About Or Hadash
Our approach to Judaism emphasizes participation and hands-on involvement, which enriches both the participant and the community.
Who We Are
Or Hadash is a vibrant and diverse community that is committed to promoting the many facets of our evolving Jewish civilization.
We pride ourselves on just how warm and welcoming we are. We want everyone to feel seen and valued. Through our commitment to the principles of Reconstructionist Judaism, we promote and encourage opportunities for study, prayer, cultural and artistic expression, and acts of tikkun olam, or repairing the world.
We offer weekly Shabbat services, a dynamic SMILE school for students from pre-K through tenth grade, a full b’nei mitzvah and confirmation program, holiday services, and an incredible range of opportunities for learning, socializing, volunteering, and doing social action.
Or Hadash’s home is the historic Fairwold Estate just off Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington, PA, Montgomery County. Our community prides itself on being informal, comfortable, and supportive of a wide range of religious backgrounds, practices, and beliefs. Under the leadership of Rabbi Alanna Sklover and our Executive Director & Education Director, Rabbi Erin Hirsh, our congregation continues to grow while maintaining the warmth and intimacy that are its hallmarks.
Who we are
Reconstructionists understand that belonging is even more central to the Jewish people than behaving or believing, and Or Hadash reflects that warm and welcoming vibe. When each of us feels that we belong in our sacred spaces, we are more comfortable both expressing the behaviors and exploring the inner beliefs that are core to us as Jews.
Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation is a progressive, engaging and creative community that welcomes people of all backgrounds, including multifaith families, LGBTQ+ folks, and people of all races, ethnicities and disabilities.
At OH, we believe that Judaism should feel both relevant and resonant. We innovate and deepen Jewish tradition by centering our contemporary values and vision for a just and equitable world.
We are spiritual seekers, sci-fi geeks, hikers & bikers, lovers of Jewish text, musicians, artists, activists, professionals, dreamers, meditators and sports fans of every age and stage.
The first floor of our building is wheelchair-accessible and we make every reasonable effort to actively include Jews with physical, sensory, intellectual, and emotional disabilities, their families and life partners, in all aspects of congregational life.
Our Vision Statement
We strive to be a dynamic and innovative community
that inspires us to deepen our connections to Judaism and to each other through tefillah (prayer), limmud (learning) and tikkun olam (repairing of the world). We aim to achieve these goals in an atmosphere of mutual respect and intellectual integrity that welcomes everyone from all backgrounds. Through shared values and the egalitarian and progressive principles of Reconstructionist Judaism, we aim to evolve spiritually and intellectually as individuals and as a sacred community.