Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob (SVAJ) has seen some changes lately. Over the past two months, the synagogue has attracted 16 new member families, with dozens of additional new faces attending weekly services, events, and Torah classes.

What’s driving this resurgence?

SVAJ President David Rubin said he believes the synagogue is fulfilling an unmet need. “One of our values as a shul is a historic sense of inclusion-we house two minyanim (quorums of 10) one Traditional, the other Orthodox,” Rubin said. “We also host the Skokie Women’s Tefillah Group. So we function as a sort of ‘big tent.’ It became very clear, very quickly, that there is a hunger for a highly inclusive Orthodox synagogue in Skokie that can be a forum for diverse voices and viewpoints, that provides richer opportunities for women to participate, high quality programming for kids, and a commitment to chesed, all within an Orthodox, halachic (Jewish law) framework.”

Recent changes in the composition of the Skokie community have invited this inclusive synagogue model, informing a new approach to prayer and programming. For example, SVAJ’s mechitza -which in Orthodox synagogues separates men and women-is unusual in that it provides equal side-by-side space for both genders. Page numbers are announced and posted during services, SVAJ is becoming more handicap-accessible, vegetarian and dietetic options are available at kiddush , and both men and women share divrei torah (sermons) from the pulpit.

“Making positive change to be inclusive, while not compromising halachic standards is crucial,” said Rachel Amrani, a new member who serves on the ritual committee. “Every Jew should have a place he or she feels welcomed to connect with God.”

SVAJ also cooperates with local organizations to bring unique educational and chesed (loving kindness) opportunities to its congregants. In conjunction with Davar Skokie, an organization that supports intellectually challenging and diverse educational programming, SVAJ has hosted students from Yeshivat Maharat, the first Orthodox institution in the United States to ordain women, and co-sponsored a visit by Rabbi Ysoscher Katz, along with Davar and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah’s new community Beit Midrash, Otzar.

Kayla Avraham is the organizer of Davar Skokie, a group which brings new educational opportunities to the larger Chicago community.