Darchei Noam's History

The History of Our Congregation

Darchei Noam was founded in June 2005, by a small group of St. Louis Park residents who wanted to create a vibrant Modern Orthodox synagogue in Minnesota. The first Shabbat services, held in Judy and Jerel Shapiro’s basement, attracted close to 40 worshippers. Our goal was to create a sacred community committed to: 

• Halachic Judaism
• Integration of Torah study with secular learning
• Support for the State of Israel
• Partnering with other Jewish institutions in the Twin Cities

• Helping the hungry, the homeless and others in need in the greater community 

The Early Years

In 2006, we chose a name, incorporated as a nonprofit, relocated to the Palchik-Silver basement, held all shabbat and holiday services, celebrated a bat mitzvah, acquired Torahs, prayer books, and chairs, and finally settled into our first official space, the educational wing of a church — another basement!

In the early years, congregants did everything: governance, finances, leading services, reading Torah, teaching classes, delivering divrei torah, building a mechitza, planning events, shopping, cleaning and so much more. Our rabbinic needs were met by Rabbi Simkovich (2005-2007) and Rabbi Ozarowski (2007-2016), a Chicago resident who spent one weekend a month at Darchei Noam. 

During these years, we sponsored shabbatons featuring nationally renowned speakers, initiated children’s programming, began our work at St. Stephens. We held congregational meetings, strategic planning sessions, and informal discussions to develop a vision for Darchei Noam’s future. In 2011 we proceeded with plans to build a shul within the eruv, on land we had bought in 2008. Thanks to the hard work of Marilyn Levi-Baumgarten and Bob Karasov, fundraising committee chairs, and Brett Fine and Nisso Khabie, building development committee chairs, ground was broken in June 2012 and we moved into our beautiful, sunny shul in April 2013. 

Now

Membership has grown from 35 families in 2007 to 62 in 2013 and 86 in 2021. A talented group of artists and artisans led by Judy Snitzer created three beautiful Torah mantles and located an antique lamp for a ner tamid. In 2015, a committee chaired by Ron Krebs and Hanna Bloomfield conducted a nationwide search culminating in the hiring of Rabbi Max Davis, a graduate of Maimonides School and Harvard College, who received his semicha from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Rabbi Davis moved to St. Louis Park in 2016 with his accomplished wife Dahlia and their daughters.

• About
• Rabbi Max Davis
• History
• Aron Kodesh
• Jewish Minnesota