Join us for Shabbat

Share Shabbat with Us - Erev Shabbat Services

  • Pre-Neg

    Fridays at 5:00 PM

    Our very special, family-friendly cocktail party to welcome Shabbat each week.

  • Erev Shabbat Services

    Fridays at 6:00 PM

    A family-friendly service in our sanctuary.

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  • Tiny Tot Shabbat

    Get ready for a high-energy, can't-miss Tiny Tot Shabbat filled with dancing, singing, and joy!

    After the service, all are invited to join the Pre-Neg for food and drinks! Adult and child friendly food will be served.

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Saturday Morning Experiences

  • Morning Minyan

    The Minyan meets in Lavy House at 9:30 every Shabbat morning and full participation via Zoom is always available.

    The Shabbat Morning Minyan has been a cornerstone element of the Shabbat experience at Temple Emanu-El for decades.

    The Minyan offers a warm, welcoming, and informal worship experience every Shabbat throughout the year. The service blends some more traditional elements of prayer and Torah study with an openness to questions, discussion, and exploration of our liturgy.

    Once a month we pick a particular prayer or element of the service and learn about it in some detail: its history, its forms, its symbolism and its function in the overall service.

    The Minyan’s Torah service offers opportunities for participation by those observing Yahrzeit or marking other important events in their lives. Share some memories of your loved one or mark the anniversary of your bat mitzvah. Celebrate the birth of a grandchild, or the recovery from an illness. We blend words of Torah and words of community.

    A brief Drash and discussion follows the Torah reading. And an informal discussion period follows the service.

    The Minyan offers a great experience for those wanting to learn more about Jewish liturgy or who want a more intimate Shabbat prayer experience. 

  • Simchat Shabbat

    Meets every second and fourth Saturday Morning at 9:00 AM.
    Zoom participation is available here.
    Simchat Shabbat is a participatory musical service led by one of our clergy and Rick Calvert, a folk musician. It is an inviting Shabbat community that lifts the spirits through contemporary melodies, guitar, and meaningful liturgy. Each Shabbat we read the Torah portion of the week and then discuss it through an interactive Torah study. This service is for individuals, families, or anyone who want to feel the spirit of Shabbat. Dress is casual – come as you are and the service usually lasts about 75 minutes. If you are interested in chanting Torah at Simchat Shabbat or learning more about the service you can contact Rabbi Victor Appell.

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  • Holy Scrollers

    Holy Scrollers meets in Lavy House every Shabbat from 8:15 to 9:15 AM. Full participation is also available via Zoom.  

    The Holy Scrollers group takes a lively, active, and deep dive into the Torah portion of the week. Led in rotation by Rabbi Victor Appell, Rabbi Chuck Lightner, and Raziel Haimi-Cohen, the Scrollers look closely at the weekly portion in the context of both traditional and modern interpretations. We seek each year to deepen our understanding of the text and explore broader ranges of interpretation.

  • HEBREW TEXT

    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת.

    TRANSLITERATION

    Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam
    Asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’zivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat

    TRANSLATION

    Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of time and space.
    You hallow us with Your mitzvot and command us to kindle the lights of Shabbat.

  • FOR CHILDREN WHO IDENTIFY AS FEMALE: 

    HEBREW TEXT

    יְשִׂמֵךְ אֱלֹהִים כְּשָׂרָה, כְּרִבְקָה, כְּרָחֵל, וּכְלֵאָה.

    TRANSLITERATION

    Y’simeich Elohim k’Sarah, k’Rivkah, k’Rachel, ooch’Leah.

    TRANSLATION

    May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.

    FOR CHILDREN WHO IDENTIFY AS MALE: 

    HEBREW TEXT

    יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַֽיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה.

    TRANSLITERATION

    Y’simcha Elohim k’Efrayim v’chi-Menasheh.

    TRANSLATION

    May God make you like Ephraim and Menasheh.

    FOR ALL CHILDREN INCLUDING NON-BINARY: 

    HEBREW TEXT

    יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁשַּׁבָּת זוֹ תַּשְׁרֶה (שֶׁחַג זֶה יַשְׁרֶה) עָלֵינוּ אוֹרָה, שִׂמְחָה, וְשָׁלוֹם.

    TRANSLITERATION

    Y’hi ratzon sheShabbat zo tashreh [shechag zeh yashreh] aleinu orah, simcha, v’shalom.

    Note: omit sheShabbat zo tashreh when saying this blessing for a holiday

    TRANSLATION

    May this Shabbat [holiday] bring us light, joy, and peace.

  • HEBREW TEXT

    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ
    אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
     בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן.

    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ
     אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
     אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֺתָיו וְרָֽצָה בָֽנוּ,
     וְשַׁבַּת קׇדְשׁוֹ
     בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָֽנוּ,
     זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית.
     כִּי הוּא יוֹם תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָֽאֵי קֹֽדֶשׁ,
    זֵֽכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָֽיִם.
     כִּי בָֽנוּ בָחַֽרְתָּ, וְאוֹתָֽנוּ קִדַּֽשְׁתָּ
     מִכׇּל הָעַמִּים.
     וְשַׁבַּת קׇדְשְׁךָ
     בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ.
    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ, מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת.

    TRANSLITERATION

    Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei p’ri hagafen.

    Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’ratzah vanu, v’Shabbat kodsho b’ahavah uv’ratzon hinchilanu, zikaron l’maaseih v’reishit. Ki hu yom t’chilah l’mikra-ei kodesh, zecher litziat Mitzrayim. Ki vanu vacharta, v’otanu kidashta, mikol haamim. V’Shabbat kodsh’cha b’ahavah uv’ratzon hinchaltanu. Baruch atah, Adonai, m’kadeish haShabbat.

    TRANSLATION

    Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

    Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who finding favor with us, sanctified us with mitzvot. In love and favor, You made the holy Shabbat our heritage as a reminder of the work of Creation. As first among our sacred days, it recalls the Exodus from Egypt. You chose us and set us apart from the peoples. In love and favor You have given us Your holy Shabbat as an inheritance. Blessed are You, Adonai, who sanctifies Shabbat. 

    ABBREVIATED KIDDUSH:

    HEBREW TEXT

    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ,
    מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן.

    TRANSLITERATION

    Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei p’ri hagafen.

    TRANSLATION

    Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. text goes here

  • HEBREW TEXT

    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ.

    TRANSLITERATION

    Baruch atah, Adonai
    Eloheinu melech haolam,
    hamotzi lechem min haaretz.

    TRANSLATION

    Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Interested in more family-friendly commentary about each Torah portion? We recommend

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