Hi, I’m Rabbi Doug Heifetz and I want to welcome you to Oseh Shalom Hi, I’m Rabbi Doug Heifetz and I want to welcome you to Oseh Shalom. Our diverse membership includes singles, adults, families of all kinds, and grandparents. We have interfaith couples married in our welcoming community, and same sex members, congregants who are hearing impaired who come for signed services, children with special needs who are welcomes in our school, teens who love our upper school program, young couples and empty nesters. We hope some day soon or community will include you.

Here’s a view of our welcoming entrance Here’s a view of our welcoming entrance. The design is full of symbolic references to Israel and biblical stories.

Our entry way leads to the sanctuary, where you can see the hand carved wooden Talit racks. To the left is our office and to the right, our gift shop.

The entry to the sanctuary shows pillars that echo Jerusalem stone and wood and is flanked by two garden courtyards.

As the rabbi, I work to make our community as welcoming and inclusive as possible. Cantor Charlie bring his joyous, musical gift to our services. Our domed sanctuary offers a beautiful and spiritual place to pray as a community. Music fills our services. Even parents of preschoolers can enjoy services from our Toddler Room, featuring piped in sound and a glass wall looking into the Sanctuary. We offer signing for the deaf, tot and family services and many special spiritual events.

Our Social Hall hosts events such as Bar/Bat Mitvahs, dances, Holiday B’Yachads (gatherings) and our annual Superduperbowl extravaganza. Adjacent to our kitchen, the room features skylights and a wall of windows.

If you take the time to get involved in one of our many community activities, Oseh will become a second home. Our members pray together and play together. We have sports teams, knitting groups, a 50+ group, havurahs for singles and families, and parties and events for tots through teens. Members open their homes to others during Sukkot The annual retreat in West Virginia features a moving Havdallah as well as a variety of programs for all ages. Our coed soccer team has a lot of fun.

Our synagogue offers a friendly place for small classes, like our adult B’nei Mitzvah class, meetings or quiet study time. Our 7th graders made tallitot in the main library one day. Another library features children’s books.

Our Preschool Program makes Jewish learning fun and tasty Our Preschool Program makes Jewish learning fun and tasty. We specialize in smiles. Kids have a courtyard and fenced playground to enjoy the outdoors.

Religious School classes at Oseh are creative, interactive and fun Religious School classes at Oseh are creative, interactive and fun. Kids not only learn Hebrew and Jewish history and culture, they have time to make friends.

Our upper school offers a mix of light classes with plenty of time to eat, talk and make Jewish friends. Religious School Director Renee Richards constantly introduces new ways for teens to connect and learn.

Tzedakah, good deeds, are a core value for Oseh Tzedakah, good deeds, are a core value for Oseh. We encourage members to live these values every day but we come together as a community to make meals for the homeless, help area animal shelters, grow produce for a soup kitchen, assist congregants in need, march for Darfur and much more.

You can also join the conversation at Facebook or Twitter. We hope you enjoyed this brief tour of Oseh Shalom. Although we are proud of our beautiful building, the main reason people join our community is the warmth of our members. We are people, coming together to support each other, enrich our lives and make the world a little better place. Stop by soon and experience the warmth of Oseh Shalom. Questions? Call our office at 301-498-5151 or Email us at osehshalom@oseh-shalom.org You can also join the conversation at Facebook or Twitter.