synagogue spotlight
What’s happening at ... Darchei Noam
Ambler Synagogue Growing Fast
JARRAD SAFFREN | STAFF WRITER
W hen Darchei Noam opened in Ambler
last summer, its leaders expected maybe
100 people to join the new community.

More than a year later, the temple counts 211 fam-
ilies as members.

Locals, and even some non-locals due to the hybrid
reality of synagogues in 2022, like that Darchei
Noam is inclusive to people from all demographics,
geographical areas and Jewish backgrounds — from
the curious potential convert to the weekly Shabbat
attendee. They also appreciate the temple’s informal
approach to collecting money. Since there is no
structure for membership dues, joining Darchei
Noam is less an economic decision than a moral
one. Residents join because they agree with the syn-
agogue’s values.

“We were founding members because we felt it was
so important. The values,” said Sandi Greenwald of
Warrington, referring to herself and her husband
Paul. “I feel at home,” added Dominique Kliger of Blue
Bell. “I’ve never felt more connected to a Jewish com-
munity,” said Seth Pollock of Chalfont. “I’m more
involved in this community than any synagogue
prior, and I’ve belonged to a couple.”
Pollock, like many Darchei Noam members, fol-
lowed Rabbi Danielle Parmenter from a previous
synagogue. He refers to himself, his wife Lauren and
their two daughters as “one of the founding families.”
“We decided to venture out on our own and create
this community,” he added.

And Pollock means that both figuratively and lit-
erally. Like other congregants, after Darchei Noam
leaders found their Ambler building, Pollock orga-
nized his schedule around helping them renovate it.

The Chalfont resident painted and helped with
handiwork, among other tasks.

Such a collaborative effort was what Darchei Noam
members were after; it was why they left their old
synagogues, according to Pollock. And that early
work on renovating the building together shaped the
foundation for future synagogue activity.

As they went about it, anyone could walk in and
pick up a paintbrush or screwdriver, and many did,
according to Renee Strausberg, the community’s
executive director.

“There’s more of an emphasis on transparency
and on barrier-free Judaism,” Pollock said, attrib-
uting that last phrase to Parmenter and synagogue
President Brandi Lerner.

As Pollock’s attribution suggests, even the most
32 APRIL 14, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
Darchei Noam members embark on a Tisha B’Av
cleanup on the Wissahickon Trail.

Darchei Noam’s tent at a community day in Ambler
Courtesy of Darchei Noam
Courtesy of Darchei Noam
egalitarian communities need leaders; while Darchei
Noam has “founding families” like the Pollocks, it
also has a group of founding mothers in Parmenter,
Strausberg, Lerner and Hazzan Arlyne Unger.

The women, like their congregants, came from
other synagogues that had strengths but that weren’t
quite like Darchei Noam.

As Lerner explained it, those other communities
were affiliated with Jewish denominations, Orthodox,
Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist, and
were therefore obligated to enforce the code of their
chosen label. They also implemented a dues model
that became a requirement for joining the commu-
nity, turning synagogue membership into an eco-
nomic decision.

That structure, according to Unger, prevented peo-
ple from feeling comfortable in their synagogue com-
munities. Maybe they didn’t know enough about the
religion; maybe their spouse wasn’t Jewish; or maybe
they just decided it wasn’t worth the money once
their kids grew older and didn’t need the preschool
or religious school.

“Many Jews, while they may affiliate with a certain
movement because that’s the synagogue they’re at,
they may not identify with that movement,” Lerner
said. At Darchei Noam, they don’t have to; they just
need a desire to practice Judaism, and this ethos has
attracted a unique base of congregants.

Some are converting to Judaism while others con-
sider themselves “Modern Orthodox.” Half of the
members are between 35 and 50, while half are older
than 50. Congregants come from 40 different towns
in Montgomery County, 10 in Philadelphia and six in
Bucks County, according to Lerner.

About a dozen families come from out of state.

The hybrid element to services, classes and other
programs helps with that. Lerner said it also helps
that the temple is within walking distance of a train
station. “There’s no synagogue in Ambler borough and this
is like a happening place now,” she said. “Great vibe
and location to draw in from the places where we get
our members.”
Darchei Noam, though, is not just a community of
people rediscovering and redefining the faith side of
their faith. It’s a functioning institution, too, with a
religious school with 98 students, weekly Shabbat ser-
vices that draw between 30 and 70 people and mem-
bers who are willing to pay to cover costs like rent.

Pledges range from $18 to $3,600, according to
Strausberg, and payment plans are available. Lerner
said the founding mothers are already working on
the budget for next year, and “we’re not closing our
doors.” “We’re a full-fledged shul,” Parmenter said. JE
jsaffren@midatlanticmedia.com