Finding our way home: Creating sacred community in an age of spiritual hunger

Once a month, I have the rare privilege of leading the Shabbat morning service of my dreams. 

Every month, 40 or so of us gather in a large circle in our sunny but intimate sanctuary at Darchei Noam, an independent, post-denominational congregation in Ambler, Pa. Some wear tallitot, others do not; some are dressed in suits, others in activewear. Ages range from people in their 20s to octogenarians. Jews in all hues, from diverse backgrounds, gather in sacred companionship to dwell in the delicious energy of Shabbos morning. 

And every month we begin, not with announcements or formal liturgy, but with a version of “Hinei Ma Tov” by Cantor Becky Mann that has become something of an anthem for our community:

“Open the door, open your eyes, open your heart, see what’s inside. 

Lay down your walls, lay down your fears, lean into love. 

You are welcome here.”

…

From the beginning, our goal was never simply to create another synagogue. We wanted to create a barrier-free community where people could arrive exactly as they are and feel fully welcomed into Jewish life. A place where prayer could be contemplative and joyful; where Torah could be intellectually rigorous and spiritually nourishing; where grief and laughter could dwell side by side; where questions were welcomed; and where belonging was not something people had to earn.

Over time, I have come to think of this as a kind of radical spiritual hospitality — not simply welcoming people into a building, but welcoming them into an experience of belonging. At Darchei Noam, nobody slips quietly into the sanctuary unnoticed. Any member who walks through the sanctuary door is greeted by name. Whether they arrive at the beginning of the service or not until the Torah is taken out of the ark, I personally greet them with a big smile because I am genuinely thrilled to see anyone who longs to be part of our sacred Shabbat culture.  

* NOTE: This is an excerpt of a longer article. Click here to read the full article on eJewish Philanthropy.

Danielle Parmenter is the Reconstructionist founding rabbi of Darchei Noam, an independent, post-denominational Jewish community in Ambler, Pa.