Shabbat Services

Bimonthly Shabbat eve services begin at 7:00 p.m. and are conducted by Rabbi Shoshana Feferman using the Gates of Prayer prayerbook. Following the services, members of the congregation host an Oneg Shabbat where congregants and guests can socialize and celebrate the arrival of the Sabbath.

Special Shabbat Services

Throughout the year, special programs are intertwined with the traditional worship service. Speakers with expertise in a subject of relevance to the congregation may be asked to participate in the service, or a service is built around a theme such as music. Members of the congregation look forward to the diversity these special Shabbat services offer.

Holiday Celebrations

All holidays are celebrated as integral parts of the Friday evening Shabbat service and in Sunday School.

SIMCHA TORAH

Congregants take part in reading the last verses of Deuteronomy from the Torah Scroll, which is then rewound to the first verse of Genesis, "In the beginning, God created heaven and earth." Thus the yearly reading of the first five books of the Torah begins once again.

SUKKOT

The harvest festival of Succot is celebrated by Sunday School students building a sukkah on the Temple grounds and the presentation of a special Sunday School program complete with eating a meal in the sukkah.

HANNUKAH

The winter "Festival of Lights" is celebrated with a congregational Shabbat Eve dinner and the traditional lighting of the Hannukah candles in the Menorah. Traditional "latkes" are prepared and served by members of the congregation. The Temple's "Maccabee Fight Song" can be found on Youtube.

PURIM

On the Shabbat Eve closest to the festival of Purim, the congregation is encouraged to dress in costume and joyously read the Megillah about Queen Esther saving her people from certain destruction.

PASSOVER

In the spring, a model Seder is held at Sunday School to familiarize the students with the meaning and symbols of the Seder meal and of the traditions of the Passover holiday. A traditional congregational Seder is held on Passover in the temple community room.

High Holiday Services

Rabbi Feferman and our High Holiday cantor, Debbie Miller, conduct Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services. The Mahzor Hadash prayerbook is read for the High Holidays, and a more traditional order of service prevails, although only the first day of Rosh Hashanah is observed. A special holiday Oneg is hosted after the Rosh Hashana eve service in the temple community room.

After the conclusion of the Yom Kippur observance, a "Break The Fast" dinner is served to the congregation in the community room.

Sunday Morning Shacharit

Every Sunday at Temple Israel there is an in-person Shacharit service followed by Torah Study. Shacharit is a great way to start your week off by connecting spiritually and bringing in peace of soul and of mind. Bring your talit and tefilin if you have them. Send a message to get the time of the service.