Shabbat and holiday Services
shabbat prayer & celebration
We call Shabbat a delight, a day to refresh and renew. At Congregation Beth El, on Shabbat we join together as a synagogue family to rejoice in the gift of our lives, to reflect on the week gone by, and to sense God’s presence through our prayer and celebration. You are welcome to join us each week for Shabbat prayer on Friday evenings at 6:15 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the Stone Family Sanctuary. Our rabbis and synagogue members lead us in warm, participatory services.
As Rabbi Shulman teaches, “Two things are all you really need to know in order to pray: who you are and what it is you feel today. In God’s presence we stand and wonder and sway; taking from our lives and dreams the words we want to say.” As our style of communal prayer evolves, we strive to create innovative settings for personal prayer and meaning while honoring the liturgical rhythms and feel of Jewish tradition.
Friday Evenings
We welcome Shabbat each Friday at 6:15 p.m. taking leave of the busy routine of our week. During our Kabbalat Shabbat service our Ba’al Tefillah leads us in Hebrew prayer and song and our rabbis share insights of Jewish wisdom. Following our service, we gather for friendship and refreshments at an Oneg Shabbat.
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Shabbat Mornings
Our Shabbat Morning Service begins each week at 9:30 a.m. We join together for prayer and reflection, Torah reading and the exploration of Jewish wisdom for our lives. Each week our service embraces individuals and families who come to celebrate personal milestones. A Torah Study session precedes our Shabbat Morning Service at 9:00 a.m.
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shabbat evening services
Musical and vocal accompaniment enhance our prayer a couple of weeks each month. Seeking joy, spirituality, and meaning, we seek weekly services of varying styles and moods all of which encourage everyone’s participation.
Each month we offer a variety of additional settings for celebrating Shabbat evenings. We provide different opportunities for all of us, and for particular personal or family interests.
SHIR HaMA'ALOT
An Upbeat & Uplifting Musical Shabbat Service
Join us to raise your spirit and sing along as we celebrate Shabbat.
Fridays, 6:15 p.m. on December 20, 2019, January 17, February 28, March 27, April 24, and May 15, 2020.
NEFESH SHABBAT
Shabbat prayer and song accompanied by acoustic guitar
Join us to revive your spirit and sing along as we celebrate Shabbat.
Fridays, 6:15 p.m. December 13, 2019, January 24 & 31, February 14, March 20, and May 8, 2020.
YOUNG FAMILY SHABBAT
5:45 p.m. on Friday evenings: September 6, October 4, November 1, December 6, 2019, January 3, February 7, March 6, April 3, 2020
Young Family Shabbat is a musical half hour of song and story for our youngest children and their families. We meet in the Stone Family Sanctuary for family-friendly prayer and activities before a dairy/pareve potluck Shabbat dinner. We celebrate birthdays, friendship, and Shabbat together.
ONEG SHABBAT for SCHOOL FAMILIES
6:15 p.m. on selected Friday evenings
Welcome Shabbat by joining us for an Oneg Shabbat (Hors d'oeuvres) before our Friday evening family service. You can schmooze, have an appetizer, (and a glass of wine for parents) and then participate in a Friday Night Shabbat service.
CHAI SHABBAT
6:30 p.m. on the Fourth Friday evening of each month
Chai 20s/30s celebrates Shabbat and community with an evening service and dinner.
Summer Friday Evenings
BEACH SHABBAT
6:15 p.m. on selected Friday evenings - Summer 2020
Our annual Beth El Beach Shabbat evenings are a highlight of each summer. Join us on Mission Bay for informal prayer and the fun of welcoming Shabbat with family and friends relaxing on the shore. A potluck dinner follows our service. Be sure to bring beach chairs, blankets, and your best summer smiles.
PLAZA PRAYER
6:15 p.m. on selected Friday evenings - Summer 2020
We gather outside on the Turk Family Plaza for a musical and informal prayer service followed by a potluck picnic dinner. Think of this as Beach Shabbat without the water! We join on our beautiful synagogue campus to enjoy each other’s company as we celebrate Shabbat.
shabbat morning services
Our Shabbat Morning Service begins each week at 9:30 a.m. We join together for prayer and reflection, Torah reading and the exploration of Jewish wisdom for our lives. Each week our service embraces individuals and families who come to celebrate personal milestones. A Torah Study session precedes our Shabbat Morning Service at 9:00 a.m.
Each month we offer a variety of additional settings for celebrating Shabbat mornings. We provide different opportunities for all of us, and for particular personal or family interests.
Family Services
Introduce your children to the joy of Shabbat morning services. This family-friendly service incorporates music and song, storytelling and Torah learning. A Family Service will meet once each month at 10:30 a.m. and joins the Sanctuary service at its conclusion. Afterwards, we join as a whole community for a Kiddush Luncheon, often followed by Huggim - Shabbat Activities.
Huggim – Shabbat Activities
Saturday mornings: October 19, November 9, December 14, 2019, January 11, February 8, March 14, & May 16, 2020
Each month we offer guest speakers, recreational and family activities to enhance and enjoy Shabbat together as a synagogue community. A schedule of Shabbat Huggim is announced before each month's date.
Hineni!
10:30 a.m. on selected Saturday mornings.
Hineni! is a concise, accessible, and brief Shabbat experience designed to reclaim personal expression in prayer. Participate in a relaxed prayer setting that reflects Jewish tradition and contemporary life. Explore religious ideas and Jewish spirituality. Grow to engage meaningfully in synagogue services, guided by Rabbi Ron Shulman.
holiday celebrations
We observe the sacred occasions of the Jewish year each season. Our joyous prayer services and events on Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot feature the unique ritual symbols and commemorations of each festival. Throughout the year, our celebrations include opportunities for all ages to share in the spirit and meaning of every holiday. Watch for details about upcoming holiday plans.
synagogue honors
Celebrating Shabbat each week, and gathering for prayer every day, we enjoy marking special personal and family occasions by sharing them with our Congregation Beth El family. If you would like to receive a synagogue honor during a Shabbat or Daily Minyan service, please contact the Rabbinic Office.
Tue, February 18 2020 23 Shevat 5780