SHALOM and welcome to our virtual home!  We are OR HADASH, a Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation serving the greater Kansas City area. We officially formed in December of 2002 after a small, dedicated group  began  searching for a more rewarding, enriching, inclusive and progressive Jewish experience.  OR HADASH (Hebrew for A NEW LIGHT) is a community where music and warmth are as much a part of our services as prayer and study. By embracing music, art, poetry, dance, theater, land, and language we have created an environment that fosters creativity and provides a warm and innovative way to experience Judaism. Our services are casual and relaxed; a place where one is more likely to become engaged in an invigorating discussion than listen to a sermon. 

 

OR HADASH is a proudly diverse and inclusive community, and includes people from traditional Jewish backgrounds as well as  people with little or no previous Jewish experience; Jews by birth and by choice (or still choosing),  people of all ages, singles, families, gay and straight.  Our community is truly connected, and we consider each other  extended family.  We rejoice in one another’s accomplishments and support each other in times of need. We tend to laugh a lot. We also gladly volunteer our time, talents and resources to  support OR HADASH as well as acts of social justice as we work towards tikkun olam– repair of our world.

 

OR HADASH resonates most with those who are looking for a more flexible, egalitarian, innovative and democratic Jewish connection.  Our community is a place where cutting edge ideas blend with the beauty of meaningful, ancient traditions. Together, we all share and contribute to our rich cultural heritage that is an evolving Jewish civilization.

 

We hope you enjoy exploring our virtual home.  Please visit our calendar page for information about upcoming OR HADASH services, holiday celebrations, programs, events and monthly social justice opportunities.  We urge you to attend a real OR HADASH event so that you can experience firsthand the radiance that is OR HADASH.

A SPECIAL NOTE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is an old Hasidic saying that when a person prays through song, the prayer is heard not once, but twice.

 

Music is one of the many areas of the arts that is part of the fabric of  OR HADASH. Music enriches the spirit, uplifts the soul and gladdens the heart.  Traditional and contemporary melodies  blend together, adding  warmth, joy, familiarity and excitement to our services.

 

OR HADASH encourages all musicians at all levels— from beginner to professional,  including vocalists, instrumentalists, percussionists and any combination thereof —to  join in.  Share the  ruach that emanates when a community sings, prays and celebrates together.

 

 

WELCOME TO  Congregation Or Hadash -A New Light-

GREATER KANSAS CITY’S RECONSTRUCTIONIST COMMUNITY