BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2010, SERVICES WILL BEGIN AT 7:30 PM EXCEPT FOR THE THIRD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH WHEN THE SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT 6:00 PM.
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Shabbat Evening Service:
Temple Beth El begins our celebration of Shabbat with our Friday evening congregational worship services. Each service is designed to offer opportunities for introspection and reflection, for invigorating prayer and music, and ultimately for inspiration and spiritual refreshment. Our services combine a blend of traditional Hebrew and contemporary English liturgy. Our music inspires congregational participation and blends traditional nusach, contemporary compositions, and the music you remember from childhood. We often include instrumental accompaniment that includes keyboard, guitar, bass, and percussion. Our congregation’s custom also includes the celebration of the reading of Torah each Friday night.
We also take advantage of technology to enhance our worship experience. Transliterations of songs and liturgy are broadcast on our video screen. A camera suspended above the Torah scroll invites the entire congregation to view the parchment and text of the Torah. We also invite those who are hearing-impaired to take advantage of the amplified headphones in order to better participate in services. 7:30 PM
Tot Shabbat:
Our monthly worship for our youngest members and their families combines music, song, and story into a half-hour celebration of Shabbat. Birthday celebrations and parents’ blessings are just part of the interactive elements that introduce young children to Shabbat worship. The service is geared for children from birth through second grade. 6:30 PM
Shabbat Evening Family Service:
While all services at Temple Beth El welcome family participation, the second Friday of the month offers a service that is designed to be more approachable to school-aged children and their families. The service often features the participation of one of our religious school grades, our youth choir Shir Joy, a story from the rabbi, and includes musical selections accessible to all ages. This service is also shorter in length than our standard Friday night service. 7:30 PM
Adult Alternative Service:
For those who seek an alternative to our Family Service, Second Soul offers a meditative progressive Shabbat worship experience. Drawing on the rabbinic notion that Shabbat infuses us with an additional sense of spirit, this worship service in the Starkoff Chapel includes contemporary music accompanied by guitar, meditative liturgies, explanations of service elements, and often a guest speaker or lesson from our rabbis. This service invites congregational interaction and participation in a more informal atmosphere. 7:30 PM
Shabbat at 6:
In traditional Jewish custom, Shabbat begins with worship at sundown, followed by the opportunity to rest and relax over a leisurely Shabbat meal at home. Our early Shabbat service offers us at Temple Beth El the same opportunity. Featuring the participation of Beth El’s volunteer bima band, this service is filled with invigorating music, thoughtful meditations, and a more informal Shabbat celebration. 6:00 PM
Tefilah for Tweens:
For children in grades 3-6 and their families, Tefilah for Tweens provides an engaging worship experience for school-aged children. With music familiar from religious school and summer camp, this Shabbat service is short in length but long in fun. An interactive program and activity accompany this more sophisticated family Shabbat service. 7:00 PM