Shir Chadash to celebrate Conservative 50th

This fall, Shir Chadash in Metairie will mark 50 years of Conservative Judaism in New Orleans. A weekend of celebration, reunion and honors will take place Oct. 15 to 17, and everyone who has been associated with the congregation or its predecessors is invited to take part.

Special honorees will include former rabbis and past leaders from the combined congregations of both Tikvat Shalom and Chevra Thilim, whose memberships merged in 1999 to form Shir Chadash. Both congregations have histories stemming back to the last century; the celebration recognizes the accomplishments of each since the move to the current synagogue campus.

The weekend will showcase achievements in the congregation’s religious and education programs, and the progress made since Katrina, especially the current leadership’s quest to grow Conservative Judaism in the area.

Anyone who was a Bar or Bat Mitzvah student of the congregation’s educators or lay tutors is invited to help recognize the contributions of so many individuals over the years. Those with memorable stories or photos from the congregation’s past are encouraged to email them to sandy@shirchadash.nocoxmail.com.