About Our Congregation
Our History
Founded in 1992 by friends on a spiritual journey of solidarity, we have continued to be a proudly diverse and inclusive Jewish congregation, welcoming young and old, singles and families, Jews by birth and by choice, non-Jewish partners in interfaith couples, gay and straight, the spiritually settled and the spiritually restless; in short, all who are willing to commit to the integration of community, worship, study, and acts of loving kindness (gemilut hasadim) and repair of the world (tikkun olam).
Our congregation’s name, String of Pearls, comes from one of the first songs the congregation learned to sing together. The lyrics of the Yiddish song, Schnirele Perele (String of Pearls), imply that those who are unique "pearls" share a sense of hope for the future. Rav Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, said, "As the string holds the pearls of the necklace together, so the yearning to commune with G-d unifies and joins all humanity as one. That yearning is the essence of the soul, which derives from the eternal source of all perfection."
Services
We typically hold Shabbat morning services once each month. Please check the event calendar for specific dates and times. In addition, throughout the year we have special events and holiday celebrations and a full schedule of services and programs at the High Holidays. Typically services are held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Rd. in Princeton.
Gemilut Chasadim & Tikkun Olam
Acts of Loving Kindness & Repairing the World
It is very important to our community to do what we can to make the world a better place for all who live here and to leave the earth healthier for those who come after us. We are continually involved in food drives, clothing drives and other activities for local organizations that provide services to the greater Princeton community and beyond.
Our Mission
As a participatory congregation dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive Jewish community, we explore the evolving nature of Jewish life within the framework of Judaism’s enduring values. We affirm the concept of mitzvah as obligation by acting on these values through the practices of torah (learning), avodah ( service), g’milut hasadim (acts of kindness), and community.
As progressive American Jews, we are committed to challenging and being challenged by Jewish traditions. By engaging with these traditions, we seek to stimulate our intellects, uplift our souls, and help repair the world.