All Are Welcome Inside the Synagogue Without Walls-- Jewish Congregation Spreads its Open-Door Message

Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, the only female Rabbi in Southern Nevada, is the visionary behind the “synagogue without walls,” a congregation that welcomes all who want to live a Jewish life, regardless of education, financial means, religious background, or sexual orientation.

Henderson, NV (PRWEB) September 23, 2006 -- A church social hall is the last place you would expect to find a Rabbi reciting messages from the Torah, but on the first Friday of each month, the Oasis Christian Church in Henderson is home to the Valley Outreach Synagogue, the only Reconstructionist congregation in Nevada.

Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, the only female Rabbi in Southern Nevada, calls the grass-roots outreach effort, a "synagogue without walls," a congregation that welcomes all who want to live a Jewish life, regardless of education, financial means, religious background, or sexual orientation. The services are spiritually uplifting, meaningful, and appealing to all ages, as Rabbi Mintz encourages prayer through words, meditation, music, and dance. It is not unusual to see children and elders joyfully following the rabbi as she moves through the room keeping rhythm with a tambourine.

Rabbi Mintz hopes to reach out to the many Jewish residents in the Las Vegas Valley who have not yet affiliated with a congregation. She notes: "So many people come to Las Vegas to make it their home. They are searching for community, yet, so easily become lost and lonely. We are hoping that those who are seeking a warm, welcoming congregation will come and grow with us." Yearly membership fees for Rabbi Mintz's congregation range from $300 to $500, which is considerably less than most of the other synagogues in town. "I think it's important that people are able to come and worship with us without being burdened by heavy membership fees," says Mintz.

Rabbi Mintz is an inspiration to all who know her. She commuted from Las Vegas to Los Angeles every week for years of study at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, to fulfill her dream of becoming a Rabbi. She remained committed even as breast cancer, a double mastectomy, and chemotherapy, threatened to detour her path; and in May of 2004, she was ordained, becoming the first female rabbi in 18 generations of rabbis on her paternal side.

Noting that within the long history of Judaism, defining a Jew by denomination is a relatively recent conception, Rabbi Mintz considers herself as "trans-denominational," and is comfortable within all congregational services. "Modern American Jewry represents a myriad of personal opinions," says Mintz. "But those opinions stem from the rich heritage, long history, beautiful language, and inspirational Torah that we all share. Judaism is a living organism which adapts to changes to remain viable, and to thrive." The congregation reflects that philosophy with a broad cross-section of Jews by birth and Jews by choice.

Services for the Days of Awe will be held at Oasis Christian Church 10450 Gilespie Road in Henderson. Rosh Hashanah: Friday, September 22 at 7:30pm and Saturday, September 23 at 10am. Tashlich will take place at 3pm at the lake at Sunset Park. Yom Kippur: Sunday, October 1 at 7:30pm and Monday, October 2 at 10am.

To schedule an interview with Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, call 843-343-2088.

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