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SHA'AREI SHALOM, founded in 1995, is a member-driven, diverse congregation offering the warmth of a small community. We recognize the wide range of views in our congregation and provide both tradition and innovation, giving us the opportunity to learn and grow as a community. We encourage and support efforts to reach out to those in need both within and outside of our membership family.

Next Shabbat Services:
July 10th and August 7th at 7:30pm at 118 Main St. Ashland, MA

Please visit our new Social Action Web Page

or our Jewish Community Services contact list


In last month’s newsletter, I wrote about summer when hopefully, our pace slows down a bit, allowing for time by the beach or pond with a book. Summer is also a time when many of us might be “tourists” in places both near and far from home. But what type of tourist do we hope to be? As I prepare for my trip to Israel this summer with the Bronfman Youth Fellowship, I am reminded of the poem Tourists by Yehuha Amichai (1924-2000), who is considered by many to be Israel’s greatest modern poet. In his typical ironic style, Amichai paints the following picture of the type of tourist who visits Israel:

What attracts people to a synagogue, how do we engage members and how do we keep members long term? The answers to those questions are quite different than previous generations. It is evident that there is not one clear answer and frankly it is one of the appealing aspects of Sha’arei Shalom. We are different than most congregations in MetroWest. We are unaffiliated and welcome the diverse makeup of the area.

Shabbat Services Friday 7/10/09 - 7:30pm (Led by Cheska Komissar while Rabbi Sonia is in Israel)

Thank you to all that participated in Mitzvah Day!

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