Worship Services

At Shir Hadash we have a variety of services, each with their own style. Our members love to sing, and our services include music reflecting a wide range of composers and musical styles appropriate to each service.

Adult-oriented services from the Reform prayerbook are offered on the third, fourth and occasionally fifth Fridays of the month at 8:00 pm. There is often a sermon or participatory presentation and on the last Friday of the month the weekly Torah portion is usually chanted and discussed. On occasion, we have guest speakers as well. Once a month, the service begins early at 6:30 pm and is usually followed by dinner at the Temple.

Family services are held the second Friday of each month from 7:15 - 8:15 pm and are specially geared towards our Sunday school students and their families. Often we use a special prayerbook, The Gates of Prayer for Young People, in which the layout and language are especially geared for elementary school students. A story and birthday blessings are part of each service led by Rabbis Aron and Levenberg with either Cantor Felder-Levy or our music teacher Meeka Simmerly.

Early Kabbalat Shabbat services are held the first Friday of each month. On early service Shabbats, cheese, crackers and vegetables will be served for a nosh at 6:00 pm. The 7:00 pm service includes lively congregational singing and concludes at approximately 7:45 pm. A dinner often follows the service.

Tot Shabbat is an opportunity for families with very young children to celebrate Shabbat in a fun, accessible way. Tot Shabbat services take place at 10:30 am on Saturday mornings usually once a month. These brief services feature upbeat songs, simple prayers, engaging stories and taking out the Torah. Come experience Shabbat with other families!

Shir Shabbat services (formerly known as Minyan or Informal services) are held on Saturdays at 10:30 am between Simchat Torah and Shavuot. These are informal lay-led services held in the Library, where the roles of lay leader, lay cantor, Torah reader, Haftarah reader, and drash-giver rotate on a volunteer sign-up basis. It's a friendly, supportive and participatory service where we can practice our Judaism while we pray together. When one or more of our clergy are available, Rabbi Aron, Rabbi Fleekop, Cantor Felder-Levy, or our educator, Rabbi Levenberg, will also take part in leading parts of the service. When the Sanctuary is not being used for a bar or bat mitzvah, Tot Shabbat, or class service, they can occasionally be found there. For more information and a schedule of services, see our Shir Shabbat page.

Children are welcome at all our services, but babysitting is also available. We hope that children will remain in the service for as long as they are participating, but want them to have a place to go when adult interests and children's interest diverge.