Events

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Make the most of your high holiday experience by setting intentions with a soulful Jewish learning class to kick off the month of Elul! Elul is the 6th month of the Biblical calendar, the month set apart for repentance in spiritual preparation for the High Holidays. We will explore 3 of the Tikkun Midot (character traits) of worry, equanimity, and truth and their meanings, then craft an individual 30-day plan for reflection. Led by Madeline Sherman and CKYA board member Jacquelyn Null. 

Elul Jewish Learning Event

Shabbat is about elevating the mundane. So let's get high- high up that is on the 18th floor! Join Madeline and Mat Sherman in our downtown apartment for a community Shabbat dinner. 

We'll start with camp-style services led by song leader Mat, followed by a delicious catered meal from Pita Jungle of falafel, hummus, pita, and Mediterranean salads. Feel free to bring additional tapas (appetizers) or desserts of your own. 

Free for CKYA members; $10 for non-members. Parking details will be sent upon RSVP. Please also RSVP here on OneTable so we can receive funding 

Shabbat on Chai (18th Floor)

Meet up with friends over a delicious meal complete with apples and honey before Rosh Hashanah Evening Services. Catered by local Chef Kurtzman- check him out on Instagram here 

.  If you need any dietary accommodations, please email 

Rosh Hashanah Dinner

Erev Rosh Hashanah Services- Evening

Rosh Hashanah Morning Services

Yom Kippur Evening Service- Kol Nidre

Yom Kippur Morning Services

Need a little R&R during this spiritual time? Join Madeline, a certified 200-hour yoga instructor for a beginner yoga practice with a concluding meditation. We will relax and unwind with a gentle flow and then reflect on our past year from this place of calm. Bring your own mat.  

Yom Kippur Yoga

Yom Kippur- Text Study on Forgiveness

Yom Kippur Closing Services (Yizkor, Neilah, and Havdalah)

Still on a spiritual high from the high holidays? Is your new year's resolution to keep a more frequent Shabbat practice? Looking to meet other young single Jews or connect with other young adult Jewish couples?

Whatever your reason, start the new Jewish year off right with a Shabbat with your peers!

Please RSVP on the OneTable link to help us with funding 

Shabbat in the Sukkah 

March alongside the AZ Jews for Pride delegation with CKYA and other young adults.  

Pride Parade w/ AZ Jews for Pride

Learn tips, tricks, and practices to become a more mindful, kinder,YOU!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciRZos-TCccPBFlnkr1A37UMBdZqZUTuzoP-idtWI__Ip5zQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2GqP4riUykA0mKhRSvwsTf__sgyuS8RwdbZ2g0kdyhIj_6pUwj_skzBNE

Mindful Mondays with Mariel

 CJP’s First Women in Philanthropy Event is Happening Soon!

Join us to celebrate women, mix and mingle with friends and hear an inspiring female speaker, Amy Lederman. Amy, an award-winning author, syndicated columnist, and Jewish educator will speak about the evolving, dynamic role of Jewish women throughout history and the positive impact we, as women, can have in the world today.

We are thrilled to be featuring the services of all women vendors from our local community. 

Tickets are $54 donation. Please register at the link below to pay. 

https://jcfphoenix.regfox.com/power-of-the-purse-wip-fall-2022

CJP Women's Philanthropy Event

We are going on a hike. Join us on the 30th to get outside and get moving in the hopefully crisp weather as we ring in Fall! See you there!

This hike is rated as moderate. 2.5 hours out and back trail. Begins with an incline. 

Parking lot, S Phoenix S Mtn Park, Phoenix, AZ 85042).

Holbert Trail to Dobbins Lookout Hike

Anotha day, anotha hike. This upcoming Saturday let's take on a Phoenix favorite...Squaw Peak! We will park at the base, and hike the steep two miles and enjoy views of all of Phoenix at the top. Note, the hike is ranked hard on All Trails. See you there!

Parking details to be sent 2 days prior. 

Hike Squaw Peak 

We will be joining up with our friends at the Moishe House Pod for a crisp winter hike in North Phoenix. This is a 4.2-mile out-and-back trail near Phoenix, Arizona. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 3 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, running, and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

Carpool and parking details to be sent 2 days prior. 

Specific meeting details will be sent 2 days prior. 

Hike Shaw Butte with Moishe House Pod

Apply by Sunday, November 6th for Learning Circle listed under "Madeline Dolgin-Phoenix, AZ" 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKbAH3OrkRjRdNWqygEqcJpcCZ7MYRXeMbckgih0b-qluCmw/viewformAbout

Let’s face it: being a human is hard work. Between a long to-do list, endless notifications, and worries about the past and future, it’s not uncommon for days to fly by on autopilot. Then, when a curveball hits, life becomes even more overwhelming.

You’ve heard that gratitude and mindfulness may help, but perhaps you’re unsure where to start. And just how is gratitude related to mindfulness, anyway? Gratitude allows you to notice your blessings and create balance from life’s difficulties. Mindfulness helps you handle tough times with grace, acceptance, and surrender. Together, these practices nurture what the “Higher Self” within you.

Join Madeline and Rabbi Bonnie for a 3-week exploration of mindfulness topics during the month of November and cultivate appreciation and awareness of the holiness within you. 

3 Sundays in November 11/20, 11/27, 12/4 from 4:00pm-5:30pm + 1 Shabbat on 12/9. 

 Location TBD dependent on the learner's locations

Sponsored by IYUN, CKYA, and At the Well. 

Holy Bodies- Jewish Learning Circle

Join us in the park for a morning yoga flow class led by Sutra Studios before your Thanksgiving gatherings! Upon RSVP, you will be added to our text group so we can all meet up in a similar area. Link to official event ---->  

https://www.facebook.com/events/378183861108335/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22discovery_top_tab%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Gratitude Yoga Flow

Enjoy some sweet treats and savory appetizers before a lively Shabbat prayer service at Congregation Kehillah. We'll have a designated young adult table! Can't wait to see you :)

This event is at the synagogue. Parking is available on-site at the synagogue. If the lot becomes full, there is parking at the Chruch nearby 5413 East Desert Vista TrailCave Creek, Arizona 85331

Pre-Chanukah Shabbat Oneg

Carpool up North with us to see the beautiful red rocks of Sedona covered in snow. We'll get dinner at the famous Southwestern restaurant Elote Cafe after our hike!

Though many people will recommend you to visit Devil’s Bridge in Spring or Fall, there is something unique about visiting this trail in December.

As you hike on Devil’s Bridge, you will get to see the beautiful view of red rocks covered in white. The trees and even the cacti clad in white sheets of snow. You will never experience something as dazzling as this in any other season. The area is fully open, so come to Devil’s Bridge Trail, where even the heat is wrapped in snow.

**YOU MUST RSVP so we can coordinate carpools ahead of time**

Sedona Day Trip- Wintery Hike and Dinner

Engaged and newly married couples! Join us for a fun night with latkes, donut bar, and hanging out with other couples. We will also learn a text or Torah to prompt some rich discussion about relationships. 

Jewlyweds Chanukah Party at Risa's

Mazelpalooza is the most happening Jewish young adult event of the year! What better way to spend Christmas eve than with hundreds of your Jewish friends, getting down on the dance floor?1?1 This year's event is at The Duce, a favorite downtown spot. 

We will meet at Madeline and Mat's apartment for some drinks and apps before heading over to The Duce (a short 7-minute walk!) around 9:30pm. The vibe will be more of a chill cocktail party rather than college "get s**t faced."

 Mazelpalooza Classy Cocktail Pre-Game 

Shabbat on Chai is BACK! This time we'll be popping bottles of champagne as we celebrate the Sabbath and the "almost" new year on Dec 30th. Consider this a pre-new year's celebration, Kosher-style. $10 charge to purchase food. 

9:45pm until whenever- after party for anyone who wants to go to Melinda's Alley Speakeasy

Shabbat on Chai- New Years Edition 🥂

Shhhhh.... these events are TOP SECRET.We're doing something fun and quirky to start the new year off. Each month we will join together for a Shabbat service or meal and then head to check out a local **hidden** speakeasy. The locations will only be disclosed to those who RSVP by the Thursday before the event. 

Our first speakeasy visit will be located in the neighborhood called High Street.

Hint: A Coffee shop by day turns into a classic speakeasy at night. The menu includes craft cocktails and a few appetizers/flatbreads to share. 

6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Services @ Congregation Kehillah

8:00pm Carpool to High Street to get in line for secret speakeasy

8:15pm Meet at speakeasy to put our names in for waitlist 

8:15pm Head to Mellow Mushroom for dinner reservation

~ 9:30pm Seating at speakeasy for some classy cocktails, appetizers, and good conversation

** Note: This speakeasy does not take reservations, so expect we may need to wait about 45-60 minutes before being seated

Shhhbat Speakeasy Series #1

We are excited to announce that our teen initiative at 

will take a new format in the Spring, led by our young professional staff, Madeline and Mat Sherman. We know that our teens are very focused on making the most of their high school experience to prepare for college, and we want to support them by helping them make connections to alumni and mentors from colleges. Keep reading for more details about this 

 where you will create your college dream list, explore majors, meet professionals in your career field of choice, experience Jewish life on a college campus, learn tips to ace the application, + get matched with your own personal mentor. 

 Teens must apply! Applications close on Sunday, January 15th, so 

Apply for Teen Fellowship

Join Jews Who Hike and Camp for another hiking adventure in the Superstiion mountain range. Check out this 3.8-mile loop trail near Tortilla Flat, Arizona. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 39 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

We'll meet at the trailhead at 9:30am and should return by around 11:30am so we can head to an optional brunch around noon. 

Hike - Hackberry Springs Loop

Newly married or engaged couples- join us for a fun night of healthy couples competition! Location is currently TBD... stay tuned :)

Jewlyweds Game Night

Sign up to be an actor or set designer for our Purim Spiel on March 6th! We will have 3-4 rehearsals in February- apply here 

Act in the Purim Spiel

Explore this 4.4-mile out-and-back trail near Rio Verde, Arizona. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 34 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and mountain biking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

We will meet at the trailhead at 9:00am. Bring water and a snack. 

We may head to get brunch after for those interested!

Tom's Thumb Hike

Get crafty with your lover and make your own Glass Mezuzah to symbolize the home you are building together! 

Price is $18 per mezuzah. We recommend that each couple purchase 1 to work on themselves as it can be hard to paint the same one- but you do you!

Jewlyweds Mezuzah Making

Join Congregation Kehilah for a Jersey Boys theme purim spiel, a show put on my fellow congregants that is sure to have you up out of your seats grooving to the best tunes by Franki Vallie and the Four Seasons. 

Purim Spiel + Hamantaschen Happy Hour

Join us for our second event in the Shhhbat Speakeasy Series. Enjoy a Shabbat meal and pay a visit to one of our favorite speakeasies in Old Town Scottsdale. As usual, the location will ONLY be revealed to those who RSVP by the Tuesday night before the event as we plan to make a reservation. 

Hint: With flavors from around the world, you will surely find something to delight in! Sip on your favorite spirits while enjoying a local singer-songwriter. Just be sure you don't miss the entrance, as it can be entirely hidden. 

This speakeasy has a full menu, so you can enjoy dinner and a cocktail! Our personal favorite is the chopped salad and s'mores for dessert. 

6:00-8:00 Kabbalah Shabbat services (optional)

Shhhbat Speakeasy Series #2

Time for a little friendly competition against other Jewish couples in the valley!

Are you in the market to buy a home, or looking to in the future? Join us for our first Shabbat dinner where we discuss an "adult-ish" topic at the home of a community member who is an expert in the space!

Daniel Fischpan is a mortgage lender and he will provide insight about the home-buying process!

Home-y Shabbat Dinner 

Get ready to laugh and celebrate together! Join your Jewlyweds crew to support Olami Phoenix, the sponsor of Jewlyweds for a fun night. Tickets are $60 for general admission, $25 for students. After you RSVP, register here 

Jewlyweds Comedy Night 😆

We are excited to welcome Howard Lindzon to Congregation Kehillah for a fireside chat and and Q&A with the congregation. Howard is the GP at Social Leverage, is an early investor in Robinhood, Wag, AngelList, and many others. Howard is also the founder of StockTwits, a social network for sharing ideas between investors. This chat will be moderated by Mat Sherman, CKYA staff member. Audience Q&A is highly encouraged. The whole congregation is invited to attend.

After the chat, we will drive over to The Creek Patio Grill down the street and all grab dinner together. There will not be food at the event so either eat dinner before or come ready to eat around 7:45pm at The Creek Patio Grill.

Fireside Chat With Howard Lindzon

It's time for our last sip! This time we will be meeting up for Shabbat dinner in a home in Biltmore and then head over to a local speakeasy in the area which is sure to delight!

About: This speakeasy is a spinoff of the original in New York City, established in 1993 by John McDonald. Although the NYC location is no longer in operation, the Phoenix location is thriving. If romance is in the air, this speakeasy will complement your vibe. Dressing to impress is recommended. Its wooden walls, dusky lighting, and fellow swanky drinkers will have you sipping in class.

6:30pm Shabbat Dinner at TrueFoods in Biltmore Fashion Park

8:15pm Enjoy a night of sips and spirits 

Shhhbat Speakeasy Series #3

We’re taking it back to a more traditional gathering this month! Join us on June 4th for a delicious kosher brunch and a Jewish lesson on relationships. Welcome some of our newly engaged couples and reconnect with our core crew. Looking forward to another fun meet-up :)

$10 per couple for food. Only 1 RSVP per couple needed. 

Jewlyweds Brunch and Learn

Doors will open at 7:30 pm. We will be serving up a 

with various fun dips. You can enjoy sampling nine different challah loaves from some of the best restaurants and bakeries around the valley and vote for your favorite.

You will also be able to meet Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman, the head Rabbi at the independent synagogue 

in Cave Creek, which sponsors Congregation Kehillah Young Adults (CKYA). If you haven't heard of CKYA, here's a little bio.

 CKYA is an effort to give "post-college pre-family" young adults a synagogue to belong to and a community to join of like-minded peers. We host monthly events all around the valley, including Shabbat in a Speakeasy, local hiking trips, Jewish learning classes, events specific for couples, and more! While there are no synagogue membership fees, anyone subscribing to CKYA can attend holiday and Shabbat services at Congregation Kehillah for a discounted rate. If you would like to learn more, you can read about our team at 

 and check out our calendar of events at 

At 8:00 pm, we will begin the blessings and the Shabbat meal. The menu should accommodate those who are vegan as well as meat eaters.

** You are welcome to contribute a side dish, certified kosher wine, or dessert to the meal.

If you noted needing additional accommodations for Friday night, we have sent you an email to coordinate. If you have further questions, please email the CKYA team at 

 or text Madeline Sherman at 602-686-3010. If you need overnight accommodations, please text Mason at 575-405-0500.

Summer Shabbat with Moishe House

Join us for a holiday-weekend trip up to Flagstaff to explore the Lava River Caves!

We will meet up at 9:00am to carpool. The drive is 2.5 hours, the hike takes about 1.5 hours, so expect to return back to the valley around 6pm. We will stop for lunch along the way as well. 

About: Who would think that admist the beautiful Ponderosa Pine forest in Northern Arizona we would have our very own collection of volcanic wonders? One of these wonders includes the Lava River Cave in Flagstaff, which were formed by molten rock that erupted from a volcanic vent near Hart Prairie. As the lava flowed from the vent, the outside hardened into a tube-like formation. This newly created tunnel filled with molten lava creating a fiery faucet. Once the flow was done, the cave cooled and remains a 3/4 mile-long tunnel for all of those brave enough to explore it. This 700,000-year-old formation remains a cool 35°-42° even in the summer.

** You will need at least 2 forms of light in the cave- a headlamp and a flashlight will work just fine. 

$5 charge will help cover gas. This amount will be distributed amongst the drivers. We will meet at the Whole Foods on 7111 E Mayo Blvd and coordinate carpools from there. 

We will begin and end at the Whole Foods on Scottsdale Rd and Mayo Blvd for parking and then determine carpools. 

Lave River Cave (Flagstaff Hike)

Show us how you roll and let’s strike out hunger in our community.

https://phoenixcjp.regfox.com/nowgen-night-out-bowling-july-2023?fbclid=IwAR2bZ9apOF616R9Q-EKPLy8hEHaxmoZlhrGERK2zKPaUZc-Ab_M5Ztl62R0

NowGen Night Out is back, so lace up your bowling shoes and gather your friends for an evening filled with strikes, spares, and heartfelt camaraderie, all in support of several incredible Jewish organizations dedicated to fighting hunger.

We’re asking all attendees to bring non-perishable food items, water, hygiene products, school supplies, or supermarket gift cards to be donated to our partner organizations & help feed local families – Just Three Things Pantry, a project of Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Arizona Jews for Justice, and Arizona Kosher Pantry.

Bowling with NowGen

It's time for a Summer concert! Join Congregation Kehillah Young Adults (CKYA) and Moishe House Phoenix for a rockin' shabbat dinner featuring local Jewish musicians from the band, The Bagels! The Bagels are a four-piece seventies revival band from Phoenix AZ. The long-time friends have been in many musical projects in Arizona, but it all led them here. Creating sounds inspired by the purest of 60s and 70s bands. Listen to their original songs here 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6GVAIbRUYVMMS7vy282QVU

Shabbat dinner is FREE thanks to funding from OneTable. Make sure to also RSVP here for free dinner! 

https://dinners.onetable.org/events/7d40f532-b204-4066-8348-d68b52d32e93

Rock Shabbat

Bellies and hearts are filled across the Valley through our five dining rooms where 4,500 nourishing, hot meals accompany our hospitality every day. Join fellow congregants from Congregation Kehillah and serve a meal at St Vincent de Paul's dining room where these individuals can come not only for a hot, nutritious meal and a smile.

To learn more about the work of St Vincent de Paul to help those who are homeless, please visit 

https://www.stvincentdepaul.net/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/dining-rooms

Volunteer at St Vincent de Paul

Applications for Meir Young Leaders Fellowship

Have you always wondered what CKYA is all about? Are you currently "synagogue shopping" as you look for a place to spend high holidays? Are you a CKYA regular who wants to reconnect with friends?

Then this Shabbat is for YOU! Join us at 6pm for a light nosh and schmoozing, and to learn more about CKYA and the Congregation Kehillah community. Lively prayer services (with guitar) will begin at 6:30pm. 

Meet Rabbie Bonnie Sharfman and the whole team at Congregation Kehillah and learn more about our upcoming events. 

Dress code is casual, but Shabbat festive!

New & Returning Member Shabbat

Who likes baseball? Who likes hanging out with other young jewish professionals. Who likes both?!  Next Sunday is Jewish Community Day at the ballpark so let's join the tribe and head to Chase Field to cheer on our (Playoff bound!!!) Dbacks.

. CKYA is going to be in section 140, row 26. Make sure to grab a ticket in that row. It's only $25. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

CKYA Heads To The Ballgame

Thank you for your interest in our private viewing of Golda on 

. We will be seeing the 1 hour and 40 minute film at 10:30 a.m. please be at the theater by 

 Go directly to the ticket taker and advise them you are there for the Congregation Kehillah event! The ticket taker will direct you to our auditorium!

Join the Congregation Kehillah community for a private film screening of Golda. Tickets are FREE.  

Focuses on the intensely dramatic and high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the 'Iron Lady of Israel' faced during the Yom Kippur War.

FREE Private Film Screening of Golda

Deserts, havdalah, and reflection led by Rabbinical student Erica Erman. 

Selichot - Havdalah and Reflection

Join other young adults for a festive meal on a rooftop in North Scottsdale! Then head over to Congregation Kehillah for Erev Rosh Hashanah Services. 

PLEASE RSVP ON ONE TABLE HERE - Dinner price is $15 

https://dinners.onetable.org/events/0d8903d5-1664-4fd4-b7df-dab8bdb16461?shared=true

Rosh Hashanah on The Rooftop (Dinner)

Spend the high holidays with other young adults in our community!

The season of teshuva (return) — returning to community, hope, possibility, G-d, prayer, love, and the best that is in each of us — is upon us.

Your participation will enhance our Holy Days, and we, in turn, hope to provide you with a truly meaningful, uplifting, inspirational and transformative High Holy Days experience.

Purchase a High Holiday pass for $118 for attendance at all of the following seasonal events during this time.  Individual events are $36. ** If your funds are low, please reach out to us regarding discounts 

Erev Rosh Hashanah – Friday, September 15th 

Rosh Hashanah – Saturday, September 16th 

2023 High Holiday Pass 

Join us for evening services as we kick off the high holidays! 

Erev Rosh Hashanah Services

Lively morning services followed by apples and honey. 

Services include guitar and tv screens to show lyrics.

Price: $36 individual service, INCLUDED with the CKYA High Holidays Pass (

** If your funds are low, please email us at 

Kol Nidre- Yom Kippur

Traditional morning services. We use guitar and stream the prayers on a television. 

Price: $36 individual service, Included with the CKYa High Holiday Pass

** If your funds are low, email us for discounts. 

Evening services including Yizkor and Neilah. 

Services may include guitar and tv screens for lyrics. 

Price: $36 for evening services, INCLUDED with the CKYAhighholidaypass (

CKYA - Congregation Kehillah Young Adults

Events

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