The New Shul

FAQs / I’m confused. You say that you’re an “egalitarian” shul with a reverence for “traditional” worship. Are you Conservative or Orthodox?

We believe that denominational labels generate more heat than light.  And none of those labels fit us very well.  That is why we choose to remain independent.  We daven from an Orthodox (Hasidic) prayer book, but we are very unorthodox in our openness to differences, our commitment to gender equality, and the value that we place on critical questioning.  Our rabbis were ordained by the Conservative movement, but our style is more traditional and less formal than that of most Conservative synagogues.  Rather than try to force ourselves into a category, we invite you to check us out and come up with your own definition.