Worship at Temple Emanu-El is spirited, joyful, uplifting and meaningful. We offer a variety of worship services and minyanim, each designed for worshippers and spiritual seekers at different places in their lives and having differing needs.

 

Friday evening worship

 

Our 8:15 Erev Shabbat worship is the cornerstone of worship at Temple Emanu-El. The service is a mix of traditional and new melodies and prayers, prayers for healing, and a sermon by one of our Rabbis. Many of the familiar “Shabbat prayers and melodies” are sung with gusto at this service. It is usually well attended by members of the community, and guests. 

 

Our 6:00 Kabbalat Shabbat service takes place once a month, on those nights when we offer Shabbat Hallelu. It is a quiet, meditative, traditional service that offers an alternative to the contemporary music of Hallelu. One of the Rabbis offers a sermon or study session during the service.

 

Our 7:45 Shabbat Hallelu service has garnered national acclaim for its spirited music, worship, song, and dancing in the aisles. Led by our Cantor and lay musiciansprayer leaders, it offers a mix of contemporary and traditional music. Usually attended by 400-500 people, it is not unusual for dancing to “break out” in the aisles during the service!

 

Shabbat Morning worship

 

Our 10:30 Main Sanctuary service usually includes a b’nai mizvah celebration. Led, by Rabbi and Cantor, the service is a traditional Shabbat morning worship. Torah and Haftarah are chanted according to traditional Jewish custom, and the Rabbi always leads a study session on the weekly Torah portion. 

 

Our 9:00 Simchat Shabbat Service is lead by a Rabbi and two song leaders/prayer leaders. This service combines contemporary and traditional music and prayer. Torah is always read, and there is considerable participation by lay members of the congregation. This service is always followed by a study session on the weekly portion.

 

Our 10:00 Shabbat Minyan is our entirely lay-led Shabbat worship service.  This service combines traditional worship with study and discussion of the weekly portion and issues in Judaism. Newcomers are always warmly welcomed.

 

Daily Worship

 

Often, a person wishes to recite kaddish on the anniversary of the death of a loved one. Temple Emanu-El will provide a minyan and prayer leader for those wishing to recite kaddish during daily worship.  Please call the office in advance to arrange for this.