Prospective Members
Welcome to Temple Shaaray Tefila!
A Message from Our Executive Director
Thank you for considering Temple Shaaray Tefila as your Jewish home in Northern Westchester. We believe the Shaaray Tefila experience sets us apart from other Jewish Institutions. We especially value our core strengths, including:
- A welcoming community: You will be comfortable regardless of your Jewish background, including those who grew up Conservative or Orthodox, are intermarried, or are in non-traditional families. Our members come from many towns and school districts, and include families with children, empty nesters, and seniors. Our warm clergy, staff, leadership, and members actively foster connections, ensuring you feel at home.
- A multitude of activities: There is truly something for everyone here, and there is always something to do. From Israel education to holiday learning, signature events, social action, our community garden, and mah-jongg, you’ll easily find enriching ways to engage and connect.
We’d be delighted to have you join us. Please visit and meet us. Discover how we celebrate, learn, pray, and connect. And let us help you find your unique place in our community. We are excited for our future and hope you’ll be part of it.
How To Join in 3 Easy Steps:
- Contact us for a tour and discussion of membership
- Join us - complete the membership application
- Become a part of our community - get paired up with a buddy, participate in activities and get to know our congregation!
Howard Greenstein, Executive Director
Please contact our Temple Office at 914-666-3133 or click the button below for further information.
Fifty years is only the beginning. Discover the history, voices, and vision that continue to inspire us by reading the Fall issue of Temple Topics which pays tribute to our 50th anniversary. Just click the cover to start.
Temple Topics
What Makes Us Unique
THE SHAARAY TEFILA DIFFERENCE
- Five Decades of Joyful Jewish Life: Established in 1976, Temple Shaaray Tefila is one of the oldest and largest synagogues in Northern Westchester. 2026 marks our 50th anniversary! More than 500 families call Shaaray Tefila home. Close to 200 of them have been with us for 25 years or more–a testament to our vibrant community.
- Everyone Is Here: We make everyone feel at home, from newborns to our three members over 99 years old. Our congregants come from 58 ZIP codes across Westchester and Connecticut. You’ll meet people from all over the region.
- Stunning Buildings & Grounds: Set on 9 beautifully landscaped acres in Bedford Corners, NY, TST features a 100-year old sanctuary and main building with two social halls and a newer building for our Early Childhood Center and Religious School. Our temple is an ideal venue for special occasions such as weddings, B'nai Mitzvahs, and community events.
- Clergy and Worship: Our compassionate clergy offer guidance throughout your Jewish journey in a modern way. They lead moving Friday night Shabbats and honor our holiday traditions. Our High Holy Days with the TST choir under the tent at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, NY, are unique in the tri-state area.
- Tikkun Olam: We run meaningful social action programs for all ages, from food and clothing drives to Midnight Run, Thanksgiving cooking for those in need, and programs that support organizations in Israel.
- Education for Children of All Ages: Our Early Childhood Center provides a nurturing environment for Early 2s, 3s, and 4s with play-based learning, a state-of-the-art playground, and a Summer camp program. Our Religious School & Teen Programs make learning Hebrew and Jewish traditions enjoyable and interactive. Students continue their post-B’nai Mitzvah study through Confirmation and our engaging Teen Program.
- The Learning Never Stops: Adults take part in formal and informal learning experiences from B’nai Mitzvah classes to lectures and leadership training. Regular programming includes cooking experiences, comedians, guest speakers, movie screenings, and initiatives that support Israel.
Photo credit: Tripp Street Photography
Join Us!
If you would like to tour our facilities and grounds and/or meet with our Clergy and staff, please contact us. If you are joining now, we welcome you to our Temple family.
FAQs
1What is Reform Judaism?
Reform Judaism affirms the central tenets of Judaism – God, Torah and Israel – even as it acknowledges the wide range of Reform Jewish beliefs and practices. We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God, and that we are God’s partners in improving the world. Tikkun olam — repairing the world — is a hallmark of Reform Judaism as we strive to bring peace, freedom and justice to all people.
Reform Jews accept the Torah as the foundation of Jewish life containing God’s ongoing revelation to our people and the record of our people’s ongoing relationship with God. We see the Torah as God inspired, a living document that enables us to confront the timeless and timely challenges of our everyday lives.
2Will I feel comfortable at Shaaray Tefila if I have an Orthodox or Conservative background? Will I feel comfortable if I am intermarried?
Temple Shaaray Tefila embraces Jews by birth, Jews by choice, and intermarried families. Within our congregation, we have members who were raised in every major denomination, including Orthodox and Conservative. We also have those who grew up in homes in which Judaism did not play a significant role. It is our goal that everyone who seeks a Jewish community will feel comfortable in our congregation.
3What sets Temple Shaaray Tefila apart from other congregations in the area?
Here are just a few of the things that make Temple Shaaray Tefila special:
Everyone is here – we have members from 58 zip codes, towns and school districts; our membership includes families with children of all ages, empty nesters, and seniors; we welcome everyone whatever your religious background and observance might be.
Our warm and welcoming community – we don’t just meet and greet, we welcome and embrace all who come through our doors. Creating community is a priority for our leadership, our clergy, and our staff. We want to connect you with us in every possible way, both large and small.
Our high level of activity – there is always something happening at Temple Shaaray Tefila. Our worship services encompass a wide range of spiritual experiences, with an emphasis on engaging music, inspiring speakers, and community prayer. From Israel education to our community garden, from learning about Jewish holidays to mah jongg, we provide our congregants with many enjoyable opportunities for connecting with the Jewish community.
Our beautiful buildings and grounds – located on a 10 acre former estate property, the Temple’s buildings and grounds provide a lovely setting for everything we do. We invite you to walk through the Temple in any season to appreciate how our environment enhances our spiritual atmosphere.
4How does Temple Shaaray Tefila observe Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur?
Our congregation’s High Holy Day worship experiences mirror our congregation’s philosophy of creating a temple-wide community while acknowledging and accommodating differences within the congregation. Our High Holy Day services include traditional, family, and teen services at Caramoor, our High Holy Day home. We also hold services at the Temple on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah. If you are interested in more information about High Holy Day observance please call us at 914.666.3133.
5What is the Temple’s vision of Jewish education?
At Temple Shaaray Tefila, we believe that Jewish education is a lifelong journey that should be meaningful, dynamic, challenging, and inspiring. Our Religious School offers programming for Kindergarten through 12th grade students and we incorporate multiple opportunities for families to both learn about and experience Judaism together.
Our rich curriculum prepares students to be active participants in their Jewish community. Through hands-on activities and meaningful discussions, teachers help students on their individual journeys of Jewish identity development. We hope to inspire a love of Jewish learning, a lifelong commitment to tikkun olam, and a deep connection to Israel in all of our students.
6Can we participate in Temple activities as a family?
In a word, yes! We have designed many opportunities for you to worship, learn, and have fun as a family. Some examples are: parent/child school programs, family mitzvah day (social action projects for all ages), special family services on Friday evenings and High Holy Days, and family celebrations on Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, and Purim.
7How can I use the Temple to connect to the Jewish community?
Temple Shaaray Tefila is one of the key pillars of the Westchester Jewish community. We see community as an ever-widening series of circles, from your own family, to a network of Jewish families in your town, to groups of families within the congregation that share common interests, to the congregation as a whole, to other Jewish organizations in Westchester, the U.S., and Israel. Through our clergy, lay leadership, and staff, our many programs, and connections to resources, Temple Shaaray Tefila will help you make the connection to other Jewish families and interest groups.
8How can I get to know your congregation better?
We encourage you to visit the Temple to take a tour of our beautiful buildings and grounds, meet our clergy and staff, and to experience our worship services and programs. For more information and/or to set up an appointment, please call us at 914.666.3133.
9What are the requirements for joining the Temple?
We expect Temple members to endorse and act in a manner consistent with our Temple mission. This includes contributing financially to the Temple through a membership contribution and fees to the extent that you are able. Temple membership is required in order to enroll in our religious school and to participate in our B’nai Mitzvah program.
