Congregation Kehilat Shalom is a Reconstructionist synagogue dedicated to serving the spiritual, educational, cultural, civic and social needs of a diverse congregation while maintaining a unique, vibrant, and visible Jewish presence in the greater Belle Mead area.
We are committed to meeting these needs in an atmosphere of empathy, joy and mutual support within a congregational family which shares the desire to pass along our pride in our Jewish heritage to our children and, through them, to the generations yet to come. We recognize and accept differences in our membership with regard to the various movements of Judaic practice, previous religious affiliation, monetary means, and other personal choices. We further recognize the special issues faced by interfaith families having one or more Jewish members. We endeavor to make all members of such families welcome in our congregation and encourage their participation in our activities.
We encourage our congregation to come together as a community to nourish the spirit, pursue Jewish literacy, explore the richness of our history, repair the world, celebrate in each other's happiness, and find comfort in time of trouble. We see the synagogue as a Jewish home that is a school for Jewish study, a place to connect to other Jews in a Jewish environment, and a sanctuary in which to worship and pray so that we may make a difference in our own lives, in the lives of our friends and family and in the world at large.
It is our underlying philosophy that active volunteerism is the keystone to building and maintaining this community. It is expected, as an obligation of membership in the synagogue, that each family will commit to and engage in volunteerism to support our community and to sustain our viability as an institution.
We are committed to meeting these needs in an atmosphere of empathy, joy and mutual support within a congregational family which shares the desire to pass along our pride in our Jewish heritage to our children and, through them, to the generations yet to come. We recognize and accept differences in our membership with regard to the various movements of Judaic practice, previous religious affiliation, monetary means, and other personal choices. We further recognize the special issues faced by interfaith families having one or more Jewish members. We endeavor to make all members of such families welcome in our congregation and encourage their participation in our activities.
We encourage our congregation to come together as a community to nourish the spirit, pursue Jewish literacy, explore the richness of our history, repair the world, celebrate in each other's happiness, and find comfort in time of trouble. We see the synagogue as a Jewish home that is a school for Jewish study, a place to connect to other Jews in a Jewish environment, and a sanctuary in which to worship and pray so that we may make a difference in our own lives, in the lives of our friends and family and in the world at large.
It is our underlying philosophy that active volunteerism is the keystone to building and maintaining this community. It is expected, as an obligation of membership in the synagogue, that each family will commit to and engage in volunteerism to support our community and to sustain our viability as an institution.