Shabbat

At Congregation B’nai Shalom, Shabbat brings us together in so many ways. Each of us enters the sanctuary with different needs and experiences and, in response to those needs, we vary our worship style from week to week, while maintaining a core liturgy and range of melodies to enable everyone to gain familiarity with the prayers over time. A Friday night service may feature our band, a teen chanting Torah, an experimental service with yoga or drumming, or it may just be ‘simply’ Shabbat.  Every service ends with a warm and welcoming ‘Oneg Shabbat’ reception with an opportunity to snack and socialize. We also host Shabbat dinners on a regular basis.

Can’t join us in person? If illness, children’s bedtimes, travel, or other challenges prevent you from coming to Congregation B’nai Shalom, join us for worship any Friday evening via our livestream channel. We also archive recent services and special events so that you can catch a sermon that you missed, a musical performance, or simply to get a feel of how we celebrate Shabbat.

Our Friday night services begin at 6:45p.m., but always check the temple calendar for full details.

 Tot Shabbat, monthly, times vary: For all families with young children (Kindergarten and younger), our Early Childhood committee plans approximately 10 gatherings a year with Rabbis Gurevitz and Eiduson. Many of these are 10:15 a.m. Saturday morning programs, with singing, stories, and interactive activities. We also organize Pajama Havdalah gatherings (the ritual to say ‘goodbye’ to Shabbat) on Saturday afternoons, picnics in the park, and more. Check the temple calendar or contact the temple office to be added to the email list of young families in the area. You can also connect with families by requesting to join our early childhood Facebook group.

Torah and Tefilah, 8 – 9:30 a.m: Join our community minyan every Shabbat morning.  We begin with morning blessings of gratitude, followed by study and conversation, and closing with Kaddish. All text study is in English and all are welcome.

Bar and Bat Mitzvah Celebration Service, 10:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m.

Check the temple calendar for the dates of these services. All are welcome to join these services, where one or two teens co-lead the Shabbat morning service with the Rabbi and Cantorial Soloist to mark having reached the age of 13.

From time to time we offer classes and workshops to help congregants gain confidence in worship participation and learn new skills, such as being called up for an Aliyah(blessing over the Torah), or reading Torah. Please contact Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz or call 508-366-7191 if you have any questions about worship.