Congregational Shabbat A Saturday Morning Experience for Everyone
with Rabbi Judith Schindler

“More than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel,” wrote the Zionist philosopher Ahad Ha’am. Just as Shabbat unites Jews across the globe who are all studying the same words of Torah and engaging in worship, so too can Shabbat bring us together as a congregation.

The Torah teaches us that God created Shabbat and declared it “holy.” The concept of holiness means to set something aside for special use. Shabbat is meant to be a time when we engage in something other than our mundane, daily activities. While few of us attempt to follow all of the traditional Jewish laws for keeping Shabbat, each of us can distinguish this day from the rest of the week by reserving certain activities for what Abraham Joshua Heschel called a “sanctuary in time.” How we do that may depend upon how we spend the rest of our week. For example, someone who sits in front of a computer screen Monday through Friday could choose to keep the home computer turned off on Saturday. On the other hand, a teacher who is preoccupied with students, lesson plans and meetings all week might set aside part of Shabbat to sit at home sharing his/her life with friends via e-mail.

We can celebrate Shabbat in different ways: with family, study or food, and with leisure activities such as entertainment, the arts, reading, sports or exercise. In the coming months at Temple Beth El, there will be an array of Shabbat morning experiences that include a variety of such opportunities. You can choose to connect with fellow congregants to celebrate in a spiritual, intellectual or creative way — or you can simply come to schmooze and eat. Whatever makes Shabbat special — holy — to you, we invite you to share it with other members of our Temple family.

Our Congregational Shabbat will take place the third Saturday of each month starting January 21 and running through May, and we will resume again in the fall. Why not make it a New Year’s resolution to set aside a day for rest and renewal, and to reconnect with your family, your friends, and your own spiritual core.

Congregational Shabbat - Something For Everyone Come to one component or stay for it all!

9:00 am - Shabbat morning experiences
Choices include:
   1. “Shabbat Shorts” - Short movies from Steven Spielberg’s personal film library
        with a discussion facilitated by Susan Jacobs
   2. “The Anatomy of Prayer: Praying with All Your Heart and Soul” with Cantor Bernard
   3. “What’s in a Name?” study of the weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Schindler
   4. “A Walk Through the Psalms” with our weekly Torah Study group
   5. “Join the Band” - Our teens will create the music for our service
       with Cantorial Assistant Mary Thomas.
       Please e-mail mthomas@beth-el.com by Jan. 11th about participating
       and let her know the instrument you play
   6. Sheva - seventh grade experiential program with Rabbi Barras
10:15 am - Shabbat morning brunch with Chef Lori Pearson
11:00 am - Congregational Service

This service is for and by you, the members of our Temple family. This first month, the D’var Torah will be presented by Dr. Jeff Rosenfeld; Torah will be read by Debra Ferry, Lee Pesakoff, and Jessica Rosenfeld. We will invite for separate aliyot and special blessings the leadership of our congregation, those who have converted in the past year, and all those in need of healing or who are caregivers. There are lots of opportunities for participation for adults and children. If you want an honor in the service, just e-mail Mary Thomas at mthomas@beth-el.com. It is a wonderful way to mark a simchah.

Everyone is welcome. Dress for Shabbat morning services is casual. Donations are welcomed to cover the cost of the brunch. RSVPs will help the staff to prepare properly; you may do so at rsvp@beth-el.com or by calling 704-944-6790. Please reference “Congregation Shabbat” in the subject line or on the message.

L’shalom,
Andrew Bernard
Cantor