Tradition

We strive to embody the values that make Conservative Judaism an authentic, inclusive, and pluralistic approach to Jewish law and practice.

We believe that a Jewish community should be diverse and forward-looking while maintaining standards of ritual and ethical conduct that are rooted in the halakhic (Jewish legal) tradition and which grow from a principled examination of that tradition in light of the understandings and demands of our contemporary times.

In accordance with these values, we uphold a range of ritual norms bounded by the guidance of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. We observe Jewish dietary law (kashrut) in our building, and we also publicly read the full weekly Torah reading (parasha) every Saturday morning at our worship services.

As a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) we treasure the values that root Conservative Judaism in tradition and embrace pluralism.

Inclusion

NHS is dedicated to promoting inclusion and diversity in every aspect of our community, from religious services to social events, to create a welcoming and vibrant space for all.

We welcome participation and membership in our Jewish community without regard to racial or ethnic background, sexual identity, gender identity, neurodivergence, physical or mental disability, financial means, or relationship status. While our tradition stipulates that many ritual tasks must be performed by someone who is Jewish, we are also proud that interfaith families fully participate in our congregational activities.

As part of our ongoing commitment to inclusion, we also remain open to hearing how we can do better, and if you have any questions or thoughts about that, we hope to hear from you.

We are committed to furthering principles of inclusion and diversity in our congregation on many levels. We are deeply appreciative of the ways in which they prioritize Jewish life, education, and community.

Education

We value learning for individuals of all ages and from diverse Jewish backgrounds, as well as those from non-Jewish backgrounds.

At NHS, we are committed to helping everyone grasp the basics of Jewish living, chiefly through classes on prayer, Hebrew, and Jewish ritual. We offer classes that can give anyone who wants to learn how to practice and live as a Jew the chance to do that, whether they have some existing Jewish background or not. We also support local community initiatives for education, including citywide learning opportunities for adults, teens and children.

We also provide a number of classes on topics for more advanced learners, including on the Hebrew Bible and on rabbinic works such as the Talmud and Pirkei Avot. See our calendar for all upcoming classes and events.

Connection

People are the lifeblood of any community, and we work to foster shared experiences, shared conversations, and shared passions to connect our diverse cohorts and to bring them together. Collaborative relationships among our volunteers and between volunteers and staff members help to make Northern Hills Synagogue a “team effort,” and one where everyone’s participation counts. We also value our connection to the inspiring Jewish community we have in Cincinnati, which we support through collaborative programming and community giving. We partner with all of the Jewish organizations in the Cincinnati area.

Our congregational community thrives on connection.

Our circles of community connection also extend to the broader Conservative/Masorti Movement. Our children and teens participate in Conservative and other Jewish youth activities, and we support Ramah Camps, Kadima, USY, Masorti on Campus, and Nativ programs.

We also proudly support the State of Israel in its right to exist and its people’s right to live in peace. Many of our congregants have family in Israel or have lived there at one time.