Coolanu: Culture & Community

Coolanu (Hebrew for “all of us”) brings together Society Hill Synagogue congregants across and within generations for fun outings, arts and culture programs, and specially curated social gatherings at the synagogue and select locations. 
Recent highlights have included our sukkah building and decoration, Salsa & Sips in the Sukkah, a Philadelphia Architecture and Public Sculpture Walking Tour, live theatre with a post-show talkback with the director, the “Boldly Hanukkah Sweater Contest,” our Hamantaschen Bake-Off Contest, Phillies Jewish Heritage Night, an evening with Philadelphia Union and Israel national team soccer star Tai Baribo, and our Lag Ba’Omer barbecue and celebration.
Please contact Coolanu Co-Chairs Lesli Reich and Elliot Landes at coolanu(at)societyhillsynagogue.org with any questions or ideas for programs. If you would like to join our Coolanu Committee, we’d love to have you!

Upcoming Events:

🎻 Coolanu is going to the Kimmel to see Itzhak Perlman and Friends!

On Sunday, May 3, at 7:00 pm, Itzhak Perlman brings his foot-stomping, heartbeat-raising klezmer celebration, In the Fiddler’s House, to the Kimmel Center — a live performance inspired by his Emmy Award-winning PBS special, Great Performances: In the Fiddler’s House. Nearly 30 years after its debut, Perlman still leaves audiences dancing in the aisles with this unforgettable cultural music experience, joined by members of the Klezmatics and the Klezmer Conservatory Band. Please email Coolanu for tickets!

Lag Ba’Omer BBQ
Tuesday, May 5 @ 6:00 pm
Click here to Register
Lag Ba’Omer is celebrated with bonfires and outdoor parties — our courtyard is the perfect venue! We’ll grill kosher meat and vegetarian burgers and hot dogs, enjoy s’mores, and sip drinks. There will be arts and crafts projects and nerf archery. Admission is included with synagogue membership, and costs $30 for the general public, or $15 for kids under 13.

Architecture and Public Sculpture Walking Tour of the Penn Campus

Sunday, July 19 @ 2:00-4:00 pm
Registration form coming soon
Join us for the next installment of our Philadelphia Architecture and Public Sculpture Walking Tours! On Sunday, May 31, Dr. Martin Rosenberg, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Rutgers University, and AIA architect Carter Reich will guide us through the University of Pennsylvania campus — home to outstanding examples of both architecture and public art.
Highlights will include the extraordinary Fisher Fine Arts Library (1888 – 1890), designed by renowned Victorian Gothic architect Frank Furness, as well as Split Button by Pop artist Claes Oldenburg with Coosje van Bruggen, also known for The Clothespin across from Philadelphia City Hall.
Registration will be limited to 15 participants. Information about registration, meeting location, and additional details will be available later this spring.