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Dear Friends:
We're delighted that you've taken the time to visit our website and virtual home. More importantly: we hope that, after learning a little bit about us, you'll be inclined to visit our actual home, on Ogden Road in Scarsdale, so that we can meet you in person. As you enter through our doors, we hope that you will notice that our family of families is a diverse one. We are proud to count individuals and families who identify as either interfaith, LGBT, and/or those with physical/mental/emotional challenges as cherished members of our community. Anyone that is seeking out a meaningful Jewish life and Jewish home is welcomed here. Ours is also a community that takes its spirituality and learning seriously. If you and your children are looking to be challenged and enriched by the melodies, texts, and values of our Tradition, then we trust that you will feel very much at home here. Most of all: we happen to believe that spending time with your synagogue, whether you are a 5th grader or 55 years old should never feel boring or onerous. We don't take ourselves too seriously, and we passionately believe that it's a good thing to have fun at synagogue (at least every once in a while!). We hope, to that end, that you come to find that our space and our community foster the simple joy that comes along with living a Jewish life.
Rabbi Jeffrey Brown (
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), Cantor Chanin Becker (
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), Executive Director Gary Katz (
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), and Temple President Ellen Baken (
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) are all standing by to answer any questions that you might have as you consider whether becoming a part of our community is right for you. They look forward to the possibility of greeting you in person and speaking to you soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many members do you presently have?
We are a growing, thriving congregation with approximately 500 member units. We welcome singles, couples, families, GLBT, and interfaith families.
What is the usual time for Shabbat services?
Friday night services begin at 8:00 p.m. However, on the fourth Friday of the month services begin at 6:15 pm. Oneg Shabbat, a new family service, is the third Friday of the month at 6:00 p.m.
On Saturday morning, regular services begin at 10:30 a.m., and on three Saturdays per month, an additional service, Torah Circle (Adult Torah Study and informal worship experience), is offered beginning at 10 a.m.
Are children welcome at all Shabbat services?
Absolutely! Full family participation in all services and synagogue events is encouraged.
Do we need tickets to attend the High Holy Day services?
Yes. Members receive one ticket per adult and for every child between the ages 18 and 25. Children under 18 do not require tickets. Members are asked to contribute $50 per ticket for children over 25. Current members receive their tickets in the mail several weeks prior to Rosh Hashana. Additional tickets may be purchased for relatives who are not members of a synagogue with a contribution of $150 per ticket. The public is invited to join us for select High Holy Day services.
I am Jewish, but my spouse is not. How will we fit in at SSTTE?
You are not alone. Many of our congregants are interfaith families who participate fully in all synagogue activities. The siddur (prayer book) offers transliteration for all prayers and we recite many of our prayers in English. We also have a CD of prayers and songs used at Friday night services for you to listen to and practice with. Non-Jewish family members can have aliyahs at all services and share in the service in a meaningful way.
Do you have a nursery school program? Do you have a summer camp?
Mazel Tots® is our nursery school program for toddlers, 2, 3 and 4 year olds. The nursery school director, Jody Glassman, will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the nursery school program and Summer Stars, our summer camp program.
Do I have to be a member to enroll my child in the nursery school?
Our nursery school welcomes all families, regardless of religious affiliation. Jewish families with children in the nursery school are welcomed as complimentary members (unless they have an older child in third grade or older, in which case we ask them to join as paid members). For more information about membership, please call Gary Katz.
How early can my child begin religious school education?
We encourage families to begin the religious school program as early as possible. Our religious school begins at age 3 with a Pre-K program. Hebrew consonants are introduced in Grade 2. In Grade 3, Hebrew vowels are added and children read comfortably by the end of Grade 3.
Religious School schedule is:
Grades Pre-K through 3: Sundays 9-11 a.m.
Grades 4- through 6: Mon/Wed 4-6 p.m.
Grades 7-12: Wed 6:45-8:30 p.m.
Our Temple Educator, Rebecca Shubert, will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the Religious School.
Do I have to be a member to enroll my child in religious school?
If your child is in grades K-3, you may enroll your child in our Religious School for one year as a non-member. The tuition is higher for non-members for that first year. After the first year, synagogue membership is required.
When does study for Bar/Bat Mitzvah begin?
The foundation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation is built throughout your child's religious education. We strive to help our students become familiar with the basics of Jewish history, tradition, values, and Hebrew by the time they are ready to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Individualized instruction begins approximately five months before the Bar/Bat Mitzvah date. In addition, one-on-one meetings with Rabbi Klein begin approximately three months before the date. We involve family as much as possible in order to make the process a true journey of self-discovery, rather than simply a religious service and rite of passage.
Does the synagogue offer adult education opportunities?
The synagogue offers a vast array of adult education opportunities, including adult bar/bat mitzvah study and adult confirmation, as well as workshops and classes designed to meet the needs of all congregants. We are proud of the success of our Beit Sefer Café adult learning institute that offers a broad range of mini-classes taught by our clergy, educators and outside professionals.
How do we arrange for a tour of the building and get more information about the synagogue? How do I rent space at the temple for a party or a meeting?
Please call our Executive Director, Gary Katz at (914) 725-5175. He would be delighted to give you a tour and answer any questions you may have.
How do I obtain schedules and additional information about services, holiday celebrations and other events and programs?
The Shalom, our monthly newsletter, includes articles by our professional staff and lay leaders, as well as a calendar of upcoming events and information regarding Shabbat services and other programs and activities. We also invite you to visit our website at www.SSTTE.org for the most current information about the activities on our calendar as well as a full description of our synagogue community.
Does the synagogue sell cemetery plots to members?
The synagogue sells cemetery plots to our members at Sharon Gardens, the Jewish section of Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla. Please contact the Executive Director, Gary Katz at the temple office at (914) 725-5175 or e-mail him at
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What are the synagogue's expectations of its members?
We are committed to provide a diverse program of activities that strives to touch every area of Jewish life. And it is our hope that our members will become partners in creating a congregation that will truly be a storehouse of the Jewish spirit and a sacred community.
By meeting new people and participating in activities at the synagogue, we hope the congregation will become your extended family - a family in which people are willing to be there for one another, to celebrate happy occasions and share in difficult times: to study together, worship together and to create memories for our children so powerful that they will seek to pass them on from generation to generation. We want to foster a sense of connectedness that all our members will truly experience.
Hineinu: We Are Here
Creating a Covenant Community of Shared Lives and Real Relationships
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