Author Archive
Thou Shall Overcome – Parshat Vayishlach
Thou Shall Overcome A very big part of the human experience is “the struggle”. In life we struggle with various things. Every person, no matter how accomplished or however successful, will find themselves occupied with challenges at various points in their life. That being said, we all react differently to these situations. Some of us […]
read moreFalling Apart – Parshat Vayeitzei
Falling Apart The last few days have been filled with tragic news from all corners of the world. Every morning has its own horrific story. People are feeling emotionally drained, wondering how much longer this can go on. It feels like things are slowly starting to unravel and beginning to fall apart. Is there hope? […]
read moreUp or Down – Parshat Toldot
Up or Down Do you miss playing on the seesaw? We all have memories of playing on the various elements in the park. The swings, monkey bars, slides and seesaws are staples at the local playground. A seesaw, when being used properly, has two people on it that alternate between going up and going down. […]
read moreShabbat Parshat Chayei Sarah
Sometimes it doesn’t matter who we are. Sometimes our name doesn’t make a difference. Sometimes all that matters is what we are here to do. Eliezer, who worked for Abraham, was tasked with finding a wife for Issac, Abraham’s son. He thought he spotted the right girl at a well (the olden day equivalent of […]
read moreSukkot Schedule
Join us as we celebrate Sukkot at the Orchard Street Shul Sukkot Schedule Monday, September 28th – Shachrit 9:30am Tuesday, September 29th – Shachrit 9:30am Friday, October 2nd, – 6:15pm followed by Sushi and Shots in the Sukkah! Shabbat, October 3rd – Shachrit 9:30am Monday October 5th – Shmeini Atzeret Shachrit 9:30 Yizkor 11:30 […]
read moreExperience the High Holidays – The Orchard Street Shul Way!
Join us for a unique and meaningful High Holiday Experience. Our world class Chazzan will bring the prayers to life in a way you haven’t heard before. No tickets required. Guaranteed inspiration. Erev Rosh Hashana: Sunday Sep 13 6:45 Michah/Marriv 7:30 Dinner – RSVP required. $20 per person/$180 sponsor. Please email orchardstreetevents@gmail.com to RSVP. — Rosh […]
read moreAfro Semitic Experience – Days of Awe
The Afro-Semitic Experience “Days of Awe,” Jazz Explorations of the Music of the High Holidays The Orchard Street Shul presents the world-famous ensemble, the Afro-Semitic Experience.Led by bassist David Chevan, this 6-piece band combines an eclectic array of styles- spiritual, world-beat, funk, jazz, cantorial, gospel and salsa, to name a few. They’ll be performing music […]
read moreMade on Earth vs. Made in Heaven – Parshat Eikev
Man-made on Earth vs. Made in Heaven There are various meanings to the term “man-made.” In a world where so many things are made by machines or robotic assembly-lines, it has a positive meaning, one that connotes craftsmanship and hard work. However, another meaning of “man-made” is synthetic or artificial, a poor copy of that […]
read moreWhere is the Heart – Parshat Vetchanan
Sometimes when you are involved in something you don’t always notice the details. As funny as it sounds there are times that the most interesting ideas are passed by because we are zeroed in on other nuances. It takes a quick glance or zooming out and all of a sudden you take notice and almost […]
read moreSpeak to the Rock – Parshat Chukat
Do you speak to your rock? In this week’s Torah portion the Jewish people complain (again) that there is no water for them to drink in the desert. G-d tells Moshe to go and speak to a particular rock that has served as a water source in the past. Moshe famously hits the rock instead […]
read moreAbout Our Shul
Located in a New Haven Landmark building listed on the National Register of Historic Places and honored by the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, Orchard Street Shul was reborn in 2010 as a traditional yet “post label” synagogue after many years of disuse. We continue to build a dynamic community made up of Jewish people of all ages, from all backgrounds and levels of affiliation.
We seek to appeal to the Jewish self in us all, so we can join in a community in which every member of our family finds comfort, meaning, and spiritual connection. We celebrate our Jewishness, and yours. We invite you to join and experience our spiritual haven where you will be welcomed as family, find depth, meaning, and a new appreciation for Jewish life.
Orchard Street Shul
Our beautiful Eastern European Ashkenazi style synagogue was built in 1924 with a unique blend of Federal style and Eastern European architecture seen in our façade. The Shul stands proudly as a symbol of a once vibrant Jewish neighborhood, adjacent to Yale University and both campuses of Yale-New Haven Hospital. Today, the Shul is an anchor of New Haven’s emerging medical and biotech corridor. Jews of all backgrounds make our Shul happen, bringing Jewish life back to an historic neighborhood, in the only synagogue remaining of the dozen that once served our area. Now the only Shul servicing the downtown New Haven community, the sounds of Jewish life are once again regularly heard in this restored gem. You are invited to join your prayers with ours.
Read more About Our Shul, Shul History and Shul Restorations, and check out our Photo Gallery.
Connect With Us
We hold services every Shabbos at 9:30 AM, a Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat minyan on the First Friday of the secular month (see posted time depending on season).
We welcome your membership, and contributions, but most importantly we welcome you. There are no tickets to attend our services and, please, you should always feel welcome to be part of our family.