Following our 3-month pilot project of different formats for our Friday night and Saturday morning, Shabbat services as follows:
Friday Evening Kabbalat Shabbat Services
Join us for Shabbat evening services, held every Friday evening at 6:30pm. Our Friday evening services may be in person and either Zoom or Livestreamed, or on Zoom only. Please admin [at] westendsynagogue.org (subject: Interest%20in%20WES) (contact us) for access to the Zoom link (as needed) for Friday services. If you plan to attend in person, please wear a mask and be prepared to show proof of vaccination.
First Friday Intergenerational Shabbat - First Friday of the Month
In-person- 5:30PM Tot Shabbat (ages 0-6 with grownups)
In-person and Hybrid* - 6:30PM Intergenerational Service, 7:30PM Potluck
Song-filled, joyful service open to all, featuring our in-house band, and particularly welcoming to children and their families (who help with leadership!). A dairy/parve potluck dinner follows.
Livestream Kabbalat Shabbat - Second Friday of the Month
In-Person and Zoom - 5:45PM Kafe Kadosh
In-Person and Livestream**- 6:30PM-7:30PM Service
Pre-service nosh and schmooze, followed by a warm, musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Shabbat Shir in the Round - Third Friday of the Month
In-person and Livestream** - Friday May 19, 2023 - 6:30PM Service
Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service in the round.
(Please note change for May 19th: No 6:30-7:00 song share; Service will begin at 6:30pm)
Hybrid Kabbalat Shabbat - Fourth Friday of the Month
In-Person and Hybrid* - 6:30PM-7:30PM Service
In-Person- 7:30PM Oneg
Warm, musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service, followed by nosh and schmooze downstairs
Fifth Friday HaMinyan - Fifth Friday of the Month
Format varies - 6:30PM Service (will be announced whether Zoom only, or In-Person and Hybrid*)
Lay-led themed Shabbat conducted by lay leaders within the WES community. These might be Zoom, Livestream** or Hybrid* depending upon leader preference.
Saturday Morning Shabbat Services
Saturday morning services are in person and either Zoom or Livestreamed. Please admin [at] westendsynagogue.org (Interest%20in%20WES) (contact us) for access to the Zoom link (as needed) for Saturday services. Services start at 10:00am. If you plan to attend in person, please wear a mask and be prepared to show proof of vaccination.
Shabbat Morning Torah Study
From 9:00 to 9:45am, our Rabbi or a lay leader leads a group exploration of the weekly Torah portion. We seek to discover points of resonance between our lives and the Torah narrative, and lessons that might guide us in our daily lives and inform our efforts to repair the world. All are welcome, and no prior knowledge is required. Torah study is always both in-person and on Zoom.
Shabbat Morning Services
Led by Rabbi Emily and Cantor Melissa, Saturday morning services offer a grounding, uplifting, and prayerful way to celebrate Shabbat. Our services always invite active participation from our congregation, and include both traditional as well as “reconstructed” interpretations of prayer, song, and Torah. (Note that all in-person Saturday services are followed by an in-person Kiddush lunch)
Saturday Livestream Shabbat - First Saturday of the Month
In-person and Livestream** - 10AM-12PM Service
Saturday morning service with Torah service, d’var Torah or Torah discussion, and a mixture of contemporary and traditional prayer.
Traditional Shabbat - Second Saturday of the Month
In-person and Hybrid*- 10AM-12:30PM Service
Shabbat morning service with extended psukei dezimra, 5 aliyot, haftarah reading, Torah discussion or d’var Torah and more!
Third Saturday Intergenerational Shabbat - Third Saturday of the Month
In-person and Hybrid* - 10AM-12PM Service,
In Person- 12:30PM- Tot Shabbat/Kef Kids (ages 0-8 with grownups)
Saturday Shabbat with Torah service, d’var Torah or Torah discussion, and special invitations for participation from our JFLL students and their families.
Saturday Hybrid Shabbat - Fourth Saturday of the Month
In-person and Hybrid* - 10AM-12PM Service
Saturday morning service with Torah service, d’var Torah or Torah discussion, and a mixture of contemporary and traditional prayer.
Fifth Saturday “Dealer’s Choice” Shabbat - Fifth Saturday of the Month
Format varies - 10AM-12PM Service (will be announced whether Zoom only, or In-Person and Hybrid*)
Clergy or lay-led service with opportunity for exploration of traditional and/or alternative prayer structures. These might be Zoom, Livestream or Hybrid.
Our services for Shabbat often feature original liturgical and exegetical compositions by WES members. Please take a look at our Interpretive Liturgy for Shabbat.
In Person - Please note that currently all in-person guests must be masked and provide proof of full COVID vaccination, including a booster.
Elevator access: With the inauguration of our new elevator in March 2023, elevator access is now available to all levels of our synagogue building.
Zoom/Livestream - If you are attending services via Zoom (including Livestream) advance registration is required in order to obtain a link, if you are not currently a member. admin [at] westendsynagogue.org (Interest%20in%20WES) (Please contact us) for instructions on how to access our services on Zoom.
*Hybrid services are more interactive, with in-person participants in the synagogue able to see and hear Zoom participants. During hybrid services, Zoom participants can offer readings, have an aliyah, and share comments in the chat that are then shared from the bima. There will be a Zoom usher to share the siddur pages during these services.
**Livestream services allow Zoom participants to see and hear the service in the sanctuary but do not allow the clergy or in-person participants to interact with Zoom. Zoom participants will be able to see one another, as well as the sanctuary, and write in the chat. There will be a Zoom usher to share the siddur pages during these services. If you will be joining a livestream service via Zoom and would like a name read during mi sheberach or before the Mourner's Kaddish, please email the clergy by noon on Friday with the name(s) you would like read.