Housed in a yellow Victorian on College Ave., Havurat Shalom is an egalitarian Jewish community that is not affiliated with the reform, reconstructionist, conservative or orthodox movements of Judaism. In their own description, "The Havurah tends to be hard to label."
Services are led by members and they describe them so: "The singing is spirited, the prayer is focused, and the Torah discussions are thought provoking. Services often include extra readings, discussion, meditation, and other creative additions. We read from the Torah on Shabbat mornings." Twice monthly, Shabbat services are followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner.
A strong emphasis is placed on social justice, with members working to address issues such as homelessness and disability rights. Services, talks, classes and social gatherings fill their busy calendar. Newcomers are welcome, and High Holiday services are free and open to the public.
Temple B'nai Abraham, led by Rabbi Alison Adler, is a conservative Jewish synagogue offering religious school and community events such as book club meetings, dinners and youth volunteer activities.
The Chabad Jewish Center of Acton and Concord was founded in 2000. The Center is a Jewish organization that offers many programs for all ages to enrich Judaism. Hebrew school takes place twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdayswhere children learn to read and write Hebrew and learn songs.
This Winter Hill synagogue opens its doors to members of all branches of Judaism. Self-described as "an independent egalitarian congregation with historical roots in the Conservative movement," they add, "Our membership reflects the wide variety of choices people make in living Jewish lives, and we are respectful of those differences." Their children's school program also reflects their "commitment to a traditional Judaism informed by progressive thought."
Though built in 1922, the temple's hand-carved mahogany ark (an ornate cabinet where the Torah scriptures are stored) is even older. It hails from the former North End synagogue, Beth Israel Congregation, founded in 1887, which makes it one of the oldest arks in New England.
Weekly Friday and Saturday services are held, as are holiday services. A small but active congregation, they also hold Shabbat dinners, organize lectures and events focused on a broad range of social issues and offer occasional courses for adults (such as a survey of world religions or a class on Israeli poetry). A "Tea and Torah" study group is hosted as well. To help provide groceries for those in need, the temple is partnered with kosher food pantry Family Table.
Currently the temple is not wheelchair accessible, but plans are in development to create access and build an addition with elevator.
Congregation Beth Isreal was founded in 1904 as a place for Jewish Lithuanians to worship. Now located on Dexter Street, the synagogue hosts a number of community events and a full weekly schedule of worship. Home loan assistance, day camps and scholarships are available to member families.
Service times vary with the sunrise and sunset. Check the temple's website for updates on service times.
Temple Sinai is tucked away in a residential neighborhood in Cinnaminson. Led by Rabbi Steven N. Fineblum, this Jewish place of worship welcomes visitors of all faiths. The temple also offers programs for toddlers, young people and adults. Its membership is currently made up of about 200 families, and there is a religious school that offers one-on-one teaching for students also at this location.
This aerobics instructor offers day and evening jazzercise classes. Jazzercise is a workout system that combines aerobics, yoga, Pilates, hip hop and kickboxing movements into dance routines. The Temple Israel is right next to the Harbor Bay Landing commercial complex on Bay Farm Island.
The red brick Temple Israel of Natick sits proudly on Hartford Street. Ground-to-ceiling windows in portion of the temple allow plenty of light and cheeriness to enter for Shabbat services. Temple Israel hosts Friday night services and youth services, as well as child and adult education courses. The community has the opportunity to participate in the adopt-a-family program to raise money for survivors of attacks in Israel.
