Dear Friends,
In 1957, a small group of 37 families set out to establish a new congregation where fellowship would be nurtured by maintaining a sense of intimacy in worship and equality in leadership. They sought a community where everyone had a voice in the direction and mission of the institution, and where one’s Jewish identity was inextricably linked to the American experience.
The founding members of Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism were dedicated to the preservation of a style of Reform Judaism which is now referred to as “Classical Reform Judaism.” As articulated in the preamble of our congregation’s charter, our founders strongly believed that Judaism should be “exemplified in our daily lives by striving, in all human relations for equality, brotherhood, justice and righteousness, and the ongoing recognition of our mutual responsibility to each other in a world of constantly shrinking dimensions.”
As we enter our 60th year as a community, the values and vision of our founding members have been preserved through our unique prayer book, our emphasis on meaning over ritual, our outreach to interfaith families, our ongoing work in social justice, our unwavering commitment to make worship accessible to all who enter our sanctuary and our endless desire to ensure that everyone has a voice in the ever-unfolding dynamics of our institution. We are proud of what we have created, and on September 9 and September 11, we will be kicking off a year-long celebration of our congregation’s wonderful history.
Please mark your calendars and set aside the time to join us for a weekend filled with celebration, nostalgia, festivities and fun as we begin our Diamond Anniversary as a congregation.
On Friday night September 9th: Join us for a very special service honoring our history as a congregation. A Champagne oneg following services will highlight an evening dedicated to our Diamond Anniversary. During the oneg, we will show videos from our 40th and 50th anniversaries. Services begin at 7:15.
On Sunday September 11th: We will kick-off our year-long celebration with a Tailgate Party. Fun for all ages! The celebration will take place from 11:00 – 3:00. Click here for more information.
L’Shalom-Steve