PRAY
We invite you to try any and all of our many types of services to see what might suit you and your family best. For your convenience, please click here to access a sampling of our online services, which were recorded using Zoom.
We also encourage you to participate in our services to enhance your experience. All of our services have a mix of English and Hebrew (with transliterations) to allow everyone to fully participate and express their faith and spirituality in whatever way they choose.
We do have our "standard" Friday night services, but you will find that many weeks will also have a special theme. These themes are often related to Jewish holidays; other times, we have events to acknowledge special groups or individuals, such as: our veterans, Martin Luther King, Jr., or the Boy and Girl Scouts. One of our most popular special services is in November: Our Interfaith Shabbat of Gratitude.
Come join us and pray!
Tot Shabbat
Monthly, 6:00 p.m.
Tot Shabbat is ideal for families with children under six years old; although, anyone is welcome to come. More than “a service,” it is a Shabbat experience, which includes the main elements of Shabbat traditions.
In about thirty minutes, in an atmosphere of fun and smiles, children light Shabbat candles, say prayers, sing songs, dance with (plush) Torah, hear a story, and make a Holiday or Shabbat themed craft. It ends with a child-friendly Oneg. Each month, we also celebrate the Jewish holiday of the season.
Family Shabbat Service
Every First Friday of the month, 6:30 p.m.
This Shabbat is geared toward our children, from the very young to those in elementary school, as well as their parents and grandparents. With a special Siddur, songs, and stories, the service begins and concludes earlier. Children can enjoy the service, sing, come up and down our Bimah (pulpit), and learn to feel at home in our synagogue. Often, a Religious School class participates in a Family Shabbat Service with a presentation or song.
Our Family Shabbat is not just a children’s service, but it is one which adults can also find to be meaningful and enjoyable.
Shabbat Evening Service
Friday evenings (except first Friday each month), 7:30 p.m.
These services combine traditional and contemporary prayers, songs and music, and include the reading of Torah and a commentary or sermon from Rabbi Edery. Congregants participate from their seats, as well as in the leading of the services alongside our rabbi.
We are fortunate to have many talented musicians and singers providing music to enhance our services. Hebrew and English are combined and balanced, and we provide our own Siddur (prayer book), which contains full transliteration of all prayers and songs, allowing those who do not read Hebrew to comfortably join in.
Typical Special Observances
Sukkot Y’all
Simchat Torah and Kindergarten Consecration
Veterans Shabbat
Interfaith Shabbat of Gratitude
Chanukah Y’all
MLK Shabbat
Shabbat Shira
Scout Shabbat
Shabbat w/Chocolate & Wine Oneg
Purim
Yom Hashoah
Israeli Independence
Graduation & Teacher Appreciation
Saturday Morning/B'nei Mitzvah Shabbat Services
Saturday Mornings, 10:00 a.m. (as scheduled)
Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations are held on on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. These services are mostly led by the B'nei Mitzvah, who are accompanied by the rabbi, as well as their mentors. The B'nei Mitzvah reads from Torah and Haftarah, and delivers the Devar Torah—a speech teaching us all about the meaning of their Torah reading and the occasion.
While we celebrate the B'nei Mitzvah and share the joy with their families, this also serves as our congregational Shabbat Morning Service. And so, the entire congregation is always invited and encouraged to attend.
Opportunties to Participate in Services
Music
We are happy to have many people involved in leading and actively participating in our Shabbat and holiday services. We have several different musical ensembles, a choir, and many musicians and singers who join through the weeks in helping to enrich our services. Do you have a singing voice? Do you play a musical instrument? Just let our Ritual Committee and/or Rabbi Edery know, and we'll connect you with our many musicians.
Torah
Though rabbi enjoys chanting, the Torah belongs to all and can be chanted by all who want and can! We have a few Torah readers taking turns, and we're always pleased to have more. Additionally, we often invite congregants to deliver a Devar Torah—a commentary or interpretation of the Torah reading (usually done by Rabbi, who is glad to share this with others). Just let us know if you're interested!
Host The Oneg Shabbat
According to the prophet Isaiah, Shabbat shall be a delight. That is the origin of the Oneg Shabbat on Friday nights. Lingering, talking, and eating after the service adds to the feeling of Shabbat being different from other days of the week, when we rush from place to place. This time also lets us meet, learn about, and interact with other members of our Beth Shalom community.
All members of Beth Shalom are responsible for hosting an Oneg Shabbat each year. You are invited to choose a date (here), or one will be assigned to you. You may wish to select a Shabbat on an evening you know you will be at temple to recognize a yarzheit, to celebrate the evening before a B’nei Mitzvah, to participate in a religious school Shabbat, or to embrace a holiday or other special occasion.
Ideas?
If you have any other ideas or thoughts about services, please come to our monthly Ritual Committee meeting, or contact us directly.