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B'nai Emet -> About our Synagogue -> ServicesExplanation of Shabbat Morning ServicesIntroductionAlthough traditional Jewish liturgy contains three Services per day—morning, afternoon, and evening—the Sabbath Morning Service is considered by many to be the “main” Service of the week. Somewhat longer than the other Services of the week, the Sabbath Morning Service provides opportunities for prayer, meditation, study, and communal fellowship. Primarily, it provides an opportunity for Jews to gather in celebration of the Sabbath, known in Hebrew as Shabbat. Our Services include different forms of prayer: congregational singing, silent reading and meditation, and chanting by the prayer leader, known in Hebrew as shaliach tzibbur [lit., “emissary of the congregation”]. The Service is broken into a number of sections. Sections of the ServicePreliminary Service (page 65)This section begins with Birkhot Ha-shachar [the Morning Blessings], which thank God for some of the miracles that confront us daily: the ability to rise in the morning, open our eyes, move freely, and conduct our daily tasks. The Preliminary Service also includes P’sukei D’zimra [Passages of Song], consisting mostly of selections from the Book of Psalms, which praise God and create a reverent atmosphere in the Service. Shacharit: The Morning Service (page 107)The main body of the Morning Service begins with the “Bar’khu,” the official call to prayer. The Shacharit [Morning] Service consists primarily of the Sh’ma and its surrounding b’rakhot [blessings], as well as the Amidah. The Sh’ma (page 112)The first line of the Sh’ma [lit., “hear”] is perhaps the most well-known Jewish prayer: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone.” This is the fundamental statement of Jewish belief, the quintessential articulation of monotheism. The first paragraph of the Sh’ma (Deut. 6:4-9) describes the mitzvot [commandments] to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might” and to teach the tradition to one’s children. This paragraph also describes the mitzvot of t’fillin [phylacteries], which are worn on the head and arm during weekday morning prayer, and the m’zuzah, a case containing the words of the Sh’ma written on parchment, which is attached to the doorposts of Jewish homes. The Amidah (page 115)The Amidah [lit., “standing”], so named because it is recited while standing, is the major liturgical piece of every regular synagogue Service throughout the year. Its blessings include the three dimensions most characteristic of Jewish prayer: praise, petition, and thanksgiving. The Torah Reading (page 139)Since ancient times, it has been our practice to read a section from the Torah (the Five Books of Moses) every Shabbat morning, so that in a year we have read from Genesis through Deuteronomy. The weekly portion is read from a hand-written, parchment Torah Scroll, following an ancient chant. During the Torah reading, various people are honored with an aliyah [lit., “ascent”], going up to recite b’rakhot [blessings] over the Torah. The Torah Scroll is taken from the Ark and subsequently returned to the Ark with great pageantry, including processions of the Scroll around the synagogue. Following the reading of the Torah portion, a selection from one of the books of the Prophets is chanted. Usually related to the Torah portion by theme or reference, this conclusion to the morning’s biblical reading is known as the haftarah [lit., “conclusion”]. Musaf: The Additional Service (page 155)On Shabbat and holidays, the Musaf [lit., “additional”] Service is recited following the Torah reading. Reminiscent of the korban musaf, the additional sacrifice offered in the ancient Temple on Shabbat and holidays, the Musaf Service includes an Amidah and the concluding prayers of the Service. Bar or Bat MitzvahShabbat Services provide the occasions for celebrating numerous life cycle events, including a young Jewish adult’s coming of age. When a Jewish boy reaches the age of thirteen, he is known as a bar mitzvah, which means “a man of responsibility” or “a man [obligated to] the commandments.” Similarly, a teenage girl who is recognized as an adult member of the community is known as a bat mitzvah. As a Jewish adult, the bar or bat mitzvah assumes the rights and responsibilities of adult Jewish life. This passage is celebrated in the synagogue by extending to the bar or bat mitzvah various adult ritual honors during the Service. At one point in the Service, the bar or bat mitzvah is showered with candy, in expression of our hope for a life sweetened by the blessings of Jewish tradition. Ritual GarbIt is customary for males—adults and children, Jews and non-Jews—to cover their heads in the synagogue, as a sign of respect to God. While traditionally men wear a skullcap (known in Hebrew as “kippah” and in Yiddish as “yarmulke”), an increasing number of women do so as well. Our guests may be assured that this simple act of respect does not in any way compromise other religious traditions. Kippot should be worn throughout the synagogue, not only during the service. Jewish adults (traditionally males, and females in increasing numbers in recent years) also wear a four-cornered prayer shawl, known in Hebrew as a tallit. The tallit should not be worn by our non-Jewish guests. The tzitzit, fringes on the four corners of the tallit, remind us of our obligations to be faithful to all of God’s commandments (as indicated by Num. 15:37-41). Synagogue DecorumWe ask you to help avoid distractions during the service by refraining from entering or leaving the Sanctuary:
K'dushah: The Sanctity of the ShabbatIn response to the Divine Command to “remember the Sabbath day and sanctify it” (Ex. 20:8), Jews traditionally create an atmosphere of holiness by refraining from certain activities on the Shabbat. We ask our guests, too, to join us in protecting the holiness of Shabbat by refraining from smoking and photography while on the synagogue grounds. See: |
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