Shir Chadash Conservative Synagogue recalls 25th anniversary of merger

Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation presented a “Silver Celebration with Song” gala on November 16, 2025  recalling the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Metairie synagogue.

Shir Chadash’s  gala attendees (l-r) former Chevra Thilim president Sandy Lassen, Larry Lehmann, event chair Dashka Roth Lehmann, and former Tikvat Shalom president Leopold Sher. (Photo by Jerry Strout)

Shir Chadash was formed out of the merger of two Conservative synagogues, Chevra Thilim and  Tikvat Shalom. The history of Tikvat Shalom began as an offshoot of what was then Orthodox Congregation Chevra Thilim. It became the Conservative Synagogue of New Orleans and, later, when it moved to Metairie was renamed Tikvat Shalom.

The split was later followed by a legal decision of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Katz v. Singerman, in 1961. Chevra Thilim continued as an Orthodox synagogue with mixed seating until early in the 1990s and later switched affiliation as a Conservative synagogue.

Hors d’oeuvres were served in the oudoor succah with drinks furnished courtesy of the Franco Family Foundation.  A kosher dinner catered by Dvash Catering followed along with the program, a fundraising auction and music by The Boogie Men.

A “Do You Remember” game show featured former Tikvat Shalom president Leopold Sher and former Chevra Thilim president Sandy Lassen. It was moderated by Briann Shear.

Larry Lehmann and his wife and event chair Dashka Roth Lehmann performed an original “new song” regarding the merger of the synagogues. Shir Chadash is translated from the Hebrew to mean “new song.”