Shabbat

The heaven and the earth were finished on the seventh day, and God ceased from all work. God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. [Gen. 2:1-2].

Shabbat Services

Shabbat Shalom, a day of peace, a day of prayer, a day of greeting. Come join us on Friday evenings, as we welcome the Sabbath Bride, or on Saturday mornings, for study and prayer. Temple Etz Chaim offers a variety of Shabbat experiences for young and old alike. Led by Rabbi Richard Spiegel and Hazzan Pablo Duek, our services are infused with music, spirituality and will bring joy to heart, mind and soul.

You may listen to and learn melodies for many of the Erev Shabbat prayers at our at our Education section of this website (Music at Temple Etz Chaim).

Shabbat Evenings (Erev Shabbat)

Congregational Service in the Paskow Sanctuary. Join us every Friday evening to welcome Shabbat with your Etz Chaim family. Shabbat evening services start at 7:30 PM. Join us on the first Friday of every month for our Simcha Shabbat service where we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries of our congregants and guests. Also, in June and July, Friday evening Shabbat services start in the early evening, at 7:00 PM., and are held outside on The Warren Family Lawn, weather permitting. Shabbat evening services are always a great way to mark the transition from a busy work week. After services, please join with the rest of our Temple community for challah, pastries and coffee at our Oneg Shabbat.

In addition to our traditional Friday evening Shabbat services, we offer several alternative services throughout the month. Please check our TEC calendar (add link) for dates:

Friday Night Alive is a special congregational service that is conducted about once a month instead of our traditional Shabbat evening service. We roll back the bemah and set the stage for prayer that is infused with an extra portion of music and dance. Musicians from our own TEC family often perform in our TEC Shabbat Band.

Shabbat Under the Stars. During the warmer summer months when evening light is favorable, we move our Erev Shabbat services outside, where spirits can soar. Join the Rabbi and Hazzan for a wonderful Shabbat experience beginning at 7:00 PM on the Warren Family Lawn.

Tot Shabbat is conducted for families with young children (pre-school ages) on the 3rd Friday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Paskow Sanctuary. The Rabbi and Hazzan are there with the preschool staff to bring the special meaning of Shabbat to our youngest members and their parents.

Religious School Family Services enhance the Shabbat experience for families with children in grades k, 1 and 2. These family services, led by our Religious School staff, the Rabbi and Hazzan, emphasize family participation. Please check your Religious School calendar for the dates of these services.

Shabbat Dinners are a wonderful way to start your Shabbat. Bring your family for Kiddush, Hamotzi, and dinner. Come enjoy a delicious Shabbat meal, catered by Majestic Caterers, and stay for services later in the evening. Shabbat dinners are offered on many Friday evenings. Some Shabbat dinners are associated with special school events. Check our calendar for dates when Shabbat dinners are provided.

Shabbat Mornings

Congregational Service in the Paskow Sanctuary. Join us every Saturday morning at 10:00 AM in the Paskow Sanctuary for our congregational Shabbat morning service. Conducted by Rabbi Richard Spiegel and Hazzan Pablo Duek, our Shabbat morning services will carry you into a peaceful week. Hazzan Duek will leave you with a song of prayer in your heart, and Rabbi Spiegel will touch your soul with his sensitive insight into scripture and prayer. On Shabbat mornings when there is no Bar or Bat Mitzvah, our Shabbat Congregational services are conducted in the Winer Chapel.

The Religious School sponsors Junior Congregation on the 1st Saturday of each month from October to May in the Malchicoff Rotunda of the Ner Talmid Education Center at 10:00 AM. Junior Congregation is led by Rabbi Michele Paskow, Religious School Director Joyce Bronstein and Religious School students.

Torah Study with Rabbi Rubinstein is conducted in the Paskow Sanctuary most Shabbat mornings from 9:20 AM to 9:50 AM.