Congregation Sha'are Shalom

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About Us | Board of Directors | Rabbi | Bulletin | History

About Sha'are Shalom

Congregation Sha’are Shalom, formerly Loudoun Jewish Congregation, is a Conservative synagogue located in Leesburg , Virginia. A rapidly growing synagogue, we are affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. We have built our first synagogue on Evergreen Mills Road in Leesburg , VA. The shul opened it’s doors for the first time on Rosh Hashana, 5765 (September 2004).

Sha’are Shalom offers a wide range of programs. We hold weekly Erev Shabbat Services, Shabbat Morning Services twice a month and as well as additional holiday services.

We strive to serve families through the religious school for children in grades K-8, a B’nai Mitzvah program, adult education programs, interfaith discussion groups and youth activities. The Potomac Chapter of Hadassah has also brought their Al Galgalim Training Wheels Program to us for children ages 2-5. Our Rosie Uran Jewish Education Center, a pre-k program for children ages 2 1/2 to 5.

We have many social events throughout the year, including a family movie night once a month on Saturday nights, family game nights, a Chanukah party, Purim Carnival, Shabbat Across America Dinner, Passover Seder, pool parties and our annual summer family picnic.

Congregation Sha’are Shalom is an egalitarian synagogue with a blend of families with young children, older children, empty nesters and people who are single. Many of our families live in Ashburn, Sterling and the Leesburg areas of Northern Virginia. We also have members who live in Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and even West Virginia.

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Congregation Sha’are Shalom Board of Directors

The Board of Directors meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm at the synagogue, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, VA. You may contact our Officers and/or Chairpeople through email.

The Board of Directors are:

President	Lorraine Davis
First Vice President	Ron Rubin
Second Vice President	Patricia Willens
Treasurer	Larry Dare
Financial Secretary	Debra Hofheimer
Recording Secretary	Elaine Neufeld
Corresponding Secretary	Nessa Memberg
Adult Education	Debbie Immerman
Director at Large	Sid Lissner
Director at Large	Roz Lurie
House Chair	Rob Shankman
Finance & Budget	Spence Neufeld
Membership Chair	Melinda DiPrinzio
Religious School Chair	Rachel Cook
Ritual Chair	Michael Leavitt
RUJEC Chair	Mindee Trudell
Social Action	Mindy Rubin
Social	Mindy Walbesser
Trustee	Mort Libarkin
Trustee	Hal Lurie
Trustee	Jackie Simon
Youth Activities	Melanie Malloy
Ways and Means	Jay Silverman
Past President	Barry Memberg
Sisterhood President	Alison Rosenthal
Men's Club President	Dan Gerrig

Elections are held every year in May for the officers and chairpersons, who are elected for a one year term beginning July 1.

All members of Congregation Sha’are Shalom (of the Jewish faith, in good standing of the congregation), may be elected to, or serve on, the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the operation and activities of the congregation under the terms of our By-Laws and Constitution. The board meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm. Board meetings are open to all members of the congregation.

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Rabbi Ragozin

	Michael Ragozin is Congregation Sha’are Shalom’s Gladstein Fellow for the next two years. Michael is originally from Seattle, Washington and is presently spending the fourth year of rabbinic school with his wife in New York. He has had a variety of experiences including leading services, conducting Torah classes, supervising food preparation as Mashgiach, promoting cultural experiences and integrating outdoor education with religious experiences.
The Gladstein Fellowship is a program that enables a rabbinic student to work at an exemplary Conservative Congregation with a teaching mentor and at an emerging congregation concurrently. This is our congregation’s fourth year with the fellowship program. Rabbinic Intern Ragozin will be living in White Plains, New York but will be with us for the High Holy Days and at least 8 weekends for year. He made his first visit to Congregation Sha’are Shalom upon his return from Israel in August and the Congregation membership has been enjoying his talents every month since. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College, he spent two years as a teacher in the Baltimore public schools after which he worked with a technology consultant firm. Please join Michael in our efforts to bring an end to the suffering in Darfur by writing to our elected officials. He asks, “Let’s show the people of Darfur in some small way that we care, that we are not indifferent.” View and down load his letter to President Bush, now. If you have any questions, or if you would like to arrange a time to meet with Michael when he is with us, please feel free to email him at rabbi@sha-areshalom.org .

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The Bulletin

Our newsletter is posted here for your perusal.

If you need the latest copy of Adobe Reader, click here.

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A Historic Milestone

Our very young congregation and our very old county of residence are living a historic event as the first building of Jewish worship is established. Congregation Sha’are Shalom’s beautiful new home is now a reality.

We have been most fortunate in having two members of our congregation provide the vision and means to bring us to this moment. Irwin Uran created the vision of Loudoun County having its first new synagogue building and generously provided the means for Dan Tully to make that vision a reality. To them we all say, thank you.

However, our new home of worship, learning and social gathering is not complete. From a spiritual and community sense we must each consider how we can help our congregation grow to be richer and more fulfilling for us and those around us. And from an aesthetic sense our home is not complete. There are many small, and some large finishing touches that we didn’t have the funds to complete. Many of them are listed on the Ways and Means Committee’s pamphlet of the Naming Opportunities program.

As we reflect, and search inwardly about our new home, let’s all give thanks to those who have made it possible for us to be where we are. But perhaps more importantly, let’s each make a commitment to add what we can to complete our goal, and each become a greater part of this historic event for Congregation Sha’are Shalom.

You may view further information about the Jewish Community in Loudoun here.

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