Welcome All to the
Keys Jewish Community Center Congregation Ohr HaYam
You're only a stranger the first time you walk through our door.
After that you're mishpocha, part of our family.
We welcome you to a most unique and engaging synagogue.
The Keys Jewish Community Center, Congregation Ohr HaYam (Light of the Sea), is located on the border between Key Largo and Tavernier in the beautiful Florida Keys, at Mile Marker 93, ocean side. At what other shul can you spend a Friday out on the boat cruising turquoise waters, snorkeling & scuba diving on live coral reefs, fishing for trophy gamefish, or kayaking and paddleboarding through mangrove tunnels and then go directly to Shabbat services? Our members, from all over North America and other parts of the world, deeply love what we’ve created here. Some of our congregants travel as far as fifty miles to attend services. Many maintain their memberships and stay connected even when they move away. We know that we are a Jewish outpost and try to provide an extended family atmosphere for anyone looking for an egalitarian and welcoming Jewish connection in the Keys - whatever your prior level of Jewish experience.
We hold Shabbat services every Friday night at 7:30 p.m. During our final Kaddish prayer, the ark is opened to show our Holocaust Torah on loan from the Memorial Scrolls Trust. As a small unaffiliated synagogue, we strive to welcome and incorporate all branches of Judaism. Our services are lay-led, varying each week depending upon the leader. We sing beautiful Hebrew songs and read prayers in Hebrew and English. It all works wonderfully. Our services last about an hour, and then we adjourn to our social hall for our legendary onegs. It isn’t about just a quick nosh and then leaving. Not here. Our members enjoy each other and will often sit and chat until the coffee runs out. Our services are hybrid with an active Zoom following that holds a “virtual oneg” after the service. If you are coming to the Keys, please join us for a Shabbat service and Oneg. Contact us ahead of time for an invitation to come in person or on Zoom at: president@keysjewishcenter.com.
We have an active Sisterhood with a monthly book club. Our Sisterhood schedules monthly congregational dinners, often connected to holidays, and a Women’s Seder the week before Pesach that is a highlight of the year. We have scheduled outings to concerts, shows, ball games and even the circus.
We’re told by synagogue veterans that our publication, Chai-Lights, is equal to (or better than) that of any large synagogue in the country. Our Meditation Garden is a precious outdoor jewel of beauty and serenity, with winding brick paths and even a special pergola filled with orchids. We have an education program, including inter-generational Beginning Hebrew.
We take “tikkun olam” seriously. Our members are active in most of the Upper Keys civic and cultural organizations. Several times a year, we host college Hillel groups that visit to dive and clean our reefs. For a more complete list of our tikkun olam activities please click here or on the tab above.
We offer a full calendar of religious celebrations and observances. On the High Holidays we are led by our Scholar Emeritus, Rabbi Richard Agler, DD. and by Cantor Michael Dzubin.
We look forward to meeting you!
Donations
Donations are crucial for sustaining the KJCC, funding everything from facility maintenance and security to educational programs and community services. They help ensure the center remains a vibrant, welcoming place for worship, learning, and connection. Each gift supports the growth and vitality of this space.
