V’Ahavta, Shoham

V’ahavta  – HaKehila Hashivionit Shoham (the Reform community of Shoham) was established in 2013 by a group of activists from Shoham and is led by Rabbi Rinat Safania-Shwartz, our founding rabbi, together with the congregation’s board of directors.

Our community’s liberal, egalitarian, and pluralistic voice is an important contribution to the life of residents of Shoham. So much so that in 2019, the municipality became the first in Israel to permit a Reform community to build a synagogue without the intervention of the Israeli Supreme Court. And with the generous support of our members, the Israeli Reform movement, and a significant partnership with Temple Israel of Memphis, Tennessee, we dedicated our new building in July 2021.