Our goal is to make our services warm and participatory, varied enough to be fresh, but retaining enough familiarity so as to provide spiritual nourishment to both regular and occasional attendees.
Friday Evening Services
A time to usher in Shabbat with a song-filled service in the main Sanctuary.
Most of these services begin at 8:15 p.m. -- watch for an occasional earlier
start time -- and many of them feature organ accompaniment. The first
week of the month is our Kolot Shabbat (Voices of Shabbat) service,
and it starts at 7:30 p.m. All are followed by a lovely Oneg Shabbat in
the Social Hall. (All July and August Friday evening services begin at 6:30 p.m.)
Kolot Shabbat Services
The perfect way for families - old and young alike - to participate
fully as we welcome Shabbat. Kolot Shabbat, will take place on
the first Friday of the month, and will start at 7:30 p.m. Then join in
Kiddush and motzi and delicious cookies and pastries at the Oneg Shabbat
in the Social Hall.
Family Shabbat Service
Held on the second Friday of the month, the Family Shabbat Service
will start at 7 pm and will be preceded by a pot luck dinner at 6
pm. Although aimed primarily at families with children in kindergarten
and primary grades, this service will be open to all. As with Junior
Congregation, it will be followed at 8:15 p.m. by a regular Shabbat
Service.
Junior Congregation
A joyous way for students and their families to help welcome
Shabbat in an age-appropriate service complete with lively music, guitar
accompaniment, reading from the Torah and student-led prayer. Students
in grades 4 through 7 present pre-assigned readings from the special
Junior Congregation siddur and often do the Torah reading and offer the
D'var Torah . Held 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel, generally on the third Friday
of each school month with its own Oneg Shabbat following the service.
Saturday Morning Worship
Congregants and guests come together to worship, sing and read Torah.
The service, which begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary, includes readings
from the Torah and Haftarah and is led by a rabbi, Cantorial Intern
and usually also by a bar or bat mitzvah. All join in Kiddush and motzi
following the service.
Tot Shabbat
For a service full of fun, smiles, songs and stories, come to Beth El's
Tot Shabbat services held in the sun-filled Chapel at 11:00 a.m. twice
a month year-round, generally on the first and third Saturdays. Children sing, clap, dance, play tambourines and march with the Torah in this most child-friendly of services designed
to teach even the youngest children about the joy of Shabbat. Lasting
about 45 minutes, it's led by our early childhood specialist/ songleader
and is followed by a special oneg of snacks and sweets.
High Holy Days Services
Beth El provides many High Holy Days Services for Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur including Selichot, early and late-session Adult Services,
plus afternoon Family Services and Jr. Congregation. A choir adds its
voices to several of the Adult Services. All congregants are entitled
to attend any of our High Holy Days Services and noncongregants may
purchase tickets to attend them.
Thanksgiving Interfaith Service
Held jointly each year with Christ Church, the Thanksgiving morning
service is a wonderful sharing of community in a service in which we
give thanks for our many blessings. The location alternates each year
between Beth El and Christ Church and the service always includes special
readings and music to be enjoyed by all.
Lifecycle Events
Both Rabbi Isserow and Cantor Steinberg officiate at life cycle events including baby namings, B'nai Mitzvahs, unveilings, weddings and funerals.
