Services

Religious Services are held in our Sanctuary on the Sabbath, Holy Days, Festivals and weekdays, with all festival Services taking place on the eve and day of the Holy Day.

Our worship blends the classic Hebrew with English for a more accessible, meaningful experience.  In all manifestations of our spiritual life, men and women are counted equally.

The Friday Evening Service is followed by an Oneg Shabbat, and a Kiddush is celebrated after the Saturday Morning Service.

An Early Family Service, geared primarily toward our younger children, is conducted on the first Friday of the month at 6:45 pm.

Junior Congregation, a learning service for school aged students, is held every Saturday of each month at 10:00 am.

Minyan Services at the homes of the bereaved are arranged under the synagogue’s auspices.

Shabbat Yachad
Temple Emanuel presents a unique Sabbath eve service of togetherness called Shabbat Yachad. Since its introduction in 2001, participants have responded positively to the service's fresh, engaging, almost completely participatory, spiritual and spirited approach to traditional worship, prompting a repetition of the service on a regular basis.

Shabbat Yachad brings congregants together spiritually and physically, creates a feeling of calm and oneness and is highly accessible to worshipers, regardless of age or background.

The service consists entirely of Hebrew prayers set to easy-to-sing melodies. Cantor Mark Biddelman leads the congregation in song, accompanied by his guitar, with the assistance of Debra Blecher, flute: Jonathan Hanser, keyboard; bass and drums. The music draws from popular, Chasidic, and classic Jewish musical styles. Knowledge of Hebrew is not required, as each text is printed in three formats in a special prayer book: Hebrew, English translation, and English transliteration of the Hebrew. The musical portion of the service is continuous, uninterrupted by English readings.

To help prepare for this special service, Temple Emanuel will continue to make available a compact disc containing all of the melodies. Anyone wishing to obtain a free copy of the CD may pick one up at the Temple office.

Shabbat Yachad will be presented bi-monthly - check the Temple Calendar.

Creating a Meaningful Worship Experience

We welcome all to worship with us at weekday evening and Sunday morning minyan, Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat, and Saturday morning Shabbat services and encourage everyone to join in reading and singing prayers. Services can thereby be an opportunity to engage in a meaningful communal experience. As a Conservative congregation, we follow a traditional, Hebrew and English prayer arrangement that allows for active participation through familiar and easy-to-learn melodies. Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat services are enhanced by Cantor Biddelman’s guitar playing and Rabbi Shull’s explanations of prayer meanings.

Our Shabbat morning ushers are here to help maintain the sanctity of the service and to assist and guide those less familiar with our practices. There are times that ushers will close the Sanctuary doors when it is not appropriate to enter.

Guests at a simcha are asked to greet family members at the conclusion of the service, not once the service has begun.

Men are required to wear skull caps at all times within the Sanctuary, and should wear tallitot (prayer shawls) during morning services.  Women going up to the bimah for an honor must wear head coverings.  Tallitot for women are optional.

Conversation and gum chewing during services are not in keeping with the decorum expected.  Smoking, using a telephone or other electronic device and taking still pictures or video are all prohibited in or around the building on Shabbat. Likewise, no flowers or food should be removed from the premises on Shabbat.