This week’s parsha is the source of the famous assertion that Torah is not in the heavens or across the sea, but close to us, accessible to us. How might this change our relationship to Torah, and to God? Our Friday night service begins at 6:00 p.m. and concludes around 6:50 p.m. This week, our rabbinic intern Nikki Golumb and I will both lead the service and Reb Nikki will 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:
Into the New Year
We have a double parsha this week, Nitzavim and Vayeilech (Deut. 29:9-31:30), and this is also the Shabbat on which we offer a Selichot service to prepare ourselves for the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe. What do we need in order to feel ready to enter the new year?
Our Shabbat morning service begins at 10 a.m. in our Seresky Sanctuary, and you can join us in person or on Livestream. This week, Sam Evans will read Torah, Marty Shapiro will read Haftorah, and I will lead the service and offer a teaching. Services will conclude around noon and will be followed by a kiddush luncheon contributed by Jeffrey Weinberg in honor of his birthday.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Lisa Feld
SATURDAY NIGHT:
Selichot
Please join us this Saturday night in our Seresky Sanctuary or on Livestream for a special Selichot service led by Cantor Stephen Abramowitz and a teaching by myself. Selichot (which can be translated as "apologies") gives us our first taste of the prayers that will carry us through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and our service will combine Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions to awaken our hearts for the new year. We will begin with light refreshments at 7:30, followed by my teaching at 7:45 and the prayer service.
ELUL:
A Time for Turning
Throughout the month of Elul, I will be offering short prompts for those who want to engage in journaling, meditation, or other ways of delving deep in anticipation of the High Holidays. Credit goes to my mother, Merle Feld, whose full set of prompts you can find on her website, Derekh.org/elul2024. This week’s prompt focuses on the High Holiday prayers: On Rosh Hashanah the liturgy invites us to imagine God as Creator. We celebrate the birth of the world, welcome new life, are attuned to, pray for, the birth of new hope. What new world/s can you envision in the coming year? Allow yourself to fantasize, be playful, dream.
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 9 AM 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!
B’nai Tikvah 1301 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021 Web: bnaitikvahma.org | Phone: 781-828-5250 Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
