Worship
From the Worship Committee
The Religious Practices Committee is dedicated to overseeing that weekly and holiday services meet the congregation’s spiritual needs, and function as smoothly as possible. We try to make everyone feel welcome and special.
There are special times on the bima at almost every service. Once a month the Rabbi blesses all celebrating a birthday that month and is given a one-of-a-kind gift. Come for your birthday blessing and receive yours! Also, every five years each married couple is honored with an anniversary blessing on the bimah. It is a beautiful moment when the anniversary blessing is read and the nachas and joy is shared.
The members of the committee are Sharon Silverman, Michael Gross, Marian Gross, Milt Ziment, Steve Peckman, Irwin Hader, Faith Lessig, Roz Nagel, and Rabbi Cy.
What You Can Expect at Services…
High Holidays
Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur are among the holiest in the Jewish year. There are hundreds and hundreds of people in the building and the atmosphere is filled with friendship, renewal, learning, prayer, repentance and reflection. There are many services which you are most welcome to attend even if you are not a member of Beth Miriam during these days and you will be most welcomed on these important days. There will be special High Holiday pages as the holidays approach with a full schedule and description of each service and program.
Guide to the High Holidays: Find more meaning during the Days of Awe
Shabbat
Every Shabbat is different but you can expect a service that is understandable and spiritual. You will not be lost during the service as pages are announced and everything is transliterated (Hebrew in English characters) as well as in Hebrew and translated.
The services are filled with music, as well. Any given Shabbat you may hear keyboard, guitar, perhaps a flute, vocals, choirs and even bongos, tamborines and saxophone. We have even had an accordion and a tuba on the bima! We encourage singing and love when the congregation ‘sings a new song to the Lord.’ Come sing with us!
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Festivals
We also celebrate Festival service, holidays such as Hannukah and Purim, and, at the end of each Festival (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot) we have a Festival service which includes Yiskor (memorial service). You are most welcome to celebrate these seasons of plenty and freedom with us. Festival services begin at 10 AM on the Festival days.
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Tot Shabbat
Tot Shabbat is our special once-a-month Shabbat service for our littlest members. The service is short – with the activity, about an hour – and is filled with music and a story and Shabbat ruach (spirit). The kids sing, share Shabbat and then go into the Social Hall for an Oneg especially made for them. Parents and grandparents are most welcome to sit on the bima with the children and sing along with them. You do not need to be a member of Beth Miriam to share the joy. Anyone is welcome and be sure to bring your friends.
