WESTFORD -- It started as a social group about 15 years ago, with members from the small Jewish community of Westford gathering together to celebrate Jewish holidays.

About a decade later, the group pondered whether there was enough support to begin their own synagogue, strengthening the Jewish presence in Westford. The answer was yes.

Strictly by coincidence, just a few days after 9/11, they gathered for their first Friday night Shabbat service, and Temple Shir Hadash was born.

The still don't have their own temple and even today worship in Fellowship Hall on Main Street. But they have plenty of commitment, faith in God, a welcoming and inclusive spirit and the desire to reach out and help others, says Neil Mager, president.

"One of our roots is social action and giving back to the community. Even as a small group of 30 families, we try to help out in the community as much as possible, and we always try to involve our children," he said.

Mager describes the synagogue as "somewhere between Reform and Conservative. It allows quite a bit of leeway."

Their members represent "quite a range," he says, some having been brought up Orthodox, others Reform, and still others somewhere in between. There are also several interfaith marriages, he adds.

"People are surprised when they come to our services. They really love our services and find a warm community that is very excited and happy," he said.

A key to their success has been Rabbi Karen Landy, their part-time rabbi. Landy is a Reconstructionist, a modern American-based Jewish movement that originated as the radical left branch of Conservative Judaism that developed during the 1920s to 1940s. Reconstructionists define Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people.

Landy, a Brookline resident and Andover native, typically comes to Westford for the second Friday each month for a Shabbat service, as well as for holidays, life cycle events and synagogue activities.

The Temple Shir Hadash community recently honored her during a dinner in Concord for her more than five years of service.

Joe Diamond, a former president who coordinated the dinner, described it as "a good opportunity for people to be with her in a different setting" -- one that did not involve her leading them spiritually.

"This gave us an opportunity to lead and she had a chance to relax and take in the experience in a different way," said Diamond. "A measure of its success is that she had a good time. And it was great for us to do something for someone who is so selfless."

Landy is a full-time rabbi with Jewish Family and Children's Services in Waltham, where she provides spiritual counseling to the disabled, sick, homeless and elderly. She is also raising two children, ages 14 and 11, in Brookline, "where it's a lot easier for my kids to grow up Jewish."

She acknowledges that Westford is a "beautiful physical place to live," but it's a lot more work to build a Jewish identity there than in a city with a dense Jewish population.

Landy, who was ordained in 1997 and describes herself as "high energy," is doing her part in that identity-building by helping to nurture the Temple Shir Hadash community through its early stages.

"They are incredibly kind, caring and flexible with each other," she said. "It's a community where everyone comes together and there is no judgment at all. Being small, you feel that connection."

Landy reflects on getting a call from Temple Shir Hadash asking if she'd come out and do a Friday night service. "That was over five years ago and I'm still doing them," she laughed.

"She's a perfect fit for us -- her personality, spirit, knowledge of the faith and ability to be inclusive," said Diamond. "Early on, she showed a unique ability to be able to connect with people, and we have come to embrace that."

Landy says that anyone is welcome to attend their services. "You don't have to be a member," she said. "Now we're ready for the next leap, out of the infant stage."

For more information, visit www.templeshirhadash.org.