Khal Adath Jeshurun (Washington Heights, Manhattan)

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Khal Adath Jeshurun is a German-Jewish Ashkenazi congregation in the Washington Heights neighborhood, in the New York City borough of Manhattan.

The community is a direct continuation of the pre-war Jewish community of Frankfurt am Main led by Samson Raphael Hirsch. Khal Adath Jeshurun bases its approach, and structure, on Hirsch's philosophy of Torah im Derech Eretz; it was re-established according to the protocol originally drawn in 1850, which the congregation continues to adhere to fervently.

The community is colloquially called "Breuer's" after Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer, founder and first rabbi of the congregation. Rabbi Breuer was succeeded by Rabbi Shimon Schwab, who in turn was succeeded by Rabbi Zecharia Gelley, the current Rabbi; Rabbi Yisroel Mantel serves as associate Rabbi.

Unlike most Ashkenazic synagogues in the United States, which follow the Eastern Askhenazic ("Poilisher") liturgical rite, KAJ follows the Western Ashkenazic rite, in its liturgical text, practices, and melodies.

True to the "full-service community" as originally established in Frankfurt, the community comprises a synagogue, an elementary school (located at 85 Bennett Avenue), various educational facilities, a social hall, a high school, a Beth Midrash (these are several blocks north, where Bennett Avenue meets 190th or 191st St). The Kehilla also offers its members a mikveh, Kashrut supervision and Shechitah.^[1] It also offers an independent Chevra kadisha. The members of the community tend to live in the buildings on Bennett Avenue and the adjacent cross streets towards the west.