Orthodox Boca

There are four cities in South Palm Beach County which contain predominantly Orthodox communities. Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach each have a sizable Orthodox population of full time residents, while West Palm Beach is comprised mostly of seasonal visitors.

BOCA RATON

Located along the picturesque shoreline between West Palm Beach to the north and Fort Lauderdale and Miami to the south, less than 30 miles from 2 international airports, Boca Raton is one of the most popular, and certainly the most beautiful towns in South East Florida. Its charming small town personality and appealing Mediterranean Revival architecture enchants visitors and residents alike. Thousands of acres of parks and miles of hiking paths provide an abundance of semi-tropical flora and fauna. Central Boca contains the worlds’s finest shopping in the Town Center Mall. In addition Boca is comprised of three universities, 46 parks, three libraries, three public golf courses, many excellent kosher restaurants, and TWO amazing, newly renovated, and expanded kosher marketplaces; Aroma (famous for years in its location in Davie-just outside of Hollywood), and The Grove (formerly known as The Kosher Market), all less than 10 miles to the fantastic beach that stretches over 4 miles. As an added bonus, Florida residents pay no state income tax.

ORTHODOX BOCA

Boca Raton, known to be among the loveliest towns in all of Florida, has an Orthodox population that is one of the fastest growing Torah driven communities in the entire United States. Now comprised of many thousands of members, the Orthodox community in Boca Raton currently includes over a dozen different Orthodox Synagogues. As unique as each Shul is, they all share one common goal: To inspire and welcome individuals and growing families of all ages, backgrounds, levels of education and observance. In addition, there are five different Jewish educational systems with a total student population of well over a thousand children. PLEASE REFER TO THE ERUV MAPS AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LOCATIONS OF THE VARIOUS ORTHODOX COMMUNITIES.

ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUES

1 The Boca Jewish Center also known as Shaaray Tefilla or previously; The Shul By The Grove is a warm, welcoming, diverse, and engaging Modern Orthodox Synagogue, truly one of a kind, uniquely uncompromising in its focus on services and excellence to its members. Under the inspirational and charismatic guidance of Rabbi Yaakov and Rebbetzin Jennifer Gibber, the synagogue has been growing exponentially both in size and stature. Started only seven years ago with a handful of members, The Boca Jewish Center now has a membership of almost 300 families and young singles, More than 85% of the congregants are full time residents. There are three daily Minyonim as well as several weekly shiurim for both men and women. Every Shabbat morning they have four minyanim and youth programs to supplement the regular Sabbath services. A video from The Boca Jewish Center along with additional information can be found below. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOCA JEWISH CENTER, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

BOCA RATON SYNAGOGUE

2 Boca Raton Synagogue is the oldest and largest orthodox synagogue in Boca Raton. Under the leadership of a very dedicated community presently headed by Synagogue President Dr. David Kay and spiritually led by the amazing Rabbis: Efrem Goldberg, Phillip Moskowitz, David Shabtai and Josh Broide it has grown exponentially in the past two decades so that today it has the largest membership of any Orthodox Synagogue in the entire Southeastern United States. BRS, as it is commonly called, is a Modern Orthodox Synagogue serving the spiritual, educational and social needs of its diverse members. BRS provides multiple daily minyanim, including a minimum of six (!) Shacharith sevices to choose from on any given day. BRS offers comprehensive Torah learning opportunities, an extensive chesed infrastructure, and myriad teen and youth programming. Located in central Boca Raton, BRS is actively engaged in Outreach, Israel Advocacy, Multi-Level Adult Education, and more. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BOCA RATON SYNAGOGUE, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

3 Boca Raton Synagogue West is the newest of the Orthodox Synagogues in Boca Raton, with a warm, fast growing, and dynamic modern-orthodox Hashkofa. As a result of a strategic partnership with The Boca Raton Synagogue and the Katz Hillel Day School, BRS West shares the Beit Medrash of the Katz Hillel Day School for its Minyonim on Shabbat and Chaggim. Rabbi Rael and Rebbetzin Blumenthal are the warm and welcoming leaders of this young and quickly expanding congregation. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BOCA RATON SYNAGOGUE WEST, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

CHABAD OF EAST BOCA

4 Chabad of East Boca is the only Synagogue east of Federal Highway in the heart of Boca Raton, FL. More than just a synagogue, Chabad of East Boca has reached thousands through its programming. The mission of the Chabad of East Boca is to establish a vibrant center of Jewish life in East Boca Raton. In 1989 Chabad opened centers in Central and West Boca. Sensing the need to cater to the overlooked but growing East Boca Jewish community, Chabad of Boca Raton appointed Rabbi Ruvi and Rebbetzin Ahuva New to open and direct an East Boca Chabad branch in September 1999. Today, Chabad of East Boca offers a variety of programs, and its East Boca doors are open to all, regardless of background or affiliation. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHABAD OF EAST BOCA, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

Chabad of Central Boca and Chabad of West Boca began 27 years ago, simultaneously with the joint purpose of connecting with all of the Jews of Boca Raton, and continuing to share the essence of the responsibility and love engendered by the Chabad philosophy toward every single Jew. The word “Chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties of chochmah—wisdom, binah—comprehension and da’at—knowledge. The movement’s system of Jewish religious philosophy teaches understanding and recognition of the Creator, the role and purpose of creation, and the importance and unique mission of each creature.

CHABAD OF CENTRAL BOCA

5 The Chabad of Central Boca today is comprised of 200 families, 50% of whom are full time residents. They have both daily minyanim and daily Shiurim catering to an audience on all levels of knowledge and spirituality. In addition, they run a C-Teen Shabbos program and a pre-school for children aged 2-4. They are situated, as the name implies in North Central Boca in a very large and quite beautiful building where they have both a men’s and a women’s mikveh on premises.

CHABAD OF WEST BOCA

6 After many years, of being located just eight blocks away and nearly across from Century Village of Boca, Rabbi Zalman Bukiet of Chabad of West Boca has moved to a beautiful new building and is now the leader of the only Orthodox synagogue west of Route 441. State Route 7, as it is more commonly known separates what used to be undeveloped land, swampland really, to the west, and the first developed land in Boca, which lies along the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

There are about 600 members of this congregation, some of whom relocated and wound up moving down here, others became more religiously observant since they have been here with the help of Rabbi Bukiet and Rebbetzin Chani Bukiet. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHABADS OF BOCA RATON, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

CONGREGATION TORAH OHR

7 Congregation Torah Ohr is located in Century Village of Boca Raton, a gated community for active adults 55 years and older. The synagogue was founded many years ago by a minyan of snowbirds and year-round residents, and today is a vibrant robust community of over 900 seniors meeting both the religious and social needs of a growing Orthodox Jewish population. Whether you’re davening at one of their multiple minyanim, attending one of the many Torah classes, or even enjoying the tasty delights of their Kiddush and Succoth meals, you’ll see that friendships abound there. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONGREGATION TORAH OHR, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

EAST BOCA KEHILLA

8 After only ten years, Congregation Yagdil Torah also known as the East Boca Kehilla, which was started by just three families, is today a thriving, joyful and growth-oriented Torah community. The nearly FIFTY families that now make up this congregation are almost all recent transplants with many children to populate the neighborhood yeshivah – Torah Academy. Under the dynamic leadership of Rabbi Noach Light, the energy of this community is both welcoming and vibrant. Their goal is to create an environment of spiritual growth where the study of Torah is central, and Jews from all backgrounds can feel at home. They are located just a mile and a half from the ocean in a beautiful and serene residential neighborhood.

In addition to the many opportunities for daily learning, Rabbi Light's stimulating weekly shiurim include the in-depth study of Gemara, Halacha, Tanach and contemporary Hashkafic topics. There are also practical and insightful groups on marriage, Mussar and Tefilla. Some notable learning programs are the "Sunday Morning Shiur & Breakfast Bonaza", Monday night in-depth Gemara shiur, Thursday Night Mishmar & Chulent, Shabbos Morning Pre-Shacharis Learning, and the post Shabbos Kiddush Women’s Shiur with Rabbi Light. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EAST BOCA KEHILLA, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

YOUNG ISRAEL OF BOCA RATON

9 The Young Israel of Boca Raton opened its doors more than 30 years ago to cater to what it foresaw as a future population of Orthodox Jewry migrating to Boca Raton. Today the Young Israel counts almost one hundred families as part of its growing poulation. As the Young Israel is the most centrally located of all of the orthodox synagogues, with a variety of nearby housing options, while also having the greatest proximity to most of the kosher stores and restaurants, the surrounding Orthodox neighborhood is growing at a brisk pace. Truly a mixture of young and old the Young Israel's demographics are made up of snow birds, snow flakes, and full time residents. The year round population accounts for approximately 75% of the membership. With two Shacharith minyans each day and three for Mincha/Maariv, the upper boys' school of the Torah Academy is enjoying the spacious grounds during their temporary stay. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE YOUNG ISRAEL OF BOCA RATON, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

ORTHODOX SHUL and ERUV MAP OF BOCA RATON

CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE. SHUL NUMBERS AND LOCATIONS (YELLOW CIRCLES) CORRESPOND TO THE ALPHABETICAL LIST ABOVE. THE COLORED OVERLAYS INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF THE FOUR ERUVS (BOCA CENTRAL-pink, BOCA EAST-orange, CHABAD CENTRAL-blue, AND CHABAD WEST-yellow).

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THE COMMUNITIES

CHABAD EAST (4) is located less than a mile from the ocean at the south end of Mizner Park in Sanborn Square. Although they hope to move 1/2 mile closer to the ocean, adjacent to the eastern bank of the Intracoastal Waterway, the surrounding communities will remain basically the same. There are many condominium buildings and rental apartments surrounding the Chabad ranging in price from very affordable to extremely expensive. Within just 1/2 - 1 mile of the Chabad, there are many lovely single family houses and townhomes starting in the upper $500,000's and escalating to the multimillions. Just over 1 mile from the Chabad you can find several oceanfront condominium buildings with units ranging in price from the $600,000's to several millions for the larger (3+ bedrooms) condos.

EAST BOCA KEHILLA (8) is also located within walking distance (only 1/2 mile) of the ocean, however most of the members live in surrounding houses containing at least 4 bedrooms rather than the oceanfront condominiums. There is one lovely neighborhood of newer townhouses just 1/2 mile from the shul with prices that may be more attractive to smaller families. Still, almost all of the congregants are young families with at least several children each who moved here from other established Orthodox communities in the northeast.

BOCA JEWISH CENTER (1), BRS (2), and the YOUNG ISRAEL (9) are all located in Central Boca not terribly far from one another. This area of Boca Raton is truly the hub of the Boca orthodox community. The Grove supermarket, five restaurants, a pizza shop, a felafel shop and a bakery are within a mile or two from each of the shuls. There are all types of housing available here from rental apartments, condos, villas, and townhouses to fabulous estates and exclusive country club properties.

Although the CHABAD OF CENTRAL BOCA (5) is situated within close proximity to several of Boca Raton's beautiful country clubs and counts many of its members among the country club set, there is really just the older, lovely community of Pheasant Walk close enough for shul-goers to walk from. The homes are very affordable, and there are several shortcuts specifically designed for the shul members.

CONGREGATION TORAH OHR (7) lies adjacent to the Clubhouse at Century Village - Boca Raton. It is actually the only Century Village which has an orthodox shul inside its gates. There are approximately 6-8 communities within the village which are a rather easy walk to the shul. Each community contains several four-floor condominium buildings with about 40 units in each. Every unit has one or two bedrooms with sizes ranging from about 700 square feet to just over a thousand square feet. Century Village is a 55+ community filled with retirees and a mix of snowbirds and year round residents.

Both BRS West (3) and the Chabad of West Boca (6) are the only shuls west of the turnpike, and the Chabad of West Boca even lies on the west side of route 441, also known as State Route 7. As BRS West is housed on Jewish Federation land in the Katz Hillel Middle School, there aren't too many neighborhoods with easy access. However, the community of Palma Vista is slowly becoming an overwhelmingly Orthodox enclave. With large homes, priced significantly lower than their Central Boca counterparts as well as a gate leading directly to the BRS West grounds, this neighborhood has much to offer. Chabad West lies at the entrance to the former Boca Greens Country Club. That community features an array of affordable priced lovely homes, many on the golf course, in what was previously a members only club.