From the Rabbi’s Desk
Parshat Emor
The Litmus Test Today, most of the topics that are debated in the world can be placed in the category of apparent truths. The ideas are either right or wrong or good or bad. This is in contrast to the discussions in the academic world where the end result is either true or false, for […]
read moreParshat Vayikra – G-d is Calling!
G-d is Calling! The five books of Moses each have a specific name. The English names are not a direct translation of the Hebrew names. The English names are one word that summarizes the main thrust of the book. For example, the book of Genesis is the story about the beginning of the world and […]
read moreProtectors of the Lost Ark – Vayakel – Pekudai
We all know about the raiders of the lost ark. In reading through this week’s Torah portion, I came across another set of heroes, the protectors of the lost ark. In the description of how the Jewish people built the ark, the verse reads “and he made two golden cherubim, he made them of hammered […]
read moreAbout Face – Ki Tisa
Don’t turn around, this is about THE face. In this week’s Torah portion we are told the process of G-d communicating with Moses and how exactly it happened. It took place at the Tabernacle (dubbed the tent of meeting due to its function.) and Moses entered the tent. The signal that a meeting was going […]
read moreUnder Cover – Tetzaveh
They say that a suit makes the man. Perhaps this is a fundamental flaw in the world’s “evaluation” system. People looking for that instant makeover are convinced it will come if they find the right sale at the mall as opposed to concentrating on truly making themselves over, from the inside out. In this week’s […]
read morePunctuate – Parshat Mishpatim
Punctuate – Governments have forever struggled to find the perfect balance between ruling the people and giving people the space to live. The ability to synthesize regulation and autonomy has eluded leaders since the beginning of time. Over-regulation stifles our growth and not enough oversight allows for greed and corruption to flourish and thrive. This […]
read moreRelate – Parshat Yitro
Relate – Communication is very important. We often get into unneeded squabbles because we don’t understand what somebody else wants or needs. Too many friendships and relationships are broken due to the inability for our messages to get across. What is even more disturbing is when we understand the wishes of those who we are […]
read moreBirth of the Kvetcher – Parshat Beshalach
If you kvetch, the dictionary will tell you that you incessantly complain and if you are a kvetcher, you would be someone who constantly complains. It’s really an old Yiddish word, but due to its great sound and way it rolls off the tongue, popular culture added it to the English language. Rooted in Yiddish […]
read moreFaithful Shepherd – Revisited
Faithful Shepherd or Shepherd of Faith? There is something truly beautiful about language. The words that make up a language can have multiple meanings both independently and as parts of a sentence, and when translating words there can be various understandings and interpretations. Moshe, the first leader of the Jewish people, was a called a “Raya […]
read moreOn Being Brothers – Parshat Vayechi
At the end of his life, Jacob called together his family for one last meeting. He used the opportunity to personally bless each of his 12 children with their own unique blessing. Each child received a blessing that matched his personality. Many of the symbols that the tribes used as their “branding” came from the […]
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.