Shabbat and Holidays

Our synagogue worship focuses on the joyous celebration of Shabbat and Holidays. Nearly every month on the Jewish calendar we celebrate landmarks of redemptive and spiritual import , festivals of universal, as well as particular, meaning.
 
Springtime brings Passover with images of Matzah and cups of wine and joyous seders, surrounded by family and friends. 
 
On Shavuouth we read the Ten Commandments from the Torah. Our kiddush is replete with blintzes and cheesecake. Dairy foods are traditional as symbolic of the Torah's compassionate teachings, echoing a mother's compassionate , nurturing love for her children. 

Summer brings the sad observance of the Tisha B'Av fast, where we recall the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem, as well as many other sad days in Jewish history. We read from Eicha, the Book of Lamentations, by candlelight, and sit on the floor. 
 
Fall all too quickly arrives with Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkoth and Shemini Atzereth/Simchat Torah. The High Holidays bring the entire community together, with our weekly worshippers and our annual worshippers coming together, rubbing shoulders and celebrating as one.

On Rosh Hashana, also known as Yom Teruah, or the Day of Blowing, we blow the shofar 100 times throughout the day. On the first day of Rosh Hashana after services we usually walk two blocks to the local pond and cast our bread upon the waters as we all say Tashlikh together.
 
At the conclusion of Yom Kippur we blow the shofar again with a final long blast.  
 
On Chanukah, as the days shorten and the nights lengthen, the whole community comes together in song and celebration. We kick off the festival where the community brings and lights their own menorahs! Imagine how beautiful the scene is when the room is darkened and set aglow with the kindling of hundreds of candles as we recite the blessings in unison. Dreidels spin and the music plays as everyone dances and sings.