Worship At Shaaray
Tefila
EREV
SHABBAT AND SHABBAT MORNING
TOT
SHABBAT
FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE
HIGH HOLY DAYS
HOLY DAYS AND FESTIVALS
MUSIC MAKING
WE
ARE THE "GATES OF PRAYER"
The
name of our congregation, Shaaray Tefila, means "Gates
of Prayer." One of our primary purposes is to provide for
the spiritual, religious and worship needs of our members and
community.
EREV SHABBAT
AND SHABBAT MORNING
On the first Friday of each month we hold an
early Kabbalat Shabbat service at 6:15 pm.
The other Friday evening Erev Shabbat services are
held at 7:30 pm. Our choir and Cantor, working alongside
the Rabbis, enhance the dignity and beauty of the services.
Throughout the year, sermons, lectures and discussions on timely
subjects are led by our Rabbis or pulpit guests. An Oneg
Shabbat follows all Erev Shabbat services, providing
an opportunity to join fellow congregants in the joy of community
and friendship. Periodically we sponsor a special 'sit-down'
Oneg with a music program.
On Shabbat mornings, Worship Services are held in the
main sanctuary at 10:00 am. Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations
take place at these services. A Minyan service is held
in the Morse Chapel at 10:15 am each Shabbat morning
as well, followed by a breakfast and study session including
lively discussion of the week’s Torah portion.
Smachot,
joyous life-cycle events including babynamings,
wedding blessings and aufrufs, special anniversary and birthday
blessings are marked during our worship services. We also offer
prayers for those in need of healing as well as those who have
recovered from illness, injury or escaped danger.
Guests are always welcome to observe the Sabbath and worship
with us.
TOT
SHABBAT
Tot Shabbat is held at 5:15 pm on the first Friday
of every month, all year long. Tot Shabbat is appropriate for
families with children through kindergarten. The program introduces
young children to the service and gives them and their families
an opportunity to meet new people and become a part of the synagogue
family. Tot Shabbat includes the major prayers of the Erev
Shabbat service, special music, a story and family blessings.
The service lasts 30 minutes and is followed by an Oneg
Shabbat of grape juice and challah.
Tot
Shabbat is also held about one Saturday morning a month at 10:30
am. Check the calendar for the dates. The service
is a lovely, age-appropriate Torah service for the same age
group as above. The half hour of song and story is followed
by an Oneg Shabbat of bagels and juice and sometimes a special
holiday or Shabbat program.
FAMILY
SHABBAT SERVICE
This
service is intended for families with children in primary grades
1-6. The worship also reinforces the prayers and music learned
in our Religious School. This service lasts 45 minutes and is
followed by an Oneg Shabbat of grape juice
and challah. Family Shabbat is held on the second Friday
of every month, September through June, at 6:00 pm
HIGH HOLY
DAYS
Temple
Shaaray Tefila welcomes the Jewish New Year on Rosh HaShanah
and observes the 10 Days of Awe with worship on Shabbat
Shuvah and Yom Kippur.
Because of the continued growth of the synagogue, it has become
necessary to conduct two (early and late service) for Rosh
HaShanah morning and for both Yom Kippur evening
and morning services.
Shaaray
Tefila adds to the beauty of the holidays with special touches
of our own. The High Holy Day season is ushered in with a late-night
Selichot service of creative worship. On the afternoon
of Rosh HaShanah, hundreds of congregants join in a
Tashlich service conducted alongside the East River.
On Yom Kippur, services culminate with a deeply touching
Neilah service, Havdalah, and community break-the-fast.
We host age-appropriate activities and services for all children
during the High Holy Days, ranging from babysitting, to programs
for children of various ages, to youth services for middle and
high school students.
HOLY
DAYS AND FESTIVALS
The
congregation offers evening and morning services for all of
the festivals including Sukkot, Pesach and
Shavuot as well as Yom HaShoah (Holocaust
Memorial) and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day).
For Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Channukah,
and Purim we hold earlier services for young children
and their families. These are followed by services for adults
and older children (approximately grade 3 and up).
MUSIC MAKING
Music is one of the great joys of our congregational
life, and community singing is one of the staples of the synagogue.
The entire congregation is encouraged to participate during
the services. No special training is needed to join in song.
Our professional choir and organist lend beautiful musical accompaniment
to our Shabbat, holy day and festival services.
Our Cantor serves as chazzan at our services and has
introduced special musical services as part of our worship calendar.
The Cantor and professional choir also present musical concerts,
including an annual recital.
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