Shabbat | tbsneedham

Shabbat at Temple Beth Shalom

Shabbat at Temple Beth Shalom is a time for spirited song, prayer, and sharing as a community. We invite you to celebrate with us each week as together we seek rest, renewal and inspiration.

Weekly Shabbat Options

Shabbat Evening Services

Our Erev Shabbat evening services are warm, participatory, and rich with beautiful music. Services feature instruments and voices raised together in song. The prayer book’s poetry and a thought-provoking weekly D’var Torah (Torah teaching) inspire reflection and provide timely insight as we consider how Jewish wisdom might inform our own life journeys. To learn more about our clergy click here.

Fridays | 6:15pm | in person and online

Lay-Led Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Study

Most Shabbat mornings, we gather for a beautiful service led by members of our community. Torah Study sessions take the place of a formal Torah reading and center around lively group discussion and thoughtful conversation with clergy.

Saturdays | 8:30-9:00 AM Service

9:00-10:00 AM Torah Study | in person

Weekly Options

Shabbat Reimagined

This year, we invite you to experience Shabbat on Friday evenings in exciting and reimagined ways that provide even more opportunity for engagement, connection, celebration and joy. In addition to the special programs designed to meet the needs of our diverse and vibrant community, every Friday will also feature a light nosh before services and a sweet Oneg afterward.

Friday Night Lights
Family Dinners | 5:30-6:15pm ; Services | 6:15pm

On the first Friday of every month, we celebrate among friends and family with a festive service designed to be experienced by our entire TBS community and particularly enjoyed by our school-age children (K-6) and their families. These services feature our Youth Choir and age-appropriate spiritual content.

Join us before services for delicious and fun family dinners! Register below.

Dates:

December 1
January 5 | Family Dinner
February 2 | Family Dinner
March 1 | Family Dinner
May 10 | Dinner Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month

Our Guide

Andrew Tanner is a global yoga teacher and public speaker known for his yoga industry advocacy, soulful style of teaching, and unshaken faith in his student's ability to transform for the better. Andrew is proud to have grown up at TBS and thrilled to bring his passion for yoga home.

Om Shalom Yoga | 6:15-7:30pm

This experience creates a spiritual space that centralizes healthy movement and breath work as part of a Shabbat worship service. The practice includes prayers, music, and ceremony woven together into a movement-practice that makes for a unique experience of worship. Ages 12 and above. All physical abilities are welcome.

Om Shalom Yoga will run concurrently with our regular Shabbat services. Both services will conclude at approximately the same time.

To register for Om Shalom Yoga please click here.

Dates:

September 29
October 27
November 10
December 15
January 26
February 23 (Canceled)
March 8
April 12
May 17

Community Dinners | 7:30-8:30pm

Join us after services for delicious food and community connection brought to you by Member Relations and sponsored by he wonderful lay-led groups of our congregation. Open to all.

To register for a community dinner, click on the dates linked below.

Dates:

September 29 | Erev Sukkot “Etrog” Dinner
October 27 | NY Deli-Style Menu
November 17 | Scholar-in-Residence
December 8 | Chanukah Celebration
January 26 | Sisterhood Honored by the Archives Committee
February 23 | Blue Ribbon BBQ
March 8 | Tikkun Olam
April 12 | ConNEXTions+
May 3 | Celebrating Community & The Perlman Family

Tot Shabbat Services | 5:30pm
Cookie Oneg | 6pm

This experience is designed for Families with Young Children (ages 0-5) to enjoy a musical Shabbat and connect with others. Join us before services for a tater tot snack or dinner, stay for services in the Sanctuary, and remain afterward for a sweet Oneg.

Dates:

October 20
November 10
December 8
January 12 | Pre-Service Dinner (5pm)
February 9 | Pre-Service Dinner (5pm)
March 8 | Pre-Service Tater Tot Snacks (5:15pm)
May 17 | Pre-Service Tater Tot Snacks (5:15pm)

Community Shabbat Hikes | Saturdays | 11am-12:30pm
Family Shabbat Hikes | Saturdays | 2-3:30pm

Join Rachel Happel and fellow TBS members for a hike in the woods. These hikes will include time for personal reflection, community connection, and opportunities to experience awe at the wonders of the natural world. Specific locations for each date will be shared with those who register.

Community Hikes are designed for adults and teens and will range from 3-5 miles. To register for Community Hikes click here.

Family Hikes are designed for families with elementary-age children and will range from 1-2 miles, with little to no elevation. To register for Family Hikes click here.

Hikes take place “drizzle or shine” but cancel for heavy rain or other extreme weather conditions.

Dates:

September 23
October 14
November 11
December 19
January 13
February 10
March 9
April 13
May 11

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Our Guide

Stephanie Javaheri is an experienced yoga and meditation teacher. She enjoys using her voice and teachings to invite a sense of calm and equanimity to balance out the wild ride of life. You can learn more or reach Stephanie here: http://sjyogaguide.com

Guided Meditation I 6:15pm

On one Shabbat evening each month, an added measure of Shabbat peace is introduced to our service through the inclusion of a brief guided meditation. Stephanie Javaheri, a wonderful member of our TBS community has, for many years, been teaching yoga, mindfulness, and breathing in a variety of settings – including Temple Beth Shalom.

No registration is necesary; please join us in the Sanctuary.

Dates:

December 15
January 26
February 23
March 29
April 12
May 31

House Band

We will regularly be joined on Shabbat by our amazing house band that will feature multiple instruments, talented members of our community, and special guests.

Shabbat Reimagined

Upcoming Services

Shabbat Frequently Asked Questions

What is the dress for Shabbat Evening Services?

Dressy casual is perfectly fine for Shabbat. However, if at the last minute, the spirit moves you to come to services and you do not have time to change, please come as you are. We want you to be with us!

What if it is difficult for me to arrive at temple by 6:15 pm?

Not to worry. A number of our members come to services directly from the end of their work day. Please feel comfortable arriving any time after the service begins. It is wonderful to see our Sanctuary gradually fill as more and more people arrive to join their loved ones and friends for Shabbat.

What are services like? Do I need to know Hebrew to appreciate the experience?

All of our services feature song, warmth, and spirit and are accessible to everyone. Our prayer book, “Mishkan T’filah” is transliterated for those who do not read Hebrew. Our rabbis and musical leaders guide us through the service thoughtfully with explanations and teachings to ensure that everyone is sharing in a meaningful way. For more information about “Mishkan T’filah” please go to www.ccarpress.org and search for “Mishkan T’filah.”

How can I celebrate a life moment with a special blessing during services?

If you are interested in celebrating a life moment (birth, anniversary, special life change) with a blessing during our Shabbat services, please contact either Rabbi Perlman (jperlman@tbsneedham.org) or Rabbi Markley (tmarkley@tbsneedham.org). They will be happy to help!

Is it possible to purchase my own copy of our prayer book “Mishkan T’filah”?

Of course. To order your own copy of “Mishkan T’filah” (and/or a number of other Jewish books and resources) please go to www.ccarpress.org.

Shabbat FAQs