WORSHIP AT BETH AM
Beth Am Temple infuses traditional rituals with modern meaning.
• Since May, 2021 all of our Sanctuary services have also been streamed at www.bethamtemple.org
• We strongly encourage in-person attendance, while providing streaming for those who need it.
• There is no differentiation in participation by gender in our services or ritual.
• Our students celebrate becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Shabbat morning services. These services are
identical regardless of gender.
• Shabbat services are generally held on Friday evenings at 7:45pm. We usually hold two Shabbat
morning services per month at 10:15 am (September – June).
• Parents are encouraged to bring children to all services. Young children's services are held
on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for children age 8 and under.
• We read Torah on Friday evening and Saturday morning services, so that worshippers at both
services may benefit from its teachings.
• Our Rabbi speaks out on all subjects without limitation or censure and encourages discussion.
• In 2016, Beth Am adopted MISHKAN TEFILAH as our Shabbat prayer book (siddur).
In 2017, Beth Am adopted MISHKAN HANEFESH as our High Holy Day prayer book (makhzor).
Both are fully transliterated, allowing non-Hebrew readers to participate fully in our services.
Congregational response to both prayer books has been extraordinarily positive.
• Our Temple follows the Israeli calendar of holiday observances: two days of Rosh Hashanah, one
day of all other holidays. Yizkor services are held on Yom Kippur, Simchat Torah, the seventh day
of Passover and Shavuot.
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah dates are scheduled well in advance, by the Rabbi, for those students who have
met the academic requirements of our Religious School. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah conducts the entire
Shabbat morning service and leads the Kiddush on Erev Shabbat (Friday Night).
• We consider Bar/Bat Mitzvah to be a beginning of a new level of Jewish learning; it is not a
conclusion of anything but childhood. As such, we expect our students to continue their studies
through Confirmation (10th grade).