Welcome to Stephen Wise Free Synagogue!
Join us for Shabbat services!
Fridays 6 p.m. | Saturdays 10 a.m.
In These Times with Rabbi Ammi Hirsch
Featured Sermons
In Defense of Sarah
“We’re quick to judge Sarah” — who after finally giving birth to Isaac, insists Abram cast out his concubine Hagar and their son Ishmael — “but Sarah drew the short straw,” argues Rabbi Rena Rifkin.…
Here We Go Again
Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Rabbi Hirsch worries about the future of democratic intuitions, reflects on the anti-Zionism and antisemitism and the left’s abandonment of liberalism that estranged many centrists and…
The Way Forward
“In some ways, this election demands us to ask similar questions to those we asked ourselves over the High Holy Days,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov on the Friday before the presidential election. “What is it…
On The Character of Man: What a Piece of Work
“The contrast between our high self-image and the base evil we are capable of has long baffled and intrigued the greatest minds of our species,” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch. The Psalmist praised the human creature…
Unveiled
“Imagine if suddenly the walls disappeared and we could see all around us,” Rabbi Samantha Natov challenges us on Sukkot. By emphasizing physical experiences, she says, the holiday “connects us to our spirituality and communal…
October 7: A Year Later
On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch shared the range of emotions experienced by Jews since October 7, 2023, including anger, love, sorrow, mutual responsibility and determination to recover. Addressing young adults directly, he urged them…
The Most Important Verse in the Bible
“What is the most important verse in the Bible?” asks Rabbi Ammi Hirsch on Erev Yom Kippur. “You have all these grand ethical principles: monotheism, equality, justice, humanity, mercy, loving-kindness, freedom — and one of…
God’s Presence
“Many of us wonder if it’s possible to feel God’s presence,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, but divinity is everywhere — all around us. “Over these days of repentance and return, may we reconnect with our…
Through the Looking Glass
“Glass is not fragile in all ways just because it is fragile in one way,” says Rabbi Rena Rifkin, reflecting on her recent visit to the Corning Museum of Glass. And like glass, the Jewish…
The Tests of Our Time
“For Jews, our deepest anxieties for the safety of our people — the product of centuries of repressed traumas — have reawakened and our confidence in the West’s ability to withstand the test of civilization…
Upcoming Events
In These Times With Rabbi Ammi Hirsch: Matt Brooks and Mark Mellman
Virtual Short Story Group 🖥
Kabbalat Shabbat Evening Service + Special Reception
Emergency Food Program 🙋
Virtual Lay-Led Torah Study 🖥
In-Person Shabbat Morning Services
Tot Shabbat Together 🙋
Deep Dives into Prayer and Torah: The Concept of the Soul 🙋
Stephen Wise Book Group 🙋
Adult Hebrew Class 🙋 (Beginner)
Explore Our Early Childhood Center
Apply Now And Take A Tour!
Our Early Childhood Center provides children ages 18 months through five years with a nurturing, welcoming, and stimulating environment. Based on the Reggio Emilia approach to education, our philosophy values children as rich with wonder and knowledge — and we infuse our classroom experiences with Jewish values and traditions.
Discover Our Religious School
Looking for an enriching Jewish education? Stephen Wise Free Synagogue’s Religious School is the perfect place for you to deepen your child’s Jewish identity and Hebrew knowledge, engage with core Jewish values and traditions, and become part of a caring synagogue community.
