Founded in 1953, Shaar Shalom Congregation serves the needs of Halifax’s Conservative Jewish community. Through its affiliation with the United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism, the Shaar maintains close ties with the Conservative and Masorti movements in Canada, the United States, Israel and around the globe.

Shaar Shalom is an egalitarian congregation where both women and men participate fully in the spiritual, ritual and social life of the community. To enhance communal connection and support, the congregation offers a variety of activities and organizations: religious services on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and holidays, Jewish education and religious training for young and old alike, which includes a religious school for preschoolers to grade 7, a Chevra Kadisha (Burial Society) and cemetery, a library for community use, kosher kitchens, function rooms, and a Tree of Life. Close ties to the Atlantic Jewish Council offer access to additional Jewish communal programmes.

Shaar Shalom serves as the focus for important Jewish communal and family life cycle events: weddings, funerals, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Baby Namings, Circumcisions, Conversions. Religious counselling to congregants can be arranged.

Hebrew School

Shaar Shalom supports a Religious School for members’ children. No fees are charged. For more information, please contact our Synagogue office and ask to get in touch with our Hebrew school administrator.

Our pre-school class is open to children of non-members. There is a fee for this service.

Facilities

The Shaar’s main sanctuary holds approximately 340 worshippers. It can be converted to a social hall, complete with stage. A small chapel also serves worshippers.

Our building on the corner of Oxford and Pepperell Streets also has two Kosher kitchens, three classrooms, two social rooms, a library, a business office, the Rabbi’s study, and caretakers premises.

Membership Participation

In addition to the Hebrew School, worship services, and Chevra Kadisha and cemetery, the Shaar has many avenues of membership participation and support.

Fund-raising activities such as Gala Concerts, Clothing Sales and a Gift Shop.

The Congregation supports Mazon Canada and the Metro Food Bank Society.

The Congregation sends out a monthly bulletin to members, in addition to sending out Yahrzeit notices.

A Board of Trustees manages the daily affairs of the Shaar under the guidance of the Articles of Association. The Board meets monthly, and is elected yearly by the Annual General Meeting of the congregation. Additional general meetings are called when important decisions face the Congregation.

Membership Information

Shaar Shalom welcomes applications for membership from all Jews living in the area. Memberships are available on an Individual or a Family basis. Special financial consideration is made for applicants living outside of the Metro area. No one is turned away from the Congregation on the basis of financial need. An Appeals Ombudsperson will discuss options with those who find the full dues and assessments too heavy a financial burden. Membership includes High Holiday seating for members and dependent children. All dues, assessments and Capital Campaign contributions are tax receiptable.

The capital fund pledge form must be completed with the application for membership.