Welcome to YOUR congregation!

We hope that Congregation Shaarey Zedek will be your home-away-from-home. Our congregational family is comprised of people of all ages and backgrounds; we celebrate the diversity of our members’ religious backgrounds and beliefs. This congregation is a safe place for all. We welcome singles, couples, and families. If you are part of an interfaith marriage or partnership, you belong here! If you identify as LGBTQIA+, you belong here! If you’re new to Judaism or exploring becoming part of the Jewish family, you belong here! If you were born Jewish, you belong here!

I always refer to our congregation as a family. While we have some lifelong members who were born in this community and grew up as part of our congregational family, many of us — like me! — live far away from our families. Fellow members become our friends and families, celebrating holy days, festivals, and other joyous occasions together; we also support each other in times of difficulty and grief.

While the majority of our worship is in the Reform style, and our congregation is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, we do offer some services in the Conservative style. Our B’nei Mitzvah families are welcome to choose Reform or Conservative services for their Shabbat morning simkhah (happy occasion).

Jewish congregations are Batei Midrash (Houses of Learning), Batei K’nesset (Houses of Gathering/Assembly), and Batei T’fillah (Houses of Prayer). Read on to learn more about how we learn, gather, and pray together at Shaarey Zedek. Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to arrange a time for us to meet, tour our building, and ask me questions. I look forward to meeting you!

Rabbi Amy B. Bigman