Congregation Ohr Chadash

Congregation Ohr Chadash is a Messianic synagogue in Clearwater, Florida, and has served the area for more than 40 years. Its name means "new light." The name comes from a traditional synagogue prayer asking that a new light shine on Zion. Erev Shabbat services are held every Friday evening at 7:25, and services are also live streamed. The congregation belongs to the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations.

Worship here is built on Jewish historical and biblical models. The congregation describes Jewish worship as "a sacred drama in which we must be participants, not observers." Traditional Jewish worship, as Yeshua experienced it, is understood as a way to meet the G-d of the universe. The community seeks to know, love and respect its traditions and to keep them consistently. It also hopes to develop new traditions drawn from the Newer Testament that focus on Yeshua. Scripture is held to be the guidebook for living, taught clearly and systematically and studied by each member. Each person, the congregation teaches, should be a committed follower of Yeshua, living under the direction of the Ruach HaShem.

Rabbi John Fischer serves the congregation, with Rabbi Patrice Fischer as associate rabbi. He was born in Budapest in 1946 to Holocaust survivors and holds two doctorates. She teaches Hebrew Language and Literature at St. Petersburg Seminary and Yeshiva. A cantorial team serves in worship, and its leader prepares candidates for Bar and Bat Mitzvah.