Oseh Shalom

What Oseh Shalom does

Oseh Shalom is a Reconstructionist Jewish synagogue located at 7515 Olive Branch Way in Laurel, Maryland, serving Jewish individuals and families across the Washington DC metropolitan area (Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia). Its functional offering centers on weekly Shabbat services (Friday evenings and Saturday mornings), High Holy Days and festival observances, lifecycle events (weddings, b'nai mitzvah, baby blessings, funerals), a religious school enrolling children from age 3 through Bar/Bat/Bnei Mitzvah preparation, lifelong-learning programs for adults, pastoral care, and an active tikkun olam / social-justice portfolio (winter shelter, soup kitchen service, immigrant-justice advocacy, environmental action via the Sacred Grounds native-plant initiative).

The organization's technology footprint is modest and commodity-based: hybrid in-person and Zoom service delivery, a Shulcloud membership-management and donation platform, YouTube for sermon streaming, WordPress website, and standard social channels (Facebook, Instagram). There are no proprietary technology products, AI capabilities, mobile apps, or APIs disclosed. The two rabbis (Rabbi Josh Jacobs-Velde and Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde) lead clergy operations, supported by an elected volunteer board (Co-Presidents Shelley Reese and John Riehl) and a small paid staff of 5.

The business model is a member-supported non-profit (likely 501(c)(3)) operating on diversified but small revenue streams: recurring membership dues (primary), donations and dedicated funds (memorial plaques, Path of Peace bricks at $180, tribute gifts), religious school tuition, modest event-based fees (e.g., $8 per person BBQ), affiliate-style fundraising (Scrip gift cards, Charity Charge affinity card, Box Tops for Education), and a small gift shop. Go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth referrals, personal invitations, welcome video, trial visits, and social channels, with no formal sales or marketing infrastructure.

Name

Oseh Shalom

Legal name

Oseh Shalom

Website

https://oseh-shalom.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oseh Shalom is a Reconstructionist Jewish synagogue in Laurel, Maryland, offering Shabbat services, religious education from age 3, lifecycle events, and social-justice programming to Jewish households across the greater Washington DC metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Religious services
• Jewish education
• Community programming
• Lifecycle events
• Social justice

Headquarters

HQ city

Laurel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues that provide access to all regular services, community events, and religious school enrollment
2. Donations and Tzedakah: General donations, dedicated funds, memorial plaques, brick purchases ($180 Path of Peace bricks), and tribute gifts
3. Religious School Tuition: Tuition fees for religious school programs including preschooler classes for children as young as 3
4. Event-based Revenue: Event fees such as the BBQ ($8 per person) and retreat registration fees; partial subsidies available for retreats
5. Fundraising Programs: Scrip gift card program, Charity Charge affinity credit card (1% back), Box Tops for Education app
6. Gift Shop Sales: Greeting cards, candles, kippot and other religious items

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Oseh Shalom is a Reconstructionist Jewish synagogue that provides weekly Shabbat services, High Holy Days and festival observances, a religious school for children as young as 3, Bar/Bat/Bnei Mitzvah preparation, lifelong learning programs, lifecycle event officiation (weddings, baby blessings, funerals), pastoral caring and support, social justice and tikkun olam programs, and an annual retreat. Membership is open to Jewish individuals and families and to those exploring Judaism, with services delivered both in-person at the Laurel, MD campus and virtually via Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shabbat Services Weekly Shabbat services held Friday evening and Saturday morning, with hybrid in-person and Zoom participation available for members and visitors who are ill or traveling.
• High Holy Days and Festival Services Observance of High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur) and other Jewish festivals, offered in a warm and inclusive community welcoming Jews of all colors, sexual orientations, beliefs, and those exploring Judaism.
• Lifecycle Events (Weddings, Baby Blessings, Funerals) Rabbinical officiation and community support for weddings, baby namings/blessings, B'nai Mitzvah, and funerals, available to members of the congregation.
• Religious School Religious education program for children from age 3 (preschooler class with movement, games, and fun) through Bar/Bat/Bnei Mitzvah preparation, offered on a tuition basis.
• Bar/Bat/Bnei Mitzvah Preparation Educational preparation and ceremonial support for students becoming Bar, Bat, or B'nai Mitzvah, including the associated Shabbat morning service.
• Lifelong Learning Programs Continuing adult Jewish education including Torah study, book discussions, movie screenings, and cooking classes for adult members and the broader community.
• Annual Congregation Retreat Annual multi-day retreat for members and families held at an off-site venue, with registration fees and partial subsidies available. The 2025-26 event is the 29th annual iteration.
• Pastoral Caring and Support Pastoral care and community support for members experiencing illness, bereavement, new baby arrivals, and other life transitions, coordinated through the Caring and Support committee.
• Sacred Grounds Environmental Program Environmental sustainability initiative promoting the use of native plants on synagogue grounds to support local wildlife, run in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and including an annual graduation ceremony.
• Social Justice and Tikkun Olam Programs Volunteer-based social justice programming including monthly soup kitchen service at Elizabeth House (serving 100-125 guests), Shabbat services at Arbor Ridge assisted living, immigrant justice actions, and racial justice / LGBTQI rights advocacy.
• Social Groups Member-organized social groups for adults of various ages and interests (e.g., Sisterhood), including potluck dinners and oneg gatherings that support community building.
• Membership Annual congregational membership that provides access to regular Shabbat and High Holy Day services, lifecycle officiation, community events, and religious school enrollment. Specific dues are not publicly disclosed.
• Gift Shop On-site sales of greeting cards, candles, kippot, and other Jewish religious items.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• National Wildlife Federation (NWF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOseh Shalom partners with NWF for its Sacred Grounds environmental initiative, which promotes using native plants to support local wildlife. NWF recognizes Oseh's graduation ceremony for Sacred Grounds efforts.
• DMV Reconstructionist Congregations (CJC, Kol HaLev, Mishkan Torah)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership among DC-Maryland-Virginia Reconstructionist synagogues for joint programming including Tisha b'Av observance and film screening of 'Legend of Destruction'.
• Elizabeth HouseminorOthersLaurel soup kitchen where Oseh Shalom members serve dinner once a month, feeding 100-125 guests. Minimal cooking involved; older kids and teens welcome.
• Arbor Ridge (Riderwood Village)minorOthersAssisted living/long term care facility in Silver Spring where Oseh members conduct Shabbat morning services.
• The Claggett CenterminorOthersRetreat center in Adamstown, MD hosting Oseh Shalom's 29th Annual Retreat December 12-14, 2025.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kol HaLev: Reconstructionist synagogue in Arlington, VA, listed as a direct programming partner of Oseh Shalom. Closest like-for-like peer: same movement, same DMV region, overlapping member demographics.
• Congregation Jewish Community (CJC): DMV Reconstructionist partner congregation collaborating with Oseh Shalom on film screenings and holiday observances. Directly comparable on denomination, geography, and progressive-egalitarian identity.
• Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation: Reconstructionist congregation in the Northern Virginia/DMV corridor serving a similar progressive Jewish demographic. Operates hybrid services, religious school, and tikkun olam programming comparable to Oseh's model.
• Germantown Jewish Centre: Reconstructionist congregation in Philadelphia with religious school, hybrid services, and progressive Jewish programming. Comparable organizational footprint and member-facing service mix.
• Congregation Dorshei Tzedek: Reconstructionist congregation in Newton, MA with hybrid services, religious school, and a strong progressive-egalitarian identity. Highly comparable operating model though serving a different regional market.
• Beth Haverim Shir Shalom: Mid-Atlantic Reconstructionist synagogue in Maplewood, NJ. Comparable in scale, denominational identity, religious-school offering, and progressive social-justice orientation.
• Mishkan Torah: Reconstructionist congregation in Greenbelt, MD, formally partnered with Oseh Shalom for joint programming including Tisha b'Av observance. Same denomination, similar DMV geography, comparable community-organizing model.

Regional players

• Washington Hebrew Congregation: Large Reform (not Reconstructionist) Jewish congregation in Washington, DC. Competes for the same DMV Jewish-families market with a broader portfolio of services, including early-childhood education and lifelong learning.
• Temple Beth Ami: Mid-sized Jewish congregation in Rockville, MD serving the same suburban Maryland catchment as Oseh Shalom. Provides comparable religious-school and lifecycle programming, though not Reconstructionist.

Broad incumbents

• Reconstructing Judaism: The denominational umbrella for all Reconstructionist congregations including Oseh Shalom. Sets movement standards, provides rabbinic placement, and convenes peer congregations — directly shapes Oseh's operating environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7my7sRRngkapAY9SFr1Nmw
• Facebookfacebook.com/OsehShalom
• Instagraminstagram.com/osehshalomlaurel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oseh-shalom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Oseh Shalom