As Jews, we celebrate Shabbat on Saturday, the seventh day of the week, the day God rested after the labors of Creation. Shabbat is a day of prayer, of learning, of the celebration of life cycle events such as a Bat or Bar Mitzvah, and of being together in community.
Shabbat services take place in our main sanctuary which is named in memory of our esteemed former Rabbi, Stanley Platek.
Junior Congregation services take place in our smaller chapel, directly across the hall.
Children at Shabbat Services
We encourage children to attend services so that they learn to feel comfortable as part of our spiritual and prayer community. On many Shabbat mornings, we offer opportunities uniquely tailored for children and young people.
A rack of Jewish picture books is available at the back of the sanctuary. Parents of young children are free to borrow these books for their children during the service. (Books are returned at the end of the service.)
The Books Used in the Shabbat Service
Two books are used during Shabbat services. The smaller book is our prayer book, Siddur Lev Shalom*. It includes English translations and transliteration of prayers central to Judaism, and it also provides some excellent information about Jewish prayer and services. There is a collection of meaningful English readings included, as well.
*Large print copies of Siddur Lev Shalom are available from the usher at the door of the sanctuary.
The larger book that we use is the Etz Chaim Chumash, which contains the weekly reading from the Torah (the five Books of Moses) and also the weekly haftorah, selections from the Prophets that are read at the conclusion of the Torah reading. The Chumash contains both an English translation and a commentary on the Torah and haftorah readings.
