Shelter Rock Jewish Center - Roslyn, New York

Introduction

The Shelter Rock Jewish Center (SRJC), nestled at 272 Shelter Rock Road, Roslyn, New York, is a vibrant and welcoming synagogue that serves the diverse Jewish community of the North Shore of Long Island. Established in 1951, this Conservative synagogue is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and is committed to fostering Jewish learning, worship, and community engagement.

SRJC is led by Rabbi Daniel Dorsch, who brings a wealth of experience and passion for Jewish tradition and modern relevance. The center is known for its inclusive and egalitarian approach, welcoming individuals and families of all backgrounds, including interfaith couples and families, and offering a range of services and programs that cater to different ages and interests.

Main Services

• Religious Services: SRJC offers a variety of services throughout the week, including Shabbat and daily services. Services are held in the intimate and inviting sanctuary, which features stained-glass windows and a beautiful ark. The center also livestreams its services, allowing members and visitors to participate remotely.
• Education: The center places a strong emphasis on Jewish education. It offers religious school classes for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as adult education classes and workshops. SRJC is also home to a Hebrew High School, which provides Jewish learning and community-building opportunities for teens.
• Community Engagement: SRJC hosts a wide range of social, cultural, and community service events throughout the year. These include holiday celebrations, speaker series, film screenings, and social action initiatives. The center also has a active sisterhood and brotherhood, which organize events and provide support to the community.
• Youth and Family Programming: The center offers a variety of programs for families with young children, including Tot Shabbat, family services, and holiday events. SRJC is also home to a thriving youth group, USY, which provides social, leadership, and Jewish learning opportunities for teens.

Location and Access

SRJC is conveniently located in the heart of Roslyn, just off the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and Northern State Parkway. The center is easily accessible by car, with ample parking available on-site. Public transportation is also an option, with the Roslyn Heights Long Island Rail Road station located about a mile away.

The center is situated near several major roadways, including Shelter Rock Road, which leads to the northernmost tip of the Long Island Expressway, and Northern Boulevard, a major east-west thoroughfare. The area is known for its tree-lined streets, historic homes, and beautiful parks, including the nearby Roslyn Pond Park.

Featured Characteristics

• Wheelchair Accessibility: SRJC is fully wheelchair accessible, with a ramp leading to the main entrance, elevator access to all floors, and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. The center is committed to ensuring that all members and visitors can participate fully in its programs and services.
• Toilet Facilities: The center has clean and well-maintained toilet facilities, including a separate toilet for people with disabilities. The toilet is equipped with grab bars and other assistive devices to ensure safety and accessibility.
• Architecture and Design: SRJC's sanctuary features a blend of traditional and modern architectural elements, with soaring ceilings, stained-glass windows, and a beautiful ark designed by noted architect Albert Lapin. The center also has a community hall, social hall, and classrooms, all of which are used for a variety of programs and events.

Practical Information

• Address: 272 Shelter Rock Rd, Roslyn, NY 11576, United States
• Phone: 516-741-4305
• Website: srjc.org
• Services: The center offers a range of services, including Shabbat and daily services, holiday services, and life cycle events such as bris, baby namings, bar/bat mitzvah, weddings, and funerals.
• Membership: SRJC offers various membership categories, including individual, family, and associate memberships. The center also offers a new member discount and a variety of payment plans.

Positive Aspects from Reviews

SRJC has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from its members and visitors. Here are some of the standout aspects highlighted in the reviews:

• Welcoming and Inclusive Community: Many reviewers praised the center's warm and welcoming atmosphere, noting that they felt immediately at home. The center's inclusive approach to Judaism was also highlighted, with reviewers noting its welcoming of interfaith couples and families.
• Engaging Services and Programming: Reviewers praised the center's services, noting the engaging and meaningful nature of the prayer services and the wide range of programs and events offered. The center's adult education classes, speaker series, and film screenings were also highlighted as standout features.
• Compassionate and Dedicated Leadership: Rabbi Dorsch was praised for his engaging and compassionate leadership, as well as his ability to make the ancient traditions of Judaism relevant and meaningful to modern life. The center's staff and lay leaders were also praised for their dedication and hard work.
• Beautiful Facilities: Reviewers praised the center's beautiful and well-maintained facilities, noting the sanctuary's stunning architecture and the welcoming atmosphere of the social hall and classrooms.

With an average rating of 4.3/5 from 25 reviews on Google My Business, it's clear that SRJC is held in high regard by its members and visitors. The center's welcoming and inclusive approach, engaging services and programming, and compassionate leadership have all contributed to its reputation as a vibrant and thriving Jewish community on Long Island.

👍 Reviews of Shelter Rock Jewish Center

NuHair T.

5/5

Two of my children attended this wonderful program. It is outstanding. It is an extremely warm and nurturing environment. The staff are licensed and experienced. The facility is very clean and safe for children, the classrooms have a lot of natural light with large windows in each room, and are also very spacious. The class sizes are small. I loved that there was an American teacher as well as an Israeli teacher in each class. My children learned a lot of basic Hebrew as well as the English curriculum. The art program and after school programs were excellent. The playground area is large and clean. Additionally, I loved the large, bright interior space that the children play in when there is inclement weather. My children loved going to "school" each day. They both have maintained friendships with the children that they met in preschool.

(I have an older child who went to another program as we lived in a different area at the time. I thought my older one went to a great program. However, after experiencing the two programs, I recognized special and unique qualities of the SRJC ECC.)

L U.

1/5

Terrible nursery, they lie about the curriculum, the lunch menu, kids napping. They give kids pasta all week to eat thee kids learn nothing only playing all day. Silvia the director is awful rude and fraudulently charges peoples credit cards. Save your child dont send them there.

Alina

5/5

Attended a Purim Party here. Great time by all. Food was good. Place is pretty. Ambiance is nice. Caterer, dJ, MC was great. Ample parking lot.

Glenn P.

5/5

A Conservative Synagogue, what I would consider warm and nurturing community. Their clergy is a step above. The rabbi is highly educated and has written dozens of books including being the editor and chief on what may be the cornerstone of the Conservative Movement, the "Observant Life" which came out about 2 months ago after being a work in progress collaboration for over 10 years. And their cantor has a voice that rivals tenors at the Metropolitan Opera! Their Shabbat service is transcending.

Stephen G.

5/5

My wife and I moved into the community 8 years ago. We had been members of a Conservative synogogue for 30 years in the old neighborhood. Being contrarians wew bought a house 2 1/2 times larger than the old one even though are children were grown and out of our home. Our first item on our agenda was to find a synogogue to join. So we went synogogue shopping in our new community. Our needs were met by Shelter Rock Jewish Center. While keeping traditional values and Jewish Law it is also egtalitarian and constantly looking to apply these two valures to modernity and to the meet the needs of every member and to the community at large. I have studies with the rabbi of our synagogue for several years now and am constantly learning not just Jewish Law and Responsa but, Jewish history both ancient and modern. Our cantor and Rabbi make services a pleasure and the congregation actually sings rather than just observe. If you are looking for a place that will fulfill your needs for ruach and also teach and help you teach your children where they came from and where they are going as Jews, Shelter Rock is that place. P.S. I am not a member of the board and I am in no way affliated with the synogogue other than being a member

liana U.

1/5

if you do NOT care about your kids take them here

Wolfgang V.

5/5

Human kind needs more humans like these people.

jo B.

5/5

Great staff..great place