The congregation was highly unusual, as it was founded as an Orthodox shul, but without a mechitza. Because of the challenge of being an independent synagogue, it gradually moved towards the Conservative movement, first identifying as "traditional" and then finally affiliating with the Conservative movement in November 2003. The synagogue is still non-egalitarian, however, meaning that women do not count as one of ten needed for a minyan and they are not permitted to read from the Torah.