| Rabbi Dr. Eli Levin P.O. Box 1309, 47100, Ramat HaSharon Israel Phone: 011-972-3-547-3594 Fax:011-972-3-549-3230 E-mail: vaad@d-noam.org www.d-noam.org/en |
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About
We are a Reform congregation with a beautiful synagogue located on the border between Ramat Hasharon and Herzliya, just north of Tel Aviv. Under the leadership of Rabbi Dr. Eli Levin, Darchei Noam offers weekly Shabbat services on Friday evenings, as well as holiday celebrations and many other events throughout the year. Our congregation serves an important function in this overwhelmingly non-Orthodox community, attracting hundreds of local residents during the High Holidays and other Jewish holidays.
Ever since Darchei Noam moved into its new home four years ago, the scope of its activities has grown considerably. There are now two or three Bat/Bar Mitzvah celebrations every Shabbat, with families often hosting catered receptions or luncheons on the premises after the ceremony. Darchei Noam has definitely become the congregation of choice for much of the local non-Orthodox population, many of whom are thrilled at the prospect of a personalized, egalitarian Bar Mitzvah service that is traditional yet contemporary.
In addition to welcoming hundreds of guests to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs every week, Darchei Noam is also proud of its congregants – a diverse yet close-knit inter-generational group that welcomes new members and makes everyone feel at home. In recent years, a growing number of young families can be seen attending Shabbat services and other events. Members also bond through social and cultural activities, including picnics and overnight trips throughout Israel.
Jewish Education and Culture
In addition to Bar/Bar Mitzvah classes, Darchei Noam offers courses for adults on a number of subjects related to Jewish Studies and the Bible.
Rabbi Levin also runs a conversion program. Two young women recently completed their conversion process and a third is due to finish soon. Darchei Noam welcomes converts and their partners into the congregation, and they clearly feel at home – remaining involved and active members.
A variety of cultural and social activities such as concerts and lectures on a wide range of subjects also draw numerous participants on a regular basis. These events are open to the public and are either free of charge or cost a minimal fee.
History
Congregation Darchei Noam was founded almost 30 years ago, and for the first 25 years it operated part-time out of a local high school auditorium. After 15 years of fighting for a plot of land on which to build a permanent sanctuary, the case finally reached the Israeli Supreme Court, which ruled that Darchei Noam must be allocated land. After that, it took another five years and more hard work until the much-desired Building Permit was finally obtained in March 2006. In June of that year, a very emotional Groundbreaking Ceremony took place in the presence of members and friends of the congregation, as well as representatives from the Reform Movement overseas. Thanks to the generosity of friends in Israel and around the world, the new building was opened just in time for Rosh Hashanah 2013.
