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.
WES Open House
Next Open House - June 21-22
Share Shabbat with our vibrant, supportive community.
Bring a friend!
Friday, June 21, Shabbat Eve Service - 6:30 pm
Saturday, June 22
Torah Study (in English) - 9:00 am
Shabbat Morning Service - 10:00 am
-followed by Kiddush lunch
Click here for a flyer with all Summer 2013 Open House dates
Come meet us!
Meet our rabbi and cantor after each service and ask all the questions you have.
Special first-year dues rate through December 2013 includes High Holy Day tickets.
For information, call Lila Pahl, Executive Director, at 212.579.0777 ext. 220
Na'aleh Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremony
Our community is kvelling already over what is certain to be a highlight in WES history -- the up-coming celebrations of our Na'aleh adult bar/bat mitzvah class. The b'nai/b'not mitzvah for the first ceremony, celebrated June 1, were Diane Burhenne, Joanne Feltman, Janet Rosenberg, Helen Stein, Viviane Topp and Deborah Ziffer. On June 22 we will celebrate with Susan Mazonson, Rob Morel, Wendy Moss, Ellen Pundyk, Bernice Rosenzweig and Ingeborg Zieman. The final ceremony will be held on September 21 for Leila Alexander, Judith Friedman, Peter Harrison, Lorayne Losch and Harold Mindess.
"Freedom of (and Freedom from) Religion: The Challenge of a Jewish and Democratic State:" Rachel Liel, New Israel Fund's Executive Director in Israel
Although Israel is the Jewish homeland, free and open expression of Jewish identity is not always a given. From bus segregation to arrests at the Kotel to the legitimacy of non-Orthodox denominations, the role of Judaism in Israeli public and religious life continues to present a complex and unique challenge. How can pluralism and freedom be guaranteed in a state that defines itself as Jewish and democratic? Sponsored by WES Israel Connections Committee
Jewish Family Life and Learning
From tots to teens, we seek to instill in our children and parents a love of Judaism and Jewish culture through our philosophy of creative, whole family, hands-on learning. Our goal is to create a dynamic, inclusive community of families, all on a journey of Jewish discovery.
Jewish Family Life and Learning replaces the Hebrew School model with a dynamic new paradigm integrating children's classroom learning with creative, family-based celebration of Shabbat and the cycle of Jewish holidays, and intergenerational Tikkun Olam (social action) activities. Our Tot Shabbat is a warm, welcoming special Shabbat morning program each week for younger children and their parents. Dor Hadash ("New Generation") is our program of dynamic weekly teen learning activities led by our Rabbi, Hazzan, Educational Director and lay leaders.
