Holiday Worship
Celebrating the Holidays: The Sacred Flow of Jewish Time
The Jewish year begins with the Days of Awe (yamim noraim). We celebrate the creation of the world on Rosh Hashanah, and ten days later, Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). We not only have services that speak to adults on their level, but also services aimed at toddlers, school age children, and teenagers.
On each of the three pilgrimage festivals (chagim) — Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot — services are held at 9:00am on both the first and concluding days. Yizkor (memorial prayers) are included on the last day of Sukkot (Sh’mini Atzeret-Simchat Torah) and Pesach.
We believe in the full emotional range of Jewish observance! We celebrate Purim and Simchat Torah with a strong emphasis on family involvement and joy — even frivolity!
Selichot is September 17, 2022 (21 Elul, 5783)
Prayers for forgiveness, or Selichot, are recited in preparation for the coming new year. We gather together for services and study on Saturday evening, September 17 beginning at 7:00pm
7:00pm Selichot Program
9:00pm Refreshments and Social Time, followed by Havdalah (Observance for the end of Shabbat)
9:30pm Selichot service
Sukkot: October 10-October 17, 2022 (15 Tishrei–22 Tishrei, 5783)
Sukkot Dinner:
Reform Sukkot Service: Sunday, October 9
Conservative Sukkot Service: Monday, October 10
Beginning five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is named after the booths or huts (sukkot in Hebrew) in which Jews are supposed to dwell during this week-long celebration. According to rabbinic tradition, these flimsy sukkot represent the huts in which the Israelites dwelt during their forty years of wandering in the desert after escaping from slavery in Egypt. The festival of Sukkot is one of the three great pilgrimage festivals (chaggim or regalim) of the Jewish year. For more information, see Sukkot 101 (courtesy of MyJewishLearning.com).
Simchat Torah: October 18-October 19, 2022 (23 Tishrei-24 Tishrei, 5783)
Reform Simchat Torah Service: Sunday, October 16
Simchat Torah celebrates the conclusion of one and the beginning of another annual cycle of readings from the Torah. It is celebrated at Temple Beth Abraham by unrolling the Torah scroll and wrapping it around all the children in the synagogue
This year, at Simchat Torah, Temple Beth Abraham will hold Consecration, where we invite our new Religious School students to be recognized with a special blessing on the bimah.
Conservative Services for Shemini Atzeret (the conclusion of Sukkot) and Simchat Torah with Yizkor will be October 17, 2022 at
Chanukah is December 19-26, 2022
Bring your Chanukiah and candles for the seventh night of Chanukah
Chanukah Dinner (with Latkes!):
Shabbat Service:
]Tu B’Shevat is February 5-6, 2023
Tu B’Shevat or the “New Year of the Trees” is Jewish Arbor Day. The holiday is observed on the 15th (tu) of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Today, many Jews hold a seder where Israeli fruits, nuts, and seeds are exhibited and eaten. The holiday also has become a tree-planting festival in Israel, in which Israelis and Jews around the world plant trees in honor or in memory of loved ones and friends. You can do so here:
Jewish National Fund Tree Planting Center
Purim: March 6-7, 2023
Purim Dinner:
Purim Service and Shpiel:
Passover will be March 5-13, 2023
The first two days of Passover (from sundown of the first date listed, until nightfall two days later) are full-fledged, no-work-allowed holiday days. The subsequent four days are Chol Hamoed, when work is allowed, albeit with restrictions. Chol Hamoed is followed by another two full holiday days.
Passover is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder (meaning “order”) and a festive meal; the prohibition of chametz (leaven); and the eating of matzah (an unleavened bread). Jews gather with family and friends in the evening to read from a book called the haggadah, meaning “telling,” which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings, and songs for the Passover seder.
If you are looking for a seder to attend, please contact Rabbi David Holtz or Cantor Margot Goldberg and we will find a place for you as a guest at a congregant’s home.
Conservative Services for Passover VIII (the conclusion of Passover) with Yizkor will be April 4, 2021 at
Yom HaShoah Commemoration-Holocaust Remembrance Day
Thursday, April 18, 2023 at
We gather as a congregation to hear words of witness and memory
The service will include a memorial candle lighting. All are urged to attend and this service is appropriate for children aged 8 and up.
[/toggle]
Yom Ha’Atzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day
Friday, April 25, 2023
This day was created in memory of those who lost their lives creating and defending the State of Israel (Israel’s Memorial Day – יום הזכרון)
Shavuot is May 25-27, 2023
Shavuot is the festival that marks the giving of the Torah
During this service, we will celebrate the
CONFIRMATION CLASS
and also hold a culmination of
EVERY1COUNTS, our COUNTING THE OMER program
Sunday,
6:00pm Erev Shavuot Dinner (reservations required)
7:00pm Erev Shavuot services
9:30pm Oneg
Shavuot Morning Service in the Conservative tradition, including Yizkor