What Congregation Etz Chayim does

Congregation Etz Chayim is a Modern Orthodox synagogue located at 3853 Woodley Road, Toledo, Ohio, affiliated with the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union). It was established through the merger of three older congregations and serves a membership of Jews from diverse Jewish backgrounds, some of whom trace Toledo ancestry back over a century. The congregation is led by Rabbi Evan Rubin (who also serves as Cantor) together with a lay President and a small professional staff, and offers daily morning and evening prayer services, Shabbat and Yom Tov services in the Edward and Sara Garsek Sanctuary, lifecycle event support, a community mikvah, youth education through Ohr Chadash, adult education classes, Sisterhood and Men's Club programming, cemetery privileges at Beth Shalom or Eagle Point, and a monthly HaShomer newsletter.

The organization operates a modest facility footprint that includes the Feldstein Chapel, Garsek Sanctuary, Ruth and Daniel Steingroot kosher kitchen (for catered lifecycle events), Louis and Dora Cohen Auditorium (seating for up to 200), and the Mollie Kagen Gift Shop managed by the Sisterhood. It distributes content via a YouTube channel for online Torah learning, a Facebook group, and a Shulcloud-hosted website providing online donations and member login. Sunday school for preschool through confirmation is delivered jointly with B'nai Israel on B'nai Israel's campus, representing the primary operational partnership beyond the Orthodox Union affiliation.

The revenue model is built on recurring membership dues, philanthropic donations and dedicated funds, transactional revenue from facility rentals and gift shop sales, and the Mikvah/community programming utilization. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; no commercial products, technology platforms, or external funding sources exist. The entity is a private, community-governed religious organization with no subsidiaries, no disclosed headcount growth, and no AI/ML, app, or proprietary technology footprint.

Name

Congregation Etz Chayim

Legal name

Congregation Etz Chayim

Website

https://etzchayimtoledo.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Congregation Etz Chayim is a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Toledo, Ohio, affiliated with the Orthodox Union. It provides daily prayer services, lifecycle and burial support, youth and adult education, a community mikvah, kosher kitchen facilities, and programming for its local Jewish membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthodox Synagogue Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Orthodox synagogue services
• Jewish religious education
• Community worship services
• Youth religious education
• Lifecycle event catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Toledo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Full synagogue membership includes dues that fund operations, services, and programming. The membership structure provides access to all religious services, educational programs, and facilities including burial privileges at Beth Shalom or Eagle Point cemetery.
2. Donations and Philanthropic Funds: The synagogue accepts donations through its online payment portal. Earnings from a variety of philanthropic funds enhance and support every aspect of spiritual life at the shul. Funds reflect dedication of former and current leaders, members, and diversity of needs and programming.
3. Facility Rentals and Event Catering: The Ruth and Daniel Steingroot Kitchen and Louis and Dora Cohen Auditorium (with stage and seating for up to 200) are available for lifecycle events and celebrations. Events are catered by the Sisterhood or approved caterers.
4. Gift Shop Sales: The Mollie Kagen Gift Shop, managed by the Sisterhood, offers an extensive collection of traditional and contemporary Judaica for all occasions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Congregation Etz Chayim is an Orthodox synagogue offering religious services (Sabbath, Holiday, and daily prayer services), youth and adult religious education, and community programming. It provides facilities including a kosher kitchen, event auditorium, community Mikvah, and cemetery privileges to its members. The congregation is affiliated with the Orthodox Union and serves the Toledo, Ohio Jewish community.

Product overview

Congregation Etz Chayim is a Modern Orthodox synagogue offering a unified set of religious and community services. The core offerings include Sabbath and Holiday services, daily prayers, and religious education through Ohr Chadash Youth Education and Adult Education Classes. The synagogue provides facilities including the Feldstein Chapel and Edward and Sara Garsek Sanctuary for worship, the Ruth and Daniel Steingroot Kitchen for kosher catering, and the Louis and Dora Cohen Auditorium for events. Additional services include a community Mikvah, the Mollie Kagen Gift Shop, cemetery privileges, and the HaShomer monthly newsletter. Sisterhood and Men's Club organize community programming and manage retail and catering operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Synagogue Religious Services Sabbath and Holiday services, daily morning (7:30 a.m.) and evening (6:00 p.m.) services, Sunday morning services (8:30 a.m.), and Holiday/Shabbat morning services (9:00 a.m.) held in the Feldstein Chapel and Edward and Sara Garsek Sanctuary. Includes kaddish recitation, kiddush celebrations, and Shalosh Seudot (third Shabbat meal, November-March). Aimed at members and guests seeking Orthodox worship.
• Ohr Chadash Youth Education Youth religious education program for children and teens, offered jointly with B'nai Israel on their campus for pre-school through confirmation. Aimed at children of member families.
• Adult Education Classes Adult learning programs including classes by guest speakers such as Rabbi Tzvi Muller and Yaakov Lasson, covering topics like Pirkei Avos (Ethics of our Fathers) and Torah study. Aimed at adult members and the broader Jewish community.
• Mikvah Community ritual bath (Mikvah) located on the synagogue premises with reservations made through the synagogue office. Serves the broader Jewish community for religious purification needs.
• Ruth and Daniel Steingroot Kitchen and Louis and Dora Cohen Auditorium Fully equipped kosher kitchen managed by Sisterhood and an event auditorium with stage and seating for up to 200 people. Available for lifecycle events and celebrations, catered by Sisterhood or approved caterers.
• Mollie Kagen Gift Shop Synagogue gift shop managed by Sisterhood, offering an extensive collection of traditional and contemporary Judaica for all occasions. Aimed at members and visitors purchasing religious items.
• Cemetery Privileges Burial privileges at Beth Shalom or Eagle Point cemetery managed by the Chevra Kadisha Society, included with full synagogue membership. Aimed at member families needing religious burial services.
• HaShomer Newsletter

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America)coreOthersCongregation Etz Chayim is affiliated with the Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America). This affiliation provides institutional credibility, access to Orthodox Jewish resources and standards, and connection to a broader network of Orthodox congregations.
• B'nai IsraelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunday school for pre-school through confirmation is held jointly with B'nai Israel on their campus. This educational partnership allows both congregations to share resources and provide religious education to children from both communities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lincoln Square Synagogue: A prominent Modern Orthodox synagogue that, like Etz Chayim, conducts daily morning and evening minyan services, hosts adult Torah education classes, and operates youth programming under Orthodox standards. Comparable as a Modern Orthodox congregation with daily service schedule and adult education emphasis.
• Congregation Bnai Yeshurun: A Modern Orthodox synagogue with daily minyan, adult education, youth programming, Sisterhood, and lifecycle event hosting. Comparable to Etz Chayim across programming, governance structure, and OU-affiliated Orthodox positioning.
• Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun: A Modern Orthodox synagogue offering daily services, robust adult education, youth programming, sisterhood/men's club infrastructure, and lifecycle event facilities. Closely comparable to Etz Chayim in service cadence, programming breadth, and Orthodox Union alignment.
• Young Israel: A national network of Modern Orthodox synagogues offering similar Orthodox programming, daily minyan services, youth education, and adult classes. Young Israel affiliates share the Modern Orthodox positioning, Halachic observance, and Orthodox Union-adjacent alignment that characterize Etz Chayim's offering.
• Congregation Beth Shalom (cemetery partner): Referenced as one of two cemeteries where Etz Chayim members receive burial privileges. Operates in the same Toledo Jewish communal ecosystem and shares the Chevra Kadisha Society burial coordination responsibilities.
• Congregation B'nai Israel (Toledo): The other Toledo-area Jewish congregation that runs the joint Sunday school program with Congregation Etz Chayim. As a co-located traditional/Orthodox partner in the same local market, it is the most directly comparable peer in terms of geography, customer base, and programming overlap.

Others

• Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America): The umbrella Orthodox congregational body of which Etz Chayim is an affiliated member. As an enabling/credentialing organization, the OU provides institutional standards (kashrut, Halacha) and resource distribution referenced directly on Etz Chayim's website.

Regional players

• Hebrew Academy of Toledo: A regional Jewish day school in the Toledo area where Etz Chayim's staff (Nancy Jacobson, Elsa Leveton) previously served. Comparable as a Toledo-area Jewish educational institution serving an overlapping community of Modern Orthodox families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOD422vUFVK99xbUWW2aj1g
• Facebookfacebook.com/1491221144537868
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/congregation-etz-chayim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Congregation Etz Chayim