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.
Friday Evenings
We welcome Shabbat each Friday at 6:15 p.m. taking leave of the busy routine of our week. We enjoy Kabbalat Shabbat with Hebrew prayer and song. Guitar and/or other instruments often accompany us. Our rabbis share insights of Jewish wisdom as we reflect on the week gone by. Following our service, we gather for friendship and refreshments at an Oneg Shabbat.
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.
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.
shabbat evening services
We welcome Shabbat each Friday at 6:15 p.m. taking leave of the busy routine of our week. We enjoy Kabbalat Shabbat with Hebrew prayer and song. Guitar and/or other instruments often accompany us. Our rabbis share insights of Jewish wisdom as we reflect on the week gone by. Following our service, we gather for friendship and refreshments at an Oneg Shabbat.
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.
YOUNG FAMILY SHABBAT
5:45 p.m. on Friday evenings: October 5, November 2, December 7, 2018, January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, 2019
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 potluck Shabbat dinner.
SCHOOL FAMILY SHABBAT
6:15 p.m. on selected Friday evenings
School Family Shabbat is a musical and family-friendly service for elementary grade students, their siblings and parents. Students actively participate in leading School Family Shabbat services. Our rabbis explore Jewish values and ideas during each service.
CHAI SHABBAT
7:00 p.m. on the Fourth Friday evening of each month
Chai 20s/30s celebrates with an evening service and dinner.
Summer Friday Evenings
BEACH SHABBAT
6:15 p.m. on Friday evenings June 14, July 12, & August 16, 2019
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 Friday evenings May 31, June 28, July 26, & August 30, 2019
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.
Hineni!
10:30 a.m. on selected Saturday mornings.
Hineni! is a concise and accessible one-hour Shabbat Morning service designed to reclaim personal expression in prayer. Participate in a relaxed prayer experience 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.
Huggim – Shabbat Activities
Saturday mornings: December 15, 2018, January 12, February 9, March 9, & April 6, 2019
Each month we offer activities to enhance and enjoy Shabbat together with our synagogue family and friends. Options may include a “Nature Walk and Torah Talk,” “Soulful Shabbat Meditation,” “Religious Views for Secular Jews,” “Family Values,” “Parasha Perspectives,” and “Shabbat in Story and Song.” Occasional Guest Speakers and Recreational Activities will also be scheduled. Shabbat Huggim will be announced before each month’s date.
Family Services
Introduce your children to the joy of Shabbat morning services. This program is a wonderful way for families to experience a friendly service incorporating music and song, storytelling and Torah learning. A Family Service will meet once each month from 10:30-11:15. Afterwards, we will join everyone else in our synagogue community for Kiddush and light lunch.
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.
Wed, June 19 2019 16 Sivan 5779