At the same time, we know the aleph-bet, when many others don’t. One of us may not know how to lay tefillin, but may know how to tie tzitzits. Maybe this person knows how to read Torah but not Haftarah, while that person knows how to read Haftarah but not Torah. Opportunities for learning are missed every day because we don’t know how to ask each other.

So I want to pose the question to everyone who feels a need: What do you want to learn? What do you want to teach?

In fact, we recognize that no one does. We are more interested in questions.

• We accept Halacha as our means by which to determine and follow our Jewish practice.

We also recognize that halacha is a living and changing system, and that we as members of the Jewish community are players in the evolution and development of halacha. We recognize that ultimately, the authority of halacha rests with the Jewish people of a given community.

• We recognize the authority of those more learned than we.

We bear in mind, however, that authorities routinely conflict with one another, and it is therefore in the hands of each individual ultimately to choose to which authoritative opinion they will hold.

• We do not define ourselves by the Orthodox.

We recognize Orthodoxy as one of many potentially valid Jewish paths. We are not an organization born out of an Orthodox context and are not founded upon rejection thereof… but we reject implicitly any notion that Orthodoxy holds exclusive legitimacy in its interpretation of Jewish practice.

• We are implicitly and non-negotiably egalitarian.

We hold that men and women are equally able and obligated to perform ritual functions in Judaism, and recognize that everyone’s Jewish practice is a part of a personal journey. What strictures we are to have, we hold each individual equally to them. We recognize the value of dressing modestly but reject the notion that a woman should make herself as invisible and as silent as possible to everyone but her husband.

• No one will be made to feel unwelcome or will be denied leadership roles in Nogah Chadash due to gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Egalitarian means Egalitarian.

• Our facilities and all of our events are to be strictly Kosher.

This of course raises the question “Whose kashrut do we follow?” This requires some more thought. In the meantime here is a discussion about how certain pluralistic communities such as Kol Zimrah address the issue of hilchot pluralism.

• We are not politically homogeneous.

There is no reason that anyone should feel alienated from a religious or educational institution because of their political views. Nogah Chadash is to be for Jewish education and practice, not for the advancement or condemnation of any political agenda.