Society for the Advancement of Judaism

Society for the Advancement of Judaism (SAJ)
The SAJ synagogue in Manhattan
Religion
AffiliationReconstructionist Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
Leadership
StatusActive
Location
Location15 West 86th Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City
CountryUnited States
Society for the Advancement of Judaism is located in Manhattan
Society for the Advancement of Judaism
Location in Manhattan
Geographic coordinates40°47′09″N 73°58′12″W / 40.785798°N 73.970121°W / 40.785798; -73.970121
Architecture
FounderRabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan
Date established1922
Website
www.thesaj.org

The Society for the Advancement of Judaism, also known as SAJ, is a Reconstructionist synagogue and Jewish organization in New York City, on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Founded in 1922 by Mordecai M. Kaplan, the rabbi who founded of Reconstructionist Judaism, the synagogue is affiliated with the Reconstructionist movement.

The current rabbi is Lauren Grabelle Herrmann, who succeeded Michael Strassfeld on 1 July 2015.[1]

Moshe Nathanson, composer of Hava Nagilah, was Cantor of the SAJ during Kaplan's tenure.

The first American Bat Mitzvah was held at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism on Saturday morning, March 18, 1922, for Judith Kaplan, daughter of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "The SAJ Welcomes Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann". thesaj.org. September 8, 2015. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015. Rabbi Lauren began her term on July 1, 2015.