The Sabbath Service Friday Night

The Service begins in song. 

Everyone is encouraged to join in the songs... most of the words are transliterated in the prayer book.

BARECHU

The beginning prayer to set the mood.  The leader asks the question: "Can you praise God?"

and the congregation answers "Yes, we can praise God."

MA'ARIV ARAVIM

A reflection of Creation and time.  Day to Night, Month to Year, Season to Season.

AHAVAT OLAM

Revelation of God and of Torah.  A prayer we sing about God's Love and the Law of the Torah.

SHEMA

Hear O Israel.  The Eternal One is our God, The Eternal God alone!

There is ONE GOD! The most important prayer of all Jewish people everywhere

is the simple declaration of God's monotheistic existence. But it’s meaning transcends the translation as it holds the faith of Jews everywhere in this simple declaration.

V'AHAVTA

The prayer that follows the Shema tells of the ways we are to remember that God is One. Love God with

all your heart.  Teach this to your children.  Remember it at all times. Put reminders of this all around you. 

Remember the commandments.

EMET & MiKHAMOKHA

A prayer about Truth and Redemption followed by the declaration of God's uniqueness.

"Who is like God?  Only God is like God..." 

This prayer was sung by the Israelites after the miracle at the Red Sea when they were free from slavery.

HASHKIVEINU

Ask for God's protection as we go to sleep each night.

V'SHAM'RU

Reminder that the Shabbat is an important link between the people of Israel and God.

AMIDAH

Means "to stand", so we stand.  Is also called T'FILAH meaning THE PRAYER.  This central part of

the service contains universal & personal formulaic prayers answering questions such as "Who am I?

 Where did I come from? What should I be like? What do I want? To whom do I owe thanks?"

This prayer contains the following:

            AVOT & IMAHOT  Remember all our ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel... and all who followed.   We continue their mission to bring good to the world.

            G'VROT  Confirms the mightiness of God.

            KEDUSHAT HA SHEM  To praise God for the holiness of the Sabbath.

            AVODAH  To ask that our service and prayers be acceptable.

            MODIM  A prayer of thanks.

            SHALOM  A prayer for peace throughout the world. 

(Weekday services add 13 Petition Prayers which on Shabbat becomes one prayer for Thanks for Shabbat)

A TIME FOR PERSONAL PRAYER

SERMON or TEACHING

CONCLUDING THE SERVICE

ALEINU 

Is about hope for the future and Tikun Olam, repairing the world.  It is also a short review of the service.

KADDISH

Is the part of the service where we think about life and people who have died.  We praise God for the

gift of these people's lives.  Take a moment to remember people who you knew who have died.  We ask for a personal peace together with peace for our community.

ONEG SHABBAT - Means Delight In Sabbath

It is customary that immediately following the service, everyone joins for an Oneg Shabbat, to celebrate as a community.