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Synagogue Principles and Policy
Synagogue Principles and Policy
The Rev. Dr. Harold Reinhart was Minister of Westminster Synagogue from its inception until his death in August, 1969. The ideals to which his life was dedicated and to which the Synagogue is deeply committed are expressed in the following statement of principles and policy, formally adopted by the congregation at its third Annual General Meeting on 19th January 1961 and continues to guide the community and its members.
Principles
"Our aim is to create a synagogue which will be an instrument for the pursuit of religious truth. We would seek for knowledge and charity and piety. We want a congregation that will be a source of encouragement to human progress and of comfort and inspiration to individual men and women. We would be a congregation of interested active members, personally committed to our Synagogue, accepting the responsibility of membership as a challenge to the best in each of us. We regard our membership as a high privilege, and we will not be content with a synagogue which is less than a vehicle of truth."
Policy
For the realisation of our aims we deem it essential that our Synagogue should be the centre of a Holy Congregation of men and women, believing in Judaism as a relevant motivating power in their lives. Through the Synagogue we should participate in the life of Jewry as a whole, and in human endeavour in the wider community. ‘We believe that such a synagogue should be a democratic society in which practice and procedure are determined by the members themselves, and we are conscious of a sense of congregational responsibility to interpret courageously our heritage, and to adventure in our religious expression. In our services we strive to give voice to the authentic Jewish tradition expressed in a manner suitable to our times.
Our membership subscription is set at a figure which we consider realistic in the contemporary world, and appropriate for a seriously interested person of moderate means. Members are asked to bear a proper share of the necessary expense of maintaining the Synagogue. Some will be able to pay more, others less. The amount itself is not important – significance lies in the token of seriousness of commitment.
We would avoid commercialisation in our congregational management. While we appreciate the need to direct our affairs in a business-like manner, we are determined that our congregation shall not be conducted as a business, that no services or privileges shall be bought or paid for, and that all members shall have precisely the same rights, duties and responsibilities. We offer our services to all who wish for them, in the belief that the more we give, the more we shall ourselves possess. It may then be asked: if our services are available to all people, why become a member? Our answer is that membership signifies personal participation in a dedicated effort to safeguard our Jewish tradition and serve our Jewish ideal.
We know that a true synagogue is one in which the members participate in congregational prayer and study, and maintain a humane administration. We attest our need for such a synagogue and our will to achieve it.
Mon, 21 April 2025
23 Nisan 5785
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Wednesday ,
AprApril 23 , 2025Or Chadash (The Tanakh - Yael)
Wednesday, Apr 23rd 6:30pm to 7:45pm
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Wednesday ,
AprApril 23 , 2025Erev Yom HaShoah 2025
Wednesday, Apr 23rd 7:00pm to 9:00pm
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Thursday ,
AprApril 24 , 2025Yom HaShoah
Thursday, Apr 24th (All day)
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Thursday ,
AprApril 24 , 2025Westminster Bridge Group
Thursday, Apr 24th 3:00pm to 5:00pm
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Friday ,
AprApril 25 , 2025B'nei Mitzvah Class (BM2)
Friday, Apr 25th 5:00pm to 7:15pm
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Friday ,
AprApril 25 , 2025Post-BM
Friday, Apr 25th 5:30pm to 7:30pm
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Friday ,
AprApril 25 , 2025Yom Ha'Atzmaut Dinner
Friday, Apr 25th 6:30pm to 10:00pm
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Friday ,
AprApril 25 , 2025Shabbat Evening Service
Friday, Apr 25th 6:30pm to 7:00pm
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Saturday ,
AprApril 26 , 2025Pre-Service Parsha
Shabbat, Apr 26th 9:45am to 10:25am
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Saturday ,
AprApril 26 , 2025B'nei Mitzvah Class (BM1)
Shabbat, Apr 26th 10:00am to 12:15pm
Today's Calendar
Easter Monday |
Friday Night
: 5:00pm |
: 5:30pm |
: 6:30pm |
Candle Lighting : 7:55pm |
Shabbat Day
: 9:45am |
: 10:00am |
: 10:00am |
Havdalah : 9:05pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Apr 23 |
Apr 23 |
Apr 24 |
Apr 24 |
Apr 25 |
This week's Torah portion is Parashat Sh'mini
Shabbat, Apr 26 |
Candle Lighting
Friday, Apr 25, 7:55pm |
Havdalah
Motzei Shabbat, Apr 26, 9:05pm |
Yom HaShoah
Thursday, Apr 24 |
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