Shabbat Morning

About Our Shabbat Services

"More than Israel has kept the Shabbat, the Shabbat has kept Israel."
- Ahad HaAm

• 9:15 am Shabbat Services, followed by Kiddush
• We offer extensive programs for children and teens including Torah for Tots, Shabbat Morning Program and Family Service for elementary school students, K-7th grade.  Teens can participate by joining the Teen Madrichim program.
• Shabbat Playcare. Free, drop-in childcare is available every Shabbat from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm for children from 6 months to 8 years of age.

Shabbat is the most treasured day in the Jewish calendar. It is a time of reflection, rest and spiritual enrichment.

About 200 people attend services on a regular Shabbat morning. We are frequently joined by friends and family members as we celebrate the many simchas (joyous events) in the lives of our members. A typical Shabbat service may include a bar or bat mitzvah being called to the Torah; the recognition of a couple's 50th anniversary; an aufruf for two people about to marry; or a special blessing for a congregant embarking on a trip to Israel. We often invite local and national scholars to teach and offer commentary (D'var Torah). After Kiddush is recited we all share a light lunch.

If you are interested in learning any parts of the service better, either to lead or to sing along with the congregation, see the Learn the Service page.

Kippot and Tallitot

We are a Conservative, egalitarian synagogue. The custom of wearing a head covering when in a holy place or when saying prayers is an ancient Jewish form of respect and it is customary for all men to wear kippot at our synagogue. Women may cover their heads as well. Many of our members also wear a Tallit (prayer shawl) during our services. We have extra kippot and Tallit available at the front entrance of the sanctuary for your use during the service.

Prayer Books

The prayers for the Shabbat service are found in the Siddur Sim Shalom. We use the Etz Hayim Chumash as we follow the Torah and Haftarah readings.

Hearing Enhancement System:  We offer hearing enhancement receivers for your use during the service. Please speak with our usher.

Honors

There are many honors given out on Shabbat morning. These include aliyot during the Torah service, opening and closing the ark, taking out and replacing the Torah from the ark and lifting and dressing the Torah. Our usher will invite congregants to participate on Shabbat when honors are available.  If you would like to mark an occassion in your life with an honor, please contact our office. 

If we are celebrating a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, the family may reserve up to five of the seven Torah aliyot for family and friends. The other two aliyot are reserved for congregants. Additional service honors may be given to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah family and friends. If your family is celebrating a Bar/bat Mitzvah, you'll work closely with the Rabbis and Kol Emeth staff to plan the honors for that day.

For other celebrations such as a baby naming, upcoming wedding (aufruf) or an anniversary, aliyot may be reserved. Consult with the Rabbis to plan the honors for these services.