Welcome to
Agudas Achim Congregation
Coralville, Iowa
Agudas Achim is a home where you belong.
Whether you were born Jewish, became Jewish, are exploring Judaism, or are part of an interfaith family, there’s a place for you here.
You’ll meet lifelong Iowans and newcomers, Jews-by-choice and folks who grew up in shul, multiracial families, singles, LGBTQ+ Jews, elders, and children. You’ll also find space for your own perspectives—on Israel, Zionism, and Jewish life in the Diaspora—no matter where you stand.
Wherever you are on your Jewish journey, we welcome you with open arms, open hearts, and open minds.
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At Agudas Achim, worship is more than prayer—it’s a shared experience of community, music, learning, and connection.
To reflect the richness of Jewish tradition in our community, we alternate between Reform and Conservative services.
Reform services offer more English, guitar, and song, in an open, accessible atmosphere.
Conservative services draw on the depth of Hebrew liturgy and traditional prayer, while remaining warm and inclusive.
SUPPORT A COMMUNITY THAT MATTERS
We offer a welcoming home for Jewish connection, celebration, and learning. Your gift keeps this vital community strong, and ensures that Jewish life continues to flourish in the Iowa City/Coralville area. Thank you for your support!
What’s Happening at Agudas Achim
Our Monthly Bulletins and Rabbi’s Sermons
All that We are Called to Be
Exactly two years ago, according to the reckoning of the Hebrew calendar, that is, I preached a sermon on the ‘new coronavirus’ that had put a Chinese city, Wuhan, into lockdown.
Tu Bishvat in the Snow
Celebrate Tu Bishvat with us in the snow!
Upcoming Adult Education Events
Upcoming Adult Education events at Agudas Achim
Agudas Achim COVID-19 Announcement
We have decided to revert to all virtual services for the month of January because of the virulence of the Omicron variant and the high positivity rates in Johnson County.
January 2022 Bulletin
Read about what’s going on in our congregation and community.
The Jewish Story Worth Telling
The baby is born, fragile and innocent. Lovingly swaddled, she nurses him at her breast but then knows what needs to be done. The wicker basket has been prepared and she gently lowers him into it.
Dreams of Gratitude and Resilience
This year, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are almost back-to-back. The last time there was a complete overlap was during the ‘Thanksgivvukah’ of 2013; the next time this will happen is in the year 79,811.
Parashat Lech Lecha 2021
She woke up to the faint blue glare, as usual. The silk sheets and down pillows were inviting and she just wanted to burrow down deeper into them, into the comforting oblivion of sleep.
Defying Dichotomies, Beyond Binaries
The charge that the ‘Torah is homophobic’ engages in one important fallacy: it assumes that the Torah is a static text and that our relationship to it is stagnant.
High Holiday Sermons
View Rabbi Hugenholtz’s High Holiday sermons.
