Congregation Shaara Tfille
The Jewish Community Center
of Saratoga Springs
An Egalitarian Conservative Congregation
Monday and Thursday Minyan
7:30am
Shabbat Services
Saturdays 9:30am
Services at Congregation Shaara Tfille and via Zoom
CANDLELIGHTING
KABBALAT
SHABBAT
SHABBAT
MORNING
MORNING MINYAN
7:30am
Welcome
Congregation Shaara Tfille, an egalitarian Conservative congregation, welcomes all Jews, inter-faith families and the LGBTQ community. Our Synagogue is a warm and welcoming spiritual home located in Saratoga Springs, serving Saratoga County and adjacent communities. We are a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Religious Services
Once again, we are able to worship together in our lovely Sanctuary. The Board of Directors has voted to reopen the synagogue for Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat services, beginning in March 2022. Minyan on Monday and Thursday mornings will continue to be via Zoom only for the foreseeable future.
We are also gradually reopening for other events, such as Hebrew School, the monthly Men’s Club Congregational Breakfast, meetings of the Jewish War Veterans and Purim.
In accordance with CDC and NYS recommendations, proof of Covid vaccinations is no longer required to attend services or events at Shaara Tfille. While masks are no longer required, it is each attendee’s choice to wear a mask or not.
You may also continue to worship with us via Zoom on Shabbat and at Morning Minyan. Please call the office for the Zoom link or request the link by going to the Website’s Contact Us page and selecting Office as the recipient of your request. Nonmembers who would like to attend services at the synagogue should call the Office or contact the Office by using the link on the Website’s Contact Us page for attendance requirements.
Congregation Shaara Tfille recognizes women as part of the required minyan and women participate equally in our services. We are particularly proud of the several members of our Sisterhood who have chanted the Haftorah for Yom Kippur for the last several years.
Who We Are
Welcominig to all Jews, inter-faith families and the LGBTQ community.
Our Rabbi
Working to sustain and grow a community living a vibrant, joyous Judaism.
Programs
Sisterhood, Men’s Club, Culture Connection and Jewish War Veterans.
Education & Library
Providing our students with awareness of their Jewish identity and values through education.
Events &
Calendar
We can accommodate large banquets, luncheons, Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, kiddushes, onegs, baby naming and more.
Cemetery
The only Jewish and interfaith cemetery in the City of Saratoga Springs.
Our Hebrew School
Our program strives to provide our students with awareness of their Jewish identity and values through education. We teach Jewish traditions, history, Hebrew, and life cycle events in a warm and individualized environment. We offer classes for children ages 3-13, Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation and a post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program. While classes have been held via Zoom during COVID-19, all classes will meet in the synagogue starting September 12, 2021. Until further notice, children over the age of two must wear a mask.
Adult Education
Throughout the year, various classes are offered by Rabbi Boaz Marmon, with topics including Torah, historical and contemporary issues. During COVID-19, classes, via Zoom, covered the weekly prayer service, the teachings of Rashi and Pirkei Avot.
Lots of Ways to Get Involved
Membership
Believing that all Jews who seek a place of worship should be treated with respect and equality.
Newsletter
The Scroll is Congregation Shaara Tfille’s bi-monthly newsletter.
Resources
Kosher food, general information, outreach, youth and diversity programs.
Gift Shop
Judaica for daily use, holiday items, cookbooks and gifts. Buy now and support us.
Photo Gallery
A photographic chronicle of our congregation, our synagogue and our community
Bingo
Currently suspended due to COVID-19. When open, BINGO is available to the entire community.
Live Stream
Various videos, programs and services broadcast online.
Donate
Donations to Congregation Shaara Tfille are a crucial part of our annual budget.
Contact Us
We’re happy to answer questions, address concerns and listen to ideas.
Join Us!
“What does religion offer that we lonely human souls need? In a word, it offers community. Our place of worship offers us a refuge, an island of caring in the midst of a hostile, competitive world. In a society that segregates the old from the young, the rich from the poor, the successful from the struggling, this house of worship represents one place where the barriers fall and we all stand equal before God.”
RELIGION AND THE LONELY SOUL
Harold S. Kushner
Siddur Sim Shalom
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
We welcome you to Congregation Shaara Tfille, the Conservative congregation of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. With a rich congregational history spanning over one hundred years, we are proud to offer the opportunity to worship in an egalitarian, Conservative congregation, that recognizes women in all areas of worship, leadership and participation, and to provide a home to all those of the Jewish faith and those connected to the Jewish faith by relationship and/or interest in Judaism. Our services and programs are designed to be inclusive to all: traditional Jewish families, inter-faith families and the LGBTQIA+ community.
We invite you to explore our Website, designed to be accessible from mobile devices and to be in substantial conformance with the American’s With Disabilities Act (the “ADA”), with expanded features to enable you to easily connect to all we have to offer at Congregation Shaara Tfille.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
A few lines from the prayer for the “New Moon”, written by Fanny Neuda over 150 years ago reflecting on the Psalms and signs-like the moon…
“To the unfortunate, the moon says:
Poor heart, do not dwell on your suffering.
Do not bemoan the gloom and fogginess of your path
Or how your life has become dark as night.
Look at me! Your fortunes can’t be gloomier
Or more difficult than my own waning light was
But a few short days ago – and look now!
Already you can see me shining above you.
So, too, your fortunes will shift.
Grief is not permanent…
Soon the Eternal One will let you shine once more
In the brilliance of divine mercy.
Soon the Eternal One will guide you
Out of darkness and into the light.”
Chanukah is a holiday that commemorates the time when a small group of Jews called the Maccabees, rose up against Greek-Syrian rulers to rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem and light its menorah for worship, which -as the story goes- had enough oil to last only one night. The light miraculously burned for eight nights. Out of darkness and into the light.
~ President of Congregation Shaara Tfille
