Our Services are organized and conducted by
our Rabbi, Cantor, and lay leaders, with help of the Ritual Committee, our
congregational members and their children.
Point to (and click) the various objects in the picture.
Shabbat Services
Services are held Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Mincha on Saturday afternoons/evenings are followed by a light meal with the Rabbi teaching Mishna
and conclude with Maariv and Havdalah services.
The Rabbi and Cantor also set aside time for questions and discussion.
Family Shabbat Dinner & Service
On the 3rd Friday of each month, we offer an inexpensive Shabbat dinner designed for families with young children.
Dinner takes place in either our multi-purpose room of the kiddush room, depending on the number of people attending and availability.
The dinner usually consists of salad & challah, baked ziti, plain pasta, fresh veggies, and a cookie dessert but, on occasion, we experiment with alternatives which will be posted on the Dinner Reservation form.
Following dinner, there is an abbreviated family service recommended for children ages 2 - 7, their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc., and a concurrent service in the Beit Midrash for older children.
Singing, dancing, puppet shows and abbreviated prayers are included in this all participatory service.
A special Oneg (consisting of juice, cookies, etc.) is subsidized by the Ritual Committee.
On occasion, we have a special 6:00 pm Friday Dinner Service,
catered by our own Classical Caterers.
Each dinner has a special theme based on the holiday or occasion, such as, Purim, Lag B'Omer, Israel Independence Day, etc.
The
Healing Service has become a Jewish ritual during the past decade.
According to Rabbi Nancy Flam, a founder of the Jewish Healing Movement,
the service creates an environment into which each person can bring God, through the act of prayer,
into his or her suffering. While each person comes to the service as an individual,
there may be an element of healing simply in the gathering of the group.
Rather than feeling alone, one can feel a part of the community.
Please let us know if you or someone you know is ill, or if you or someone you know is having a difficult time.
Religious holidays, both ancient and modern, are celebrated fully.
There is no charge to members in good standing for seats at the High Holidays.
Congregants may purchase additional High Holiday tickets so that non-local
family that are not members may also attend these services.
Children of congregants, who are students and 25 years of age or younger,
are not required to purchase a High Holiday ticket.
Children of congregants over 25 years of age wishing to attend High Holiday
services must either purchase a guest ticket or join the Synagogue as a Single Member.
These programs run concurrently during Saturday morning and High Holy Day services in the school wing:
Tot Shabbat (ages 3 - 5) offers an 11:00am mini-service and teaches young children about the service.
The group meets twice a month in the Nursery School wing. It has singing and dancing and Bible and other stories. A light snack is served.
Stacey Rockman,
Play & Pray Beginning at 3:30pm there is playing for the children (and you know who you are) with games and general merriment in the gym. Of course there will be snacks provided as well. At 4pm ish in the library, Rabbi Wolkoff teaches any interested adults. At 4:45 we break for mincha in the beit midrash. When Shabbat ends we all join together again for Havdallah.
Stacey Rockman,
Tiny-Tot Shabbat is conducted in the Babysitting Room and is a Shabbat celebration geared toward tots "three and under" but, all are welcome.
Every age should delight in Shabbat
From the oldest to tiniest of tots
There's a new treat in store
For the tykes we adore
Babysitting's the magical spot
Three and under - your place is a-waiting
Song and dance that will not be abating
Laughter, stories and prayer
Shabbat mornings to share
Kids and parents will be celebrating!
Please have our young children join our own,
eleven year old, Jesse Nagelberg, who leads Tiny-Tot Shabbat, 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the
Babysitting Room.
Allison Nagelberg,
Baby Sitting (ages 1 - 7).
The congregation provides free baby sitting every Saturday morning throughout the year, in the preschool room of the school wing, from 10:15 AM until 12:15 PM. Challah and juice is provided. No advance sign up required.
Beth Schurman,
Junior Congregation (ages 8 - 12), meets September through June from 10:15am
to 12:15pm. A special Kiddush follows the service. Each religious school grade has an
opportunity to help lead the service and attend a luncheon in their honor. Families can
sponsor a Junior Congregation Oneg Shabbat (cost $18.00) to celebrate a birthday, anniversary,
or other happy event.
Lights in the synagogue are dimmed, candles are lit, and the curtain is removed from the Ark. The cantor leads the prayers in a low, mournful voice, to remind us of the Divine Presence which departed from the Holy Temple.
The Book of Eicha (Lamentations), Jeremiah's poetic lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple, is read both at night and during the day.
Following both the night and day service, special "Kinot" (elegies) are recited.
In the morning, the Torah portion of Deuteronomy 4:25-40 is read, containing the prophecy regarding Israel's future iniquity and exile. This is followed by the Haftorah from Jeremiah (8:13, 9:1-23) describing the desolation of Zion.
In the afternoon, we read Exodus 32:11-14. This is followed by the Haftorah from Isaiah 55-56.
Since Tallis and Tefillin represent glory and decoration, they are not worn at Shacharit. Rather, they are worn at Mincha, as certain mourning restrictions are lifted.
What happened on the ninth of Av?
The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar. 100,000 Jews were slaughtered and millions more exiled. (586 BCE)
The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, led by Titus. Some two million Jews died, and another one million were exiled. (70 CE)
The Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by Roman Emperor Hadrian. The city of Betar -- the Jews' last stand against the Romans -- was captured and liquidated. Over 100,000 Jews were slaughtered. (135 BCE)
The Temple area and its surroundings were plowed under by the Roman general Turnus Rufus. Jerusalem was rebuilt as a pagan city -- renamed Aelia Capitolina -- and access was forbidden to Jews.
The period of expulsion of the Jews from Spain commenced on August 2, 1492
The Turkish government barred immigration of Russian and Rumanian Jews into Palistine on July 25,1882, and banned the sale of Palestinian land to Jews.
On Tisha B'Av, deportation began of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto.
Sukkot Programs:
activities are held in the Synagogue Sukkah; families who build their own Sukkah are matched with those who would like to visit one.
Simchat Torah:
everyone has the opportunity to dance with the Torah and receive an aliyah during services.
Chanukah Party:
annual event sponsored by the Synagogue.
Purim Services:
a traditional service, and everyone is encouraged to come in costume.
Purim Carnival:
sponsored annually by the Synagogue.
Passover Chametz Sale:
Rabbi and Cantor will act as your agent for the sale of chametz prior to Passover.
Community Passover Seder:
a traditional Seder led by the Rabbi and Cantor is held on the second night of Passover.
Marc & Bobbi Binder, 732 274-2797