Friday Night Service - Almost There!

This Friday night (7:30 at the synagogue), we have our last Friday night service before Dedication Weekend (Aug. 16-18).  The building is ALMOST ready.  Come and enjoy - and we’ll give you a status report on the building, and a preview of what’s to come on Aug. 18, when we have the Dedication ceremony.  

And what about the service?  Well, in addition to the regular Friday night prayers and songs, we’ll have a discussion of this week’s Torah portion.  It’s a very full portion - there’s a discussion of having all worship at one central site (very fitting for us right now), a review of the kosher rules, some laws about helping the poor, and a summary of the three major festivals (Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot). What could all of these issues have in common, and what do they tell us about how to be Jews in the current era?  Well, that is what we’ll have an open discussion about.   Don’t miss it - and don’t forget to bring something for oneg.

See you Friday!  That will be just 16 days to Dedication Day...

Friday Night Service - What's the Shema Really All About?

This Friday night (7:30 at the synagogue), we learn about something that you might have thought you knew: the Shema.  Shema Yisrael and V’ahavta are amongst the most well-known pieces of Torah text.  (Yes, they are directly from the Torah - did you know that?  Just a hint of what’s to come at this service.)  Yet, few know what they really say, even though we repeat them by rote at virtually every service. Rabbi Eitan will lead an in-depth text study and discussion to reveal why Shema and V’ahavta deserve their honored place in our prayers.  

Since it is the Shabbat after Tisha B’Av, which mourns Jerusalem’s destruction in antiquity, we also will read a selection from the prophets, to bring comfort to all Israel.  For oneg treats, please bring “comfort” food - see you Friday!

July 15 - Tisha B'Av Service: Come to Remember

Tisha B'Av - the Ninth of the Hebrew month of Av - is the day on which both Temples were destroyed in ancient Jerusalem.  It is a solemn day, commemorated by many Jews through fasting.  On Monday, July 15 at 7:30 pm - at the synagogue - we will have the first Tisha B'Av service in our new home. We will read a special ‘haggadah’ that recounts the destructions of the Temples in Jerusalem and other calamities that have come to the Jewish people on this day.  The room’s lights will be dimmed, and candles lit. We’ll read excerpts from the Book of Lamentations and join in discussion on the themes of tragedy, destruction, and renewal.  Since it’s a fast day for many, no oneg - so no need to bring refreshments.  Please join us for this powerful, moving service.