Affiliated with the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism (USCJ), Congregation Rodeph Sholom is a full-service, egalitarian Conservative synagogue of about 500 member families, with programming for all ages. We welcome new members and ease their integration into the life of our community through social, educational and ritual activities. Our full time Rabbi, Cantor/Programming Director, and Executive Director, along with our Talmud Torah and Preschool Directors, help us to create and maintain programs and services of the highest quality. Our 101-year history and our commitment to modernity, as well as our prominence as the largest Conservative Synagogue in Fairfield County make us an obvious choice as you explore your synagogue membership options.
Our Vice President of Membership is Michael Goldman, (203) 334-0159. Michael would love to schedule a tour of Rodeph Sholom for you and answer all your questions.
Our Prayer Services
Our Friday Evening services (Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat, and Ma'ariv) are intimate, musical services held in the chapel just before Sundown (or 6:00pm at the latest). Our Rabbi gives a short D'var Torah before Shabbat enters to help set the mood. Our Cantor and lay leaders choose from nostalgic melodies, nussach (traditional prayer mode) and beloved Shlomo Carlebach niggunim to enhance the warmth and inclusiveness of our prayers as we welcome the Shabbat Queen. We share in a special L'chayim over the kiddush wine to close out the evening.
Shabbat Morning services are held at 9:00am in our magnificent Main Sanctuary. We daven a complete P'sukei D'zimra (preliminary morning service), Shacharit with full repetition of the Amida by our Cantor, and a Triennial Torah reading by our cadre of talented Torah readers. Following the reading of the Haftara, prayers for our country, Israel, and Peace are read by congregants, and our Rabbi delivers a 15-20 minute sermon. Our Cantor leads the Mussaf service, and on special occasions with our outstanding mixed choir under his direction. Young children participate in leading Ein Keiloheinu, Aleinu and Adon Olam. B'nei Mitzvah students regularly lead parts of our services too. Out of patriotism and respect, we announce the names of our country's military losses sustained that week. The Shabbat morning service ends about noon. A kiddush luncheon is provided in Friend Hall, and we encourage congregants and guests to stay, talk, eat and drink as a community. We celebrate 15 to 20 B'nei Mitzvah annually. At various times during the year, we hold special Shabbatot (Youth, Sisterhood/Men's Club, Hazak, Synaplex, etc.) in which our congregants are honored and help run the service.
Shabbat Afternoon services are held in the chapel according to Sundown all year (see the schedule for details). Mincha and Ma'ariv are led by our Cantor and lay leaders, with a short D'var Torah by our Rabbi in between. The lights are dimmed for a spiritual Havdala ceremony with large braided candles, sweet smelling b'samim (spices) and wine as we bid farewell to Shabbat.
Weekday Services are a source of great pride here at Rodeph Sholom. They are held in the Chapel, and are usually officiated by a clergy and conducted by lay congregants or members of the clergy. We conduct twice-daily minyanim throughout the year. We fix our weekday evening service time at 5:45pm year-round to maximize attendance, and therefore we recite either mincha or ma’ariv at times when it is not permissible to recite both. We almost always achieve a minyan (quorum of 10 adults required for communal prayer). Members and non-members from the greater Jewish community partake in the minyan, either to recite kaddish or just to lay tefillin, daven and observe the mitzvah. The morning minyan is followed by a breakfast on weekdays. We additionally hold minyanim in the homes of bereaved members when they are sitting Shiva.
Yom Tov Services
are always held in the main sanctuary in the morning and in the chapel in the evening. The services are traditional and very musical, with various English readings and prayer explanations interspersed through the service. All five Megillot are read on their designated Holy Days. Children and their parents are especially fond of our special child-oriented Chanukah, Purim and Simchat Torah services. A kiddush always follows the Yom Tov service (except on Yom Kippur!) in Friend Hall, including on Passover.
Families with Young Children are always welcome in our Sanctuary. We now offer a Youth Service for children in Kindergarten and younger (parents with children 3 years and under, plan to participate with your child; and all parents are welcome to join us!), led by our Education Director, parent volunteers, and teen helpers. The program includes Shabbat morning prayers from a wonderful children's siddur, snacks, Parsha activities, playground time, and guest specialists. Children then join Cantor Green on the bima for the concluding prayers and a special Shabbat Sweet!
The Zeff Early Childhood Center
The Zeff Early Childhood Center provides a safe, warm and nurturing environment that helps children develop socially, emotionally and cognitively. We maintain a developmental program that concentrates on hands-on experience in a small group setting. Our preschool follows the guidelines of the creative curriculum. We have a new, state-of-the-art playground, block room, and newly equipped classrooms. Our Rabbi and Cantor often visit the classrooms to help us prepare for Shabbat and all of the Holy Days.
We offer an excellent teacher/child ratio with a warm and loving, degree-holding staff. We welcome you to visit at anytime. To make an appointment, please call Liz Englander. Many new programs have been added to our school for the 2010-11 school year. Babies and Bagels, Ones program, toddlers, Mom and You Under Two, three and four year old classes, Pre-K, Breakfast Bunch, lunch, extended day, enrichment, Little Gym, Adopted Grandparent Program and a wonderful summer program. We also have many community helpers visit, and we go on field trips regularly. “I love coming to work everyday,” quoted Liz Englander, director. “These children are a very important part of my life and I love them.”
The Talmud Torah
Our goal is to provide an educational setting for children to learn our traditions and the importance of Judaism in their lives. We want to provide a way for our students to tap into Hebrew and Jewish education in order to ensure that the next generation will grow up richly enjoying, understanding and practicing the Jewish traditions in a meaningful way.
As a congregation, Rodeph Sholom is a partner with our families by providing the children a first class education combined with Hebrew, Jewish history, prayers, and rituals. Through the use of the varied resources, including computer and on-line learning, we offer a unique curriculum taught by a dedicated staff. The Rodeph Sholom Talmud Torah provides a high level of cultural enrichment for our families to enjoy together.
Kindergarten through second grade classes meet on Sunday mornings from 10:00am to 12:30pm. Third through sixth grade classes meet Sundays from 9:00am to 12:30pm and Tuesdays from 4:15pm to 6:30pm. Seventh grade (our B'nei Mitzvah class) meets every Tuesday from 4:15pm to 6:30pm and alternate Sundays from 10:00am to 12:30pm and alternate Saturdays learning about the Shabbat service first-hand as participants and congregants. Eighth grade students get together on Sundays from 10:00am to 12:30pm and on other days for special activities.
Membership
