Saturday Morning

Saturday – morning is our weekly opportunity to join together in prayer and in study. Our worship starts at 9:00AM with the Birchot HaShachar/Pesukei D’Zimra (Morning Blessings/Hymns of Praise). These serve as a warm-up and to put us in a frame of mind where we are spiritually and intellectually ready to be in a simultaneously personal and communal conversation with God, Creator of the Universe. We thank God for His creative force and for the historical covenant that exists with the People of Israel from Abraham the first Jew until today. Our prayer is a mix of silent reading, song, English and silent reflection, using the prayer book of the Conservative Movement, Siddur Sim Shalom as our prayer text. We pause before the Torah reading to briefly relate the content of the week’s Torah portion and to begin to reflect on how its contents impact our lives and our world. The Torah reading is shared among any in the congregation who know how. Rabbi Goldstein is the primary reader but all are invited and encouraged. Anyone who wants to learn how to read will find a number of willing teachers. After we chant the Haftarah, we study together some of the questions that the Torah reading raises. We continue with the Musaf service, a parallel to the special offerings given at the Temple in Ancient Jerusalem on Shabbat and Festivals. We finish our Shabbat prayer in song and move to the Social Hall to enjoy a Kiddush luncheon prepared and sponsored by members of the congregation on a voluntary basis. This begins with the blessings of Kiddush (wine) and HaMotzi (bread) and with song. After eating, we sing Zemirot (special Shabbat songs) and conclude with Birkat HaMazon (grace after meals). We also take the time to remember those whose yahrzeit anniversaries fall in the coming week. The Kiddush lunch is a treasured time for our community, as we have the opportunity to sit with one another even as many come from some distance to be together.