Welcome to Our Community Our Shul The Young Israel of Sharon is a youthful, vibrant Ortho- Young Israel of Sharon was founded in 1972 with just dox shul in the suburban town of Sharon, Massachusetts, a minyan of families. The community grew slowly at first, within 30 minutes of both Boston, MA and Providence, but expanded quickly after the construction of the Sharon RI. With a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere, Young Eruv in 1990. Many Orthodox families were drawn to Sha- Israel feels like a true small-town shul, despite having ron by affordable houses with spacious green lots, Com- about 175 member families. Our ideology is inclusive- muter Rail access to Boston, and (not least) the friendly ness. On any given day you can see men, women and Jewish community. In 2001, YI moved to its present-day children from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a broad home at 100 Ames array of religious styles and approaches, all unified by Street. Sharon is an open Jewish a commitment to authentic Torah life and spirit. Young community where The shul mem- Israel exemplifies the ideals of Modern Orthodoxy: seri- people are comfortable bership is diverse in ous Torah study and practice, together with an embrace interacting with the many ways: religious of diversity and a participatory openness to the best of members and rabbis of background, religious contemporary culture and community. all the various shuls. observance, hashkafa, In some ways, the Young Israel of Sharon is like many Tashlich at the lake Jewish education, other Modern Orthodox communities in America. We is so special because age, number and age have daily minyanim; we’re mostly but not entirely made of that. There is much of children, place of up of married families with children; we have a Modern home hospitality and origin. Many mem- Orthodox day school in town; we celebrate strong roles continuing Jewish bers have advanced for women in Jewish and secular life. But in other ways education on so many degrees or s’micha. we are different from many other communities. We levels. People are not Our members spend embrace a laid back attitude, communal diversity, as well pretentious and do not their days working as as nature and the stand on ceremony, yet teachers, dentists, ac- Many people in our shul are environment. Halakhic observance countants, homemak- our extended family . We In this packet, we needn’t be compromised. ers, professors, social workers, program- support each other through provide a summary AF, 36 years good times and some bad. description of the mers, and more. On We daven together, learn Young Israel of Sha- Shabbat, the men’s together, socialize with each ron and the Sharon section has wardrobes other, and some of us even and Greater Boston ranging from button-down shirts without ties to sweat- vacation together. communities and re- ers to suits. We pride ourselves on our down-to-earth, inclusive environment. We are united by our shared focus MS, 37 years sources. In addition to describing the on family, community, derech eretz, Jewish and secular shul and town and education, and an Orthodox way of life. We are engaged different events and resources, we try to capture a bit deliberately in modern American life without sacrificing of the spirit that makes our community special, attracts our Torah traditions. so many families to settle down here, and encourages YI Sharon has been led for 31 years by Rabbi Dr. Meir the community’s children to come back as adults to raise Sendor. R’ Sendor received his ordination from the Rabbi another generation here. We’ve supplemented the prose Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva Universi- and pictures with short comments from shul members to ty, where he studied with R’ Joseph B. Soloveitchik, zt”l. add some personal flavor. He received his Doctorate in Medieval Jewish History from Harvard University, under R’ Isadore Twersky, zt”l, and also holds a Masters from Yale University. R’ Sendor Haftarah is chanted by another Kehilah member. The ser- teaches classes in Talmud, mysticism, meditation, and vice continues with the Musaf Amidah and then one or many other topics at YI Sharon and across Greater Bos- more of the younger girls leads everyone in the conclud- ton. He plans to make aliyah in 2016. ing prayers. During the Tefillah, an emphasis is placed on singing songs aloud. Minyanim Tefillat Nashim also meets for special occasions such as B’not Mitzvah. During a simcha such as this, the aliyot The YI Sharon offers a I love the ‘rural’ atmosphere and are layned by the bat mitzvah girl and are often inter- broad array of tefillah op- spersed with short divrei torah and brachot given to the portunities. Our shul has relaxed lifestyle of our town; and in bat mitzvah by special women in her life. These brachot two daily shacharit minya- are often poignant and reflective, and are a beautiful way nim and a daily mincha/ particular, I love the Hashkomma minyan for family and community members to share their love maariv minyan. (During with the bat mitzvah. the winter there is one with its quiet and late Maariv at shul and a respectful tone, and Women dance with a Sefer Torah on Simchat Torah and mincha/maariv b’zman serious davening. MR have a chance to layn an Aliyah. On Purim morning, as that rotates among the part of tefilah, women layn Megillat Esther, and on the three orthodox syna- evening of Tisha B’Av they gather together by candlelight gogues in town). The YI community davens together in to layn Eicha. one minyan on Friday nights. A girl who grew up in our shul and did not attend ser- On Shabbat morning, there are two options: the hash- vices regularly before Tefilat Nashim said, “Tefillat Nashim kama minyan and the main minyan. The Hashkama min- gave me a greater understanding and appreciation for yan prides itself as being commit- both the halakhic and spiritual aspects of tefillah.” ted to a quiet tefillah with proper decorum. Hashkama minyan ends with a short dvar Torah given by a minyan member. After Kiddush, many hashkama members choose to remain in shul for chavrutot or to attend a longer shiur given by one of the Sharon Kollel rabbanim. The main minyan includes a short introduction to layning as well as a longer drasha given by Rabbi Sendor. Teen minyan takes place once or twice a month. This minyan is completely teen run--from arrang- ing who will be davening to who will be reading Torah. The teens enjoy preparing and mingling at their own Kiddush. Once a year, around graduation time, the teens take charge of the main minyan. The teens carry this ex- perience with them as they advance into leadership roles Youth & Family as young adults. Our community tremendously values our children and Once a month, for the past 25 years, Tefillat Nashim their spiritual growth. We place a heavy emphasis on has met in the Beit Midrash. This group was initiated by developing and improving our youth and family program- women who wanted to maximize their participation in ming. communal prayer while staying within the framework of Over the past 5 years we’ve been fortunate to partici- halakha. P’sukei D’Zimrah, is often lead off by a young pate in the Bnot Sherut Leumi program. Two young wom- girl. Another Kehilah member leads the Shacharit service. en from Israel are welcomed into our community and run The first three aliyot are layned by different participants programs for both our shul and Striar Hebrew Academy (no B’rachot are recited). A dvar Torah follows, and the (SHAS). Current programming includes: schools, and YI itself). Young Israel has formed particular- • Tefillat Ketanim: Children ages 0-5 and their par- ly close connections with institutions such as Schneider ents join together from 11:00-11:30am on Shabbat Children’s Medical Center of Israel, which provides excel- morning for a fun and relaxed tefillah with age ap- lent medical care for children in Israel and the Palestinian propriate explanations and fun tunes. The tefillah territories, as well as pediatric therapy focusing on the is led by a rotation of parent volunteers and their treatment of anxiety, trauma and stress, and Family Ta- children. ble, the largest kosher food pantry in New England. Many We loved tefilat ketanim; members and their children volunteer in the pantry, or • Shabbat Dav- It was a fun way to deliver meals to poor families or to seniors. ening Groups: introduce key parts of Individual davening in a way my davening Inclusion very active (and loud) groups include son could be himself. And We believe that every individual in the community Pre-K/K, 1st & now, they ask to come in should feel accepted and welcome, and should be able to 2nd grade, and for the end of “big shul” participate in communal life. Through our inclusion ini- 3rd-5th grade with me to sing along! tiative we strive to increase the awareness of our mem- • Bnei Akiva KG, 9 years bers to help everyone be sensitive to the multiple visible Shabbat after- and not-so-visible needs of members of our community. noon program- Through the use of educational and social programming, ming as well as physical accessibility needs assessment, we • Friday Night Onegs & Motzaei Shabbat Activities hope to bring about this awareness and ensure that the for Teenagers Young Israel is welcoming to individuals of all ages and of all abilities. • Shabbat morning babysitting: Supervised babysit- ting room for children ages 1-5 from 9:30 am-end During our inaugural year of the inclusion initiative, of davening.