Shabbat Evening

On Shabbat eve, we have two services at 6:00 p.m. Both offer the opportunity to catch the spirit of Shabbat. One is an informal service, led by our rabbis, where the music is often on guitar. The other service, led by one of our rabbis and by youngsters becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah, is a more formal service with music by our cantor and professional choir.

Shabbat Morning

We continue the celebration of Shabbat in the morning at 10:30 a.m with two services. One is an informal, highly participatory service where all are invited to share reading, singing and being part of a warm and welcoming community. The other service is led by young adults who are becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah. They read from the Torah and present a D′var Torah on the message we all can learn from the portion.

Children and Families

On the third Friday each month at 7:15 pm, TOT Shabbat introduces pre-school youngsters and their families to Shabbat celebration. Through story and song, tots begin to celebrate Shabbat at temple and explore Jewish ideas.

Daily Worship

We have daily Ma'ariv services at 6 pm Monday through Thursday which is led by trained volunteers. It is an opportunity for daily prayer, as well as to remember loved one during Yahrtzeit by reciting the Kaddish prayer.

High Holy Days

On Erev Rosh Hashanah and Erev Yom Kippur there are two services -- one early, one late. The services are the same; members may choose which one they would like to attend. Rosh Hashanah morning begins with a children's service. Then we offer two services simultaneously -- a traditional service held in our Sanctuary and a contemporary service, called A Time To Pray, held at another location. Again, congregants choose which service they wish to attend.

On Yom Kippur our services continue throughout the day, beginning with a children′s service early in the morning. Members choose between a traditional morning service in the sanctuary or a service oriented toward junior high and high school aged youth. The afternoon is marked by an afternoon worship experience, a creative service entitled A Confession for our Time, and then concludes with Yizkor (the service of remembrance) and Neilah (concluding service).

Sukkot

On Erev Sukkot, we begin with a Box Supper where families bring their own supper and the Sisterhood provides wine, challah, and dessert. Activities are offered to capture the joy and fun of the holiday. Children may create fruit to decorate our outdoor Sukkah or drawings to bring home and decorate their refrigerators. Everyone joins outside for the service in the Sukkah. Sukkot morning is a very special service. The special melodies of this festival celebration are joyous reminders of the bounty of the harvest and our celebration of God's role in our many blessings.

Simchat Torah

On Erev Simchat Torah we mark the Consecration of students who are beginning their religious school education, as we welcome them into Jewish learning and listen to them lead the congregation in the Sh′ma. Then in celebration of the our reading end of Deuteronomy and the beginning of Genesis, we dance around the sanctuary and social hall with our Torah scrolls to the music of our congregation's own band T. Torah & The Scrolls. On Simchat Torah morning, we again pray using the special nusach (melodies) for the service and read the concluding chapter of Deuteronomy and immediately start again with Genesis as a sign of the continuous reading of Torah. The service concludes with Yizkor, a service of remembrance for our loved ones.

Pesach

On Passover, worship services are held the evening and morning of the first and last days. On the last day of Passover our worship service includes Yizkor, a service of remembrance for our loved ones.

Shavuot

On Erev Shavuot, we celebrate the giving of the Torah to Israel at Mt. Sinai with Confirmation. At this point in their on-going Jewish education, our tenth-graders celebrate a public affirmation of their commitment to live as Jews. On Shavuot morning, our worship service is led by our rabbis and cantor and includes Yizkor, a service of remembrance for our loved ones.

Minor Holy Days

On the Shabbat during Chanukah our annual Latke Supper is sponsored by our PTA. Everyone is invited to join in this fun-filled evening. Following supper, we have our Chanukah/Shabbat Service at 7 pm led by our rabbis and cantor and featuring a cantata performed by our Children's Choir.

On Erev Purim, the Feast of Esther, we read the Megillah and our Temple Staff enacts the story of the Book of Esther in a skit with costume and song. On a Sunday near Purim, our PTA holds its annual Purim Carnival with games and food and fun for people of all ages.