About Us
Nisan
Mission Statement, Synagogue History and Location
OUR MISSION
Congregation Shaaray Shalom is a place of traditional, egalitarian Jewish worship. We seek to provide an accepting, diverse inclusive sanctuary for culture and learning within a broad spectrum of observance.
OUR SYNAGOGUE
Enjoy the difference a warm, caring “haimish” synagogue makes! We are proud to be a multi-generational congregation. We are Seniors, Boomers, Millennials and Generation X,Y & Z’ers. We are LGBTQIA+. We are families, couples and individuals.
Together we share life’s joys and sorrows, finding comfort and reassurance in being part of a kehillah kedoshah (sacred community).
OUR WORSHIP
Come celebrate Shabbat and holidays in spirited prayer and song! You’ll find a refreshing attitude which favors broad congregational involvement in our services.
OUR HISTORY
The Jewish Community Center of “West Hempstead” was founded in the autumn of 1951 by 6 Franklin Square families, known as “The Patterson Avenue Six”. The need was to meet the religious requirements of some 750 families, predominantly Jewish, who set up new homes in our area, once devoted to farming. We enrolled over 650 families as members (swelling to over 800) and set up a full program of Conservative religious services, including a Religious School. Our shul immediately became (and still is) the premier Conservative synagogue in the heart of central western Nassau County and the focal point for religious, programming and community activities in the desirable “Dogwood Area” of Franklin Square-West Hempstead and now beyond.
The Franklin Square Jewish Center and the Jewish Community Center of West Hempstead consolidated into one synagogue in November of 2014. We chose the name Congregation Shaaray Shalom (Gates of Peace). Today, our growing congregation joins together as a sacred community, in egalitarian prayer and song, in daily Minyanim, Sisterhood, Men’s Club, Chavurah groups, educational programs, cultural and social activities and in the joyous celebration of life’s events. We invite you to join us for Shabbat services.
“LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION”!
Franklin Square-West Hempstead is a vibrant Jewish community. We are a fast-growing affordable area, attracting young Jewish families and singles who are looking for a suburban life-style, yet desire the closeness of everything that New York City has to offer. We are approximately 23 miles east of Manhattan! This makes commutation (for work OR pleasure) much shorter, less stressful and much less expensive! 🙂 There are are about one dozen Long Island Rail Road stations in and around our centrally located neighborhood. Come and check out the diverse choice of well priced expandable homes in our special community.
Fortunately, we are north of the Nassau County Flood Zone, making our community most sought-after.
Due to our synagogue’s unique location and reasonable membership dues, we attract congregants from all of Nassau County, as well as eastern Queens and western Suffolk counties.
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