Welcome to West End Synagogue!
Welcome to West End Synagogue, a Reconstructionist congregation on New York's Upper West Side dedicated to building an intellectually challenging, spiritually vibrant, diverse, and mutually supportive Jewish community.
We hope that you enjoy our website, and that you will drop by soon to visit us in the real world! Please let us know if you have any questions, or would like additional information about any aspect of our community.
Shirat HaLev Kabbalat Shabbat service
Shirat HaLev (“Song of the Heart”)
On the third Friday evening of each month, we gather for a special contemplative, musical celebration of Shabbat featuring seating in the round, percussion accompaniment, and very spirited communal singing of the Shabbat prayers and blessings. Shirat HaLev is a wonderful way to release the stresses of another New York City week, and connect with one’s self and the West End Synagogue community.
Children and Families: Our Philosophy
From tots to teens, we seek to instill in the children of West End Synagogue a love of Judaism and Jewish culture through our philosophy of whole family learning.
- Jewish Family Life and Learning Program (JFLL) - updates the Hebrew School model by integrating classroom learning for the children, along with extended family learning, Tikkun Olam activities and the celebration of Shabbat and Festivals.
- Tot Shabbat - a special Shabbat morning program, each week, for younger children.
- Dor Hadash - weekly teen activities for active involvement and learning.
Adult Education and Lifelong Learning
West End Synagogue is committed to universal adult study of Jewish sources, history and cultural expression in its many forms. Through our Yad Mordecai Adult Education Project, we pursue our vision of a congregation as literate and well-educated in Jewish terms as it is in secular terms.
