Shabbat Services

Saturday Morning Shabbat Services are always held at 10:30 am, after Torah Study which begins at 9:00 am. On many Saturdays of the year, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah student leads the Shabbat service and a kiddish luncheon for everyone takes place following the service. On those occasions, there is usually a special table - the Rebbe's Tisch - where congregants can continue studying the weekly Torah portion with the rabbi.

Several times a year when there is no Bar or Bat Mitzvah, The Temple Brotherhood celebrates the opening or closing of a Book of the Bible by having their choir perform at the Shabbat Service, and then hosting an oneg afterwards that features their handmade Sinai Matzo, gravlax, and Heaven Hill bourbon.

Friday Evening Shabbat Services usually take place in the Waller Chapel and are offered in several different styles of worship. During the fall, winter, and spring - between Rosh Hashanah and Shavuot - Erev Shabbat Services begin at 7 p.m. and last for about one hour. They consist of the styles listed below.

Regular shabbat services are held using Mishkan T'filah: A Reform Siddur – the newest prayer book of Reform Judaism. Music for the regular service ranges from pianist and soloist, Service of Song in which the congregation provides the singing, or our volunteer choir - Shir Chadash. Our services feature many songs - familiar ones a some that may be new to you.

Alef - A Service of Holiness and Renewal: A creative Shabbat service in which the congregation participates in singing along with guitar played by Steven Stuhlbarg and Ukranian mandolin by Irina Bernadsky, as well percussion instruments. Alef, led from a different creative service each time, utilizes alternative readings that are based on the monthly theme. Examples of Alef themes are gratitude, light, nature, friendship, love, and Israel. Alef - the first letter of the alef-bet - takes place on the first Friday of the month.

Classical Services are held on special occasions throughout the year, such as Founders' Day, Isaac Mayer Wise's birthday, and Bernheim Shabbat. They are led from the Sinai Edition of the Union Prayer Book. Music is from the Classical Age of Reform Judaism, performed by The Temple professional choir.

Family Services are held during the school year when our Religious School classes take turns leading services. These "Family Services" are usually held on the second Friday of the month and take place after a Family Shabbat Dinner. When led by the older students, only one service is held for the entire congregation and we call it a “Congregational Service.” Several times a year, usually at the beginning and end of the school year, a more relaxed and informal “Bluejean Shabbat” service is held, either in the outdoor sanctuary or in the Klein Center.

Alef

Regular

Classical

Family

Special

Special Shabbat Services are held throughout the year. Just a few of these services include: Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat, Social Action Shabbat, Interfaith Shabbat, and a Yom Hashoah Shabbat service led by the sixth grade. These services often have a special guest who speaks in place of a sermon by one of our Rabbis.

The Mishkan T'filah is also available for the iPad. You can find the app here: iT'filah