In Parshat Tetzaveh, God instructs that Aaron should burn an incense offering in the Tabernacle every day. Does God need these offerings, or are they for our own benefit? Our Friday night service begins at 6:00 p.m. and concludes around 6:50 p.m. This week I will lead the davening and share a teaching.
Our service is designed to create a buffer between the work week and Shabbat rest. We aim to make the atmosphere like a family shabbat table complete with Candle Lighting, Blessing one another, Kiddush, and Motzei. Before and after the service we take time to check in with one another and share greetings (feel free to log on early). Our service has been abridged for ZOOM but includes familiar and new melodies, readings from the margins of the siddur, and some learning.
SHABBAT MORNING:
Togetherness
Parshat Tetzaveh (Ex. 27:20-30:10) includes the details of the priestly garments, including the High Priest’s breastplate, whose jewels represent each of the twelve tribes. How do these symbols help the priests get into the right frame of mind for their sacred work? What can they teach us about the power of kavanah, intention?
Our Shabbat morning service begins at 10 a.m. in person in our sanctuary. The service will also be available virtually via Zoom, not LiveControl. Sam Evans will read Torah, Marci Shaw will read Haftorah, and I will lead services and offer a teaching. Services will conclude around noon and will be followed by a kiddush luncheon. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Lisa Feld
We Want YOU… to be a Gabbai!
Our talented gabbais fulfill a number of important roles during Shabbat and holiday services: distributing honors, calling people up to the Torah, coaching honorees who are less familiar with the Torah blessings and choreography, and supporting our Torah readers by following along with the reading and offering gentle correction. We are seeking to train volunteers in these skills; if you have always wanted to be more involved in our prayer services and strengthen your knowledge and confidence, this is a great opportunity.
Volunteers should have solid Hebrew skills and be willing to commit to arriving in the sanctuary by 10:15 to help the First Gabbai distribute honors on days when you are training or serving. We will provide training, mentorship, and materials for practice/study. If you are interested, please send an email toritual@bnaitikvahma.org.
Simcha Shabbat & Kiddush
We encourage you to sponsor a kiddush to mark a simcha, celebrate a birthday, anniversary, commemorate a yahrzeit, honor an individual's accomplishment, or just to enhance our Shabbat. Since not every kiddush is sponsored, we hope you will consider a contribution to the kiddush fund so we can provide a kiddush every week. All sponsors are much appreciated and will be acknowledged.
We have streamlined this process to make it easier than ever-- come see our new kiddush sponsorship page on the website!
Starbucks Shabbat: Saturdays at 12 PM onZOOM Enjoy an informal cup of joe while discussing various topics from the weekly parsha to current events. No RSVP needed; come regularly or pop in!
Rabbi Gordon sends a weekly email to the congregation keying us into some of the special aspects of this coming Shabbat and possibly some other events or items we should be aware of.