Sha'ar Communities

SHA'AR COMMUNITIES is a groundbreaking suburban network of small, inclusive and accessible Jewish communities connected by a broad vision of Jewish renaissance. Each revolving around a different modality of Jewish engagement, be it prayer, study, travel or social action, our communities together offer an innovative, affordable and pluralistic model of Jewish identity-building and affiliation. Sha'ar Communities welcomes the changes and challenges in Jewish life today, and in response has initiated the next paradigm of Jewish life for the 21st century.

Sha'ar Communities creates multiple gates ("Sha'ar" = gate) through which people can enter Jewish life and establish Jewish connections. Its name recalls the eight gates leading into the Old City of Jerusalem and suggests the figurative gates we might pass through while on our spiritual journey. People experience Jewish life from a variety of perspectives. Sha'ar looks to offer multiple gateways through which seekers can pass to create connections to Judaism and to community. Our name, Sha'ar, is formed in the singular to convey the sacredness of each of the gates through which we travel.

For some one gate will suffice. For others, several might beckon. For some Sha'ar Communities will be their primary Jewish home. For others, it will provide a secondary community. Each gate provides its own community, with its own membership or fee-for-service payment structure.

We welcome people of all Jewish backgrounds to our warm, participatory and inclusive communities.

Upcoming Events

Schedule of Services

Please call 917 412 2639 or e-mail andy@shaarcommunities.org for location

May:

Friday, May 7th, 7:30pm Shabbat Services

Friday, May 21st, 7:30pm Shabbat Services

June:

Saturday, June 5th, Minchah Service

Friday, June 18th, 7:30pm Shabbat Services

For the address, or If you would like to host a service at your home, please contact Pam Shipley at pcshipley@yahoo.com.

Rabbi Adina Lewittes

Rabbi Lewittes was ordained in 1993 by the Jewish Theological Seminary. She is the first Canadian woman to become a Conservative Rabbi. Later at JTS, she also served as the first female assistant dean of the rabbinical school. Dini has held various leadership positions in the wider community and in addition to founding and leading Sha'ar, she teaches a variety of adult education programs. She is also the mother of four beautiful children.