Lauren Goldstein is a relatively new member of Congregation Kneseth Israel in Annapolis, but she said it’s quickly become a home for her and her family.

Goldstein’s young son loves the synagogue and its members. So much so, in fact, that he calls longtime congregant and president Jody Goldsmith “Uncle Jody.”

For Goldstein, her son’s embrace of KI was all she needed to see.

“When we went there [the first time], my little guy was in a clingy phase,” she said. “It was the most comfortable I’ve ever seen him anywhere. He went back into the kitchen to help. Jody, the president, and another member were playing basketball with him. He was letting everybody hold him. I had never seen him more comfortable immediately, and I just knew that it was the right place for us.”

Rabbi Josh Shorr is new to KI, having only taken over his post in the clergy last fall. He said that the shul’s Conservative and traditional nature first attracted him to it, but that upon learning about its deep history, he liked the idea of the job even more.

“It has a lot to build on. There’s good bones in the house, so I feel like it’s ripe for growth,” he said.

One of his primary focuses outside of what happens in the sanctuary is to enhance Kneseth Israel’s programming.

“Educational programs in particular,” he said. “We’re working on a series of bus tours of Jewish history in the area, because we want to capitalize on our own history and get to people who are interested in Jewish history, in Maryland and beyond.”

Goldstein said that she is interested in helping these efforts, particularly with family services.

“I’d like to get a Friday night going to welcome Shabbat, but less religious and maybe more with some guided meditation that families can come together for and [use to] kind of decompress and say goodbye to the week and welcome the Sabbath.”

Kneseth Israel has a deep history in Maryland’s capital city. It was founded in the early 1900s, with the first synagogue building purchased in 1906. It moved into its current building outside of downtown Annapolis in 1956.

With well over a 100-year history, Kneseth Israel must be doing something right. Shorr’s idea of why echoes what Goldstein said. For many new members, they didn’t know what they were looking for until they stumbled upon it at KI.

“To really be honest with you, our congregation feels like a home. It really does. It feels like a family, and there are people who are looking for that, but they don’t really know how to find it,” he said.

Shorr said that his nature ties in well with the spirit of the synagogue. He has always worked to be the kind of rabbi that calls his members when he hears they are struggling, or shows up to their hospital bed when they are sick or injured.

Goldstein added that it isn’t just the rabbi who embodies this spirit.

“Rabbi Josh’s youngest daughter just turned nine. She is phenomenal with the younger kids,” she said.

Like many synagogues, the membership at KI swings to the older side. Goldstein said that she and the other younger families are committed, however, to making sure that Kneseth Israel serves Annapolis Jews for many, many more years.

“That’s what I really want, is to get into more of the family programming, so that the synagogue will last for, you know, another 120 years easily,” Goldstein said.

Shorr agrees that, as phenomenal as the synagogue is, its potential is even greater.

“I’d like to bring in some programs for college-age kids. I’m a professor, as well. I’d like to be teaching courses on Judaism for college-age kids. I’d like to address all the elements of the family. I want to extend this to every aspect of people’s lives,” he said.

As Kneseth Israel grows toward the future, the community is confident that its rich history and plans will continue to attract Jews who are looking for a synagogue that feels like a family.

Shorr is new to Annapolis, but he is confident that Jews who find their way to the town and the synagogue will be happy with what they discover.

“It’s a beautiful town, [has great] schools and kind of everything to attract people to it. So I think we’ll show them what we’ve got,” he said.

aguckes@midatlanticmedia.com