High Holidays and Weekly Services
Our Thursday and Shabbat morning services are opportunities to come together in prayer in a warm and welcoming environment that fosters active participation and cultivates a sense of community and belonging. Led by a dedicated group of volunteers, our services are fully egalitarian, with women and men enjoying leadership roles. We use the Siddur Sim Shalom prayer book and follow the triennial cycle for reading the Torah. Our services are primarily in Hebrew and lean toward the traditional but include many English readings. Transliterated song sheets (see below) are available to encourage wider participation. Shabbat morning services include a short d’var Torah (a reflection on the week’s Torah portion with contemporary relevance), and offer many opportunities for communal singing. On special occasions such as Chanukah and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s birthday), our choir leads the congregation in song. Following our Thursday morning prayer service, participants gather downstairs for a light breakfast. Similarly, a light kiddush lunch is served to all those in attendance following our Shabbat morning service. During Succot, we enjoy kiddush in the sukkah afterwards, and we also hold services on Simchat Torah and Purim.
For the High Holiday services, we use the Mahzor Lev Shalem prayer book and include many English readings. A musical prelude to our Kol Nidrei service by an acclaimed cellist/pianist duo helps set the tone for the evening, preparing us for the sanctity and solemnity of the occasion. When the shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah and as we conclude Yom Kippur with a final shofar blast, we invite children onto the bimah to experience the awesomeness of the shofar up close and to feel the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a ritual taking place at that moment all around the world as it has hundreds of times before.
CBI Shabbat Transliterations – prayers sung by the congregation during regular weekly Shabbat morning services
CBI Hallel Transliterations – prayers sung by the congregation during the special Hallel service on major holidays and Rosh Chodesh (new month)
V’Shamru Transliteration – prayer sung by congregation before the Shabbat morning kiddush meal