Ohav and You!

 

Visitors often remark about what a warm and friendly synagogue we have. They comment on the worship skills of our congregants and on the diversity and number of programs we offer throughout the year. They are impressed by our fully egalitarian services.

 

This page is dedicated to explaining some of the reasons why Congregation Ohav Shalom is a special place and why you should consider affiliating with us.

 

• Ohav Shalom has two dynamic spiritual leaders, Rabbi Daniel Ornstein and Rabbi Rena Kieval. Together and separately, they are excellent teachers who provide continuous spiritual guidance to our congregation in all aspects of Jewish religious practice and ethics.

 

• We are a participatory congregation that encourages everyone to lead parts of the daily morning minyan and weekly Shabbat worship. Toward that end, Ohav offers a variety of classes to improve proficiency including beginning Hebrew. We have mentors available to help anyone interested in learning to read Torah or Haftorah, or lead Shacharit or Musaf services.

 

• Ohav offers Adult B'Nai Mitzvah classes where men and women study together with Rabbi Kieval for two years culminating in a group B'Nai Mitzvah.

 

• Ohav is the spiritual home to Jews of all backgrounds. Our congregation welcomes Jewish individuals and their families who reflect many different religious backgrounds, personal circumstances and interests.

 

• A typical Shabbat morning service includes opportunities for alternative worship for different age groups. These include our weekly Shorashim service for pre-schoolers and their families, as well as a new program, Torah Magic! for grade school age children and their families that we are trying twice during the coming year. In addition, there is a child-friendly family section at the front of the main sanctuary so parents can participate in the service with their children nearby. Young children are encouraged to join the Torah procession at the end of the Torah service and to participate in leading services as they get older.

 

• Ohav Shalom has both an award-winning religious school and an award-winning nursery school program that is unique in its ability to retain its teaching staff year after year. In 2008, Ohav Shalom received the Framework for Excellence Award and in 2009, the nursery school received the Solomon Schechter Gold Award in recognition of its inclusive early childhood education program.

 

• Ohav Shalom is committed to Family Education and presents a wide range of programming throughout the year that involves parents and children participating in activities together as a family.

 

• Ohav Shalom has an active, award-winning USY Chapter that brings teens together for social, spiritual and volunteer activities within Ohav and in collaboration with other USY groups locally and beyond.

 

• Our environmental committee, Shomrei Adama (Protectors of the Earth) holds events several times a year designed to protect our environment and encourage congregants to take steps to become more environmentally aware in their daily lives.

 

• The recent massive renovation to our main sanctuary and chapel has created a lovely new worship space, while our social hall has been renovated to better accommodate Kosher family simchas.

 

• Our congregation prides itself on the numerous educational and social action programs offered to our members and the community such as our annual Scholar in Residence Programs, volunteer opportunities at the Regional Food Bank, annual blood drive and ongoing affiliation with Equinox.

 

OHAV: A PLACE FOR ALL TO CELEBRATE BEING JEWISH.

 

Ohav Shalom is proactively committed to the inclusion of all people with special needs. Below are the many ways in which we do this:

 

• 1. A variety of aids and support fixtures throughout our building help those with hearing, sight, and mobility disabilities. These include hearing enhancement devices and large print siddurim in our sanctuary, specially outfitted toilets, a wheelchair ramp in the sanctuary, a fully accessible front door paddle for easy entrance to the lobby, and a more easily accessible mezuzah on the front door of the synagogue for those who cannot reach the higher fixture. More features will be added in the future.

 

• 2. Our outstanding Beginnings integrated classroom program in our preschool, for children with special needs as well as those who are typically developing.

 

• 3. Our long time special needs educator and fellow congregant, Lita Katzer, works closely with our teachers and tutors. Together, they individualize religious school instruction and Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring for children within our congregation who have special needs. This position is generously supported by the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York.

 

• 4. Each year we host our renowned Seder For Adults With Developmental Disabilites, which draws Jewish residents of group homes and residential centers from throughout the Capital Region. PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US AS A VOLUNTEER THIS YEAR.

 

Please let us know if you or someone you love can be helped further by our special needs offerings. We are always looking for volunteers and donations to enhance this aspect of our commitment to inclusion.

 

We hope this overview provides some insight into "Why Ohav?" We invite you to contact us for information about membership at Congregation Ohav Shalom. Please also feel free to attend a Shabbat morning service to personally experience our warm, participatory service.