Kehillah of LWR affiliates with national network

Lakewood Ranch’s Conservative Jewish congregation hopes to grow with a new national recognition.

Kehillah became a united synagogue in spring 2014, when several local families decided to make their congregation official. They had been meeting for nearly year in each other’s homes for Shabbat when they decided to create a more formal Conservative Jewish community.

Now, the small congregation is growing up. In March, Kehillah affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, a national network that connects Conservative Jewish congregations around the country. 

The affiliation will help the Kehillah congregation attract a religious leader, said Anne Schimberg, board secretary. The Kehillah congregation is currently “lay led,” meaning members of the congregation act as religious leaders to conduct services. 

“Most synagogues have a rabbi or a cantor or both,” Schimberg said. “Many people want and feel the need to have someone there who’s a leader.”

The congregation, which has expanded to approximately 25, could grow with the affiliation.

“Many people will join a conservative synagogue knowing it’s affiliated,” Schimberg said.

Schimberg said a small congregation such as Kehillah has a different atmosphere.

 “You get to know each other — there’s more warmth in a smaller congregation,” she said. “We don’t know how much we’ll grow. We just want to keep connecting with each other and be there with each other.”

In addition to meeting for holiday and Shabbat services at the Windsor of Lakewood Ranch, members meet for a book review once a month and do community service.