Message from our president

It is truly amazing to me that I now have been a member of Congregation Shir Hadash for over 13 years. I often regret that I did not join this wonderful congregation earlier. Today we have a solid core membership of over 85 family units. Our membership is a diverse community that projects energy and enthusiasm into our spiritual and religious lives.

The warm, intimate and nurturing environment at Shir Hadash makes us exceedingly accessible for all who care to be involved in this unique and welcoming community.

Shir Hadash cherishes families of all types and honors people of all ages. We embrace the involvement of our children in our religious school as well as social justice activities and a musical ensemble that plays during the high holidays and for specific events during the year.

When asked, “What is a Reconstructionist synagogue?” the best answer I can give is to describe Congregation Shir Hadash. As a young person, I grew up in a conservative synagogue. Mordecai Kaplan, who came out of the Conservative tradition, founded the Reconstructionist movement. Because of this the prayers and liturgy are familiar and comforting to me. However we, as a congregation, have taken this farther than I could have imagined. The music, dancing and singing enhance our creative Shabbat services and bring joy to my heart. The lay led services exhibit the tenets of Reconstructionism that I embrace: gender equality, lifelong learning, lay participation, creativity and shared leadership.

Joining Shir Hadash was a very good decision for me. My subsequent involvement and leadership have made me feel more connected to the breadth and depth of Judaism. I chose to become a Bat Mitzvah at age 65 surrounded by a loving congregation. A congregant who had become a Bar Mitzvah at age 85, after leading a secular life, inspired me. Shir Hadash can do this for you! Please join us for a service so that you can experience this wonderful spiritual and religious community for yourselves.

Eve Dicker Eiseman,

President

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