WORSHIP AT BETH AM
Reform Judaism seeks to both revive ancient rituals that have modern meaning, and create new ones to mark important moments in our lives, both individually and collectively. Beth Am attempts to combine tradition with creative experimentation by the dynamic participation of our students, congregants and Rabbi.
The following are some of the ritual practices at Beth Am which
we hope will better acquaint you with our temple.
As of May, 2021 most worship services are held in the Sanctuary while they are simultaneously streamed at www.bethamtemple.org
We encourage active participation by both men and women equally in all aspects of ritual.
Our children become Bar and Bat Mitzvah at Shabbat morning services. These services are identical for boys and girls.
**Shabbat services are held Friday evenings at 7:30pm. We have one Shabbat morning service per month at 10:15am.
**On the first Friday of every month our service is held over Zoom only. There is no service in the Sanctuary.
Parents are encouraged to bring children to all services.
We read Torah on Friday evening and Saturday morning services, so that worshippers at both services may benefit from its teachings.
Young children's services are held on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for children age 8 and under.
In 2016, Beth Am joined hundreds of other Reform congregations in adopting MISHKAN TEFILAH as our Shabbat siddur (prayer book).
In 2017, we began using MISHKAN HANEFESH as our High Holy Day makhzor (High Holy Day prayer book).
Both are fully transliterated, allowing non-Hebrew readers to participate fully in our services. Congregational response to both prayer books has been extraordinarily positve.
Our Temple follows the Israeli calendar of holiday observances: two days of Rosh Hashannah, one day of all other holidays. Yizkor services are held on Yom Kippur, Simchat Torah, the seventh day of Passover and Shavuot.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah dates are scheduled well in advance, with the approval of the Rabbi, Ritual Committee and Education Committee, for those students who meet academic requirements. The Bar / Bat Mitzvah conducts the entire Shabbat morning service and leads the Kiddush on Erev Shabbat (Friday Night).
We consider Bar / Bat Mitzvah to be a beginning of a new level of Jewish learning; it is not a conclusion of anything but childhood. As such, we expect our students to continue their studies through Confirmation (10th grade).
Our Rabbi speaks out on all subjects without limitation or censure and encourages