Congregation Ohr Torah

Congregation Ohr Torah, a member of the Orthodox Union of Synagogues, is the jewel of North Woodmere’s growing shomer Shabbat community. Located at 410 Hungry Harbor Road, Congregation Ohr Torah is only yards away from the Doxie Pond/Margate Court footbridge linking the Woodmere neighborhoods of Saddle Ridge, Hewlett, and Woodmere Park to North Woodmere.

Our Morah D’Asrah, Rabbi Mordekai Shapiro, Shlita, has led Congregation Ohr Torah since 1997. Previously, Rabbi Shapiro was the spiritual leader of the Young Israel of Jackson Heights. Rabbi Shapiro is on the faculty of Yeshiva University High School for Girls, where he chairs the Halacha department. The Rabbi has also served as coordinator of the Bet Din of the Rabbinical Council of America.

Congregation Ohr Torah offers daily minyanim and a multitude of shiurim, including Daf Yomi, Talmud classes, and Parshat Hashavua classes. On Shabbat and Yom Tov there are three morning minyanim: A hashkama minyan, A Sephardic minyan, and an Ashkenazic minyan in the main sanctuary. This allows our congregants the flexibility of attending minyan at different times and in the setting of their choice. As Jewish issues and adult education are of importance to our congregants, Congregation Ohr Torah sponsors various programs throughout the year.

The atmosphere of Congregation Ohr Torah is warm, friendly, and intimate. During services a proper level of decorum is maintained, which allows for meaningful tefillot. Our gabbaim ensure that Torah honors are properly distributed and each congregant feels that their participation has an impact on the entire kehillah.

Congregation Ohr Torah has a youth director and an active youth department which meets Shabbat mornings and has Jewish holiday programming throughout the year. Classroom space is available for children to be in a safe environment, where our director and group leaders facilitate age appropriate tefillah, discuss the weekly parsha, and lead games.

Congregation Ohr Torah has a beautiful ballroom for lavish affairs (which are under the auspices of a private caterer), as well as a multi-purpose room that can accommodate smaller parties. Weekly Shabbat kiddushim are held there as well.