A Special Shabbat Service, Friday July 30th

Please join us for a special service on Friday, July 30th.  Pastor Keni Ashby will speak on “Understanding the relationship between Christians and Jews.”  Following the service, Rabbi Sirbu and Pastor Ashby will speak about their recent trip to Alabama.

Shabbat service at the State Line Lookout, August 20th

Friday August 20th Temple Emeth will once again join Temple Beth El of Closter for a service to be held at the State Line Lookout along the Palisades Parkway.  The service will begin at 6:30PM and will be preceded by a short hike at 5:15PM.

Temple Emeth Seder on March 30

Please join your Temple Emeth friends and family as we celebrate the second night of Passover at the annual Congregational Passover Seder on Tuesday, March 30th at 6:00 p.m. Once again, our prices remain exactly where they have been for the past three years, so that everyone who wants may come and eat. Early-bird prices (below) are in effect from now until February 28th. After February 28th, adult prices will increase by $4 and children’s prices by $2.

For details, click here for our PDF-format entry form.

February Tot Shabbat moved to February 20th

February’s Tot Shabbat has also been moved to the third Saturday of the month, on February 20th at 9:30. Members and nonmembers are both invited to bring their young children (up to five years old) to the sanctuary for a kid’s service.

Shabbat Shirah Choir Service

Kol Emet, the Temple Emeth adult choir, will be featured on Shabbat Shirah, Friday, January 29 – the Sabbath of Song.

Shabbat Shirah will be a participatory sung service for cantor, choir and congregation. The service is highlighted by the chanting of the Song of the Sea, from Exodus, a poem which, according to tradition, was sung by the Israelites after crossing the Red sea and escaping from the Egyptian army. Please join us for a special musical evening.

Healing Service

Temple Emeth is pleased to announce our next Shabbat Healing Service on Friday, November 27 at 8:00 p.m. With guitar music and readings that help us connect to God even in difficult times, this service is for anyone looking for a more intimate way to worship.

Temple Emeth welcomes Temple Beth El

Temple Emeth is pleased to welcome Temple Beth El of Northern Valley to worship with us on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

We will be having a Shabbat Healing Service that evening which will focus on the ways we find closeness to God, even in difficult times.

To honor our guests, we will read the Beth El Mi Shebeirach and Yahrzeit lists. Those who attend will–in the spirit of Hinei Mah Tov–see how nice it is when members of two congregations sit together in prayer.

Learners’ Service on Saturday

Temple Emeth will be presenting a special Learner’s Service this Saturday, September 26, at 10:30 a.m. The topic is, do we pray differently between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?  The words of our prayers are different to reflect our theology and yearnings at this season.  More importantly, at such an emotional and spiritual time of year, the nature of our prayers may be different too.  At this service we will address the differences—both literal and spiritual—and discuss how to make the most of prayer at this time of year.

Simchat Shabbat for 5-9 year olds

Do you…

• Have fond memories of Tot Shabbat, even though you are too old for it now?
• Want to celebrate Shabbat without having to worry about staying out past bedtime?
• Want to be part of the warm and vibrant Temple Emeth community?

Then Simchat Shabbat is for you!

Simchat Shabbat (translation: the Joy of Shabbat) is a new service for 5- to 9-year-olds and their families.  This age-appropriate service is for both Temple members and non-members.  Bring a friend, learn a new song, have a bagel, and experience the Joy of Shabbat at Temple Emeth.

Please join us, Sunday October 31, at 9:15 am on the bima at Temple Emeth. Then stay for food and friendship.

The next Simchat Shabbat services will be Nov. 21 at 9:15 and Dec. 12 at 10:30 am.

New Shabbat Service schedule

On the second and (when applicable) fifth Fridays of the month, Temple Emeth services take on the character of the Reform Movement, with a balance of Hebrew and English, a wide variety of melodies old and new, and a sermon by the rabbi or a guest speaker. On the fourth Friday of the month (in October, November and December), our services focus more closely on our relationships with God. On October 23 and December 25, we will have a Shabbat Service of Sharing our Journeys with a Temple member reflecting on his or her own Jewish journey. On November 27, we will have a Shabbat Healing Service allowing worshippers to fully experience the hope and comfort provided by our tradition.

Family Shabbat Services are scheduled for 7:30 pm on September 4, October 2, November 6, December 4, January 8, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7 and June 4.

Shabbat morning services are held every Saturday morning at 10:30 am, prececed by Torah Study at 9:10 am.

This year, as part of the URJ’s Shabbat Initiative, Temple Emeth’s Shabbat Morning Task Force has scheduled creative special services for Saturday mornings. They include:

• September 26, 2009 – Learner’s Service on the Liturgical Inserts for Shabbat Shuvah
• October 31, 2009 – Guest speaker Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman at Torah Study
• October 31, 2009 – Simchat Shabbat for 5-9 year olds and their families
• November 7, 2009 – Musical Learner’s Service
• November 21, 2009 – Simchat Shabbat
• November 28, 2009 – Museum Service
• December 5, 2009 – Pulpit-Pew Dialogue Service
• December 12, 2009 – “Shabbat for All” with Tot Shabbat, Simchat Shabbat, Meditation Service and Learner’s Service
• December 19, 2009 – Shabbat Service with Guitar Music

• January 23, 2010 – Adult Ed Shabbat: “Making Shabbat Special”
• February 20, 2010 Poetry Shabbat

Shabbat Music Service at 8:00 pm. October 16, November 20, December 18, January 15, February 19, March 19, April 16, May 21 and June 18 includes the 8-member Temple Band and encourages congregant participation in singing, clapping and even dancing. Please contact the Temple office for more information.

Tot Shabbat Services – 9:30 am. September 12, October 10, November 14, December 12 (at 10:30 a.m.), January 16, February 13, March 13, April 10, May 15 and June 12. Bring your very young children to sit on the Bimah while Cantor Tilem leads favorite Shabbat songs and prayers. Rabbi Sirbu makes an appearance to tell a story, and the service is followed by bagels for all. Please contact Karen Sacks or the Temple office for more information.

Simchat Shabbat Services – 9:15 a.m. October 31 and November 21. December 12 at 10:30 a.m. This new service is for children aged 5-9 and their families. It features an age-appropriate prayer book, new melodies and an interactive story.