held at other times. Check the calendar link for more details.
Can anyone attend AJC services? All services, including those held on high holidays, are open to all members of the Jewish community as well as their families, household members and friends, at no charge.
Does AJC have a full-time rabbi? No, AJC has a part time rabbi who is normally in Ames one weekend per month. During each visit, she leads services and study groups and carries out a variety of other pastoral duties. The rabbi is also in town for the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur holidays. Currently the congregation is served by Rabbi Barbara Block.
Is AJC a Reform synagogue? While AJC formally affiliates with the Reform movement, our mission is to, as much as possible, serve all Jews in the Ames area. We have a number of members who self-identify as members of other Jewish movements.
Does AJC have a religious school? Yes, our religious school, called Adventures in Judaism, offers a variety of programming for children. Some of this is in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines. See the Youth Programming area of the web site.
How large is AJC? We have around 40 member households.
Can I travel to AJC by public transportation? The CyRide route #6 (Brown) has a stop in both directions at the corner of Bloomington Road and Roy Key Ave. This corner is approximately 3/10 of a mile from AJC, which is located at 3721 Calhoun Avenue.
How can I find out about AJC membership? Contact the membership committee at ajcmembership@gmail.com