About Congregation Shearith Israel
About Congregation Shearith Israel
Our Mission
Celebrating the joys and beauty of our tradition,
we will strive to be the center of our members' lives by creating a caring
community where members, through a path of spiritual growth and commitment
to the principles of Conservative Judaism, embrace Torah learning, prayer,
and deeds of loving kindness.
Our Past
In 1884 a group of twelve Jews gathered
in the back of Wasserman's store on Elm Street near Pearl in the city
of Dallas. They secured a sefer Torah and called their new shul "Shearith
Israel"--"the Remnant of Israel." The first Shabbat services were held
above an old grocery at the corner of Elm and Akard. Those who came to
that first service had no idea of the long history that would await the
tiny Shearith Israel.
The pioneers of those formative years of
Shearith Israel's history believed in the synagogue, in its rituals, its
teachings and its message. They had faith in the power of community and
in the sense of family that is the synagogue.
From its humble beginnings, Shearith Israel
was among the few Conservative Congregations in America to pre-date the
establishment of the Jewish Theological Seminary and was clearly among
those congregations which inspired the early leaders of Conservative Judaism
to establish the Seminary, now the world-wide academic and spiritual center
of Conservative Judaism.
The early leaders of Shearith inspired successive
generations to build upon their dream. Over the years Congregation Shearith
Israel established the pillars of Jewish life and learning including a
well developed religious school and youth program and founded the Solomon
Schetcher Academy, the Conservative Day School of Dallas.
Our Present
Today Congregation Shearith Israel is one
of leading Congregations of the Conservative movement with over 1,200 families
on two campuses.
Our main campus
is on the corner of Douglas Avenue and Walnut Hill Lane in Dallas.
Our north satellite campus , Beit Aryeh,
is on the corner of Frankfort Road and Hillcrest Avenue, on the campus
of the Ann and Nate Levine Academy. Beit Aryeh is designed to meet the
needs of our members who live in far north Dallas and Plano.
Shearith Israel is led by our Senior Rabbi, Rabbi
William Gershon along with Rabbi
David Glickman, Rabbi Joseph
Menashe and Cantor Itzhak
Zhrebker in partnership with an active lay
leadership.
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