Shavuot 5786:
Adult B'nai Mitzvah –
The Journey Never Ends
Thursday, May 21
7:00 PM: Erev Shavuot Festival Services
7:30 PM - Late: Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Shavuot 5786 Livestream
7:00 PM Erev Shavuot Festival Service
7:30 PM Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Shavuot Morning Services
Friday, May 22 at 10:00 AM
7:00pm – Erev Shavuot Festival Service – We'll begin the festival of Shavuot with song and praise.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot
7:30-8:30pm Opening Learning Session
While b’nai mitzvah is historically the quintessential coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish children at the age of 13, adult b’nai mitzvah is a relatively modern custom. We will trace its roots to the 1970’s, its growth through the decades, and how it has become a standard adult ritual in so many synagogues. Then we will hear the moving stories from Temple Emanu-El members who have become adult b’nai mitzvah and the impact this journey had on them. We will then end with a special blessing for all our Adult B’nai Mitzvah students over the years.
8:30 – Cheesecake
8:45 – 9:30 -Class Session #1 - 3 Options
You’ve Got This! Learn to Chant Torah in 45 Minutes
Cantor Ilana Goldman
Ever wonder how our b’nai mitzvah students actually learn to chant Torah? We’ll try it ourselves, learning a short piece together from scratch, with a bit of basic trope. We’ll work from a tikkun, the traditional practice text, a name that reminds us that learning Torah together is, in its own way, an act of repairing the world.
The Shema: Our Creed
Rabbi Becky Jaye
Dive deep into the Shema and learn about how it became the central creed of the Reform prayer service. Discover why this verse, from Deuteronomy 6:9, became a cornerstone of Jewish prayer and ritual for generations, becoming our ultimate declaration of faith as Reform Jews.
9:30 – More Cheesecake!
9:45-10:30 – Class Session #2 – 2 Options
From Exclusion to Inclusion: The Story of Women Reading Torah
Rabbi Ethan Prosnit
This class traces the journey from a time when women did not celebrate Bat Mitzvah to today. Together, we’ll study traditional sources and personal narratives to understand how this changed happen in Judaism.
Torah, Tanach, Talmud – I'm Confused!
Rabbi Victor Appell
We are the People of the Book – and lots of them! What is the difference between Torah and Tanach? How big is the Talmud? Where do I find the midrash? We will look at the timeline of some of the many sacred texts of Judaism, examine their authorship, and how these conversations across times and places are all interconnected.
An Adult B’nai Mitzvah: Creating Your Own Experience
Rabbi Charles Lightner
Join Rabbi Lightner as he shares his own experience becoming an Adult B’nai Mitzvah and the texts, tools, and insights that you can use to create your own meaningful experience. In this class, you’ll study the rich canon of Jewish literature.
Shavuot Morning Services
Friday, May 22 at 10:00 AM
Join us for a morning worship service commemorating the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai. Our service will include the chanting of the Ten Commandments and the beautiful words from the Book of Ruth. Shavuot is one of the four holidays on which we come together as a community for the Yizkor Memorial Service to remember and honor loved ones who have died. We will end our service with reflection and psalms of mourning.
Roots and First Fruits
A Shavuot Wine and Cheese Tasting Event
Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 PM
Join us this Shavuot for a special evening of connection, tradition, and discovery at Roots & First Fruits - A Shavuot Wine and Cheese Tasting Event - an experience inspired by the spirit of the holiday. Shavuot invites us to reflect on heritage, renewal, and the offerings of the first harvest. In that spirit, this unique event will feature a curated tasting of wines from family-owned estates, each with a rich, multigenerational story and bringing “roots” to life in every glass.
Tickets to this event are $36/person.