RITUAL LIFE
Ritual Life Beth El offers both Conservative and Orthodox worship opportunities. Our conservative worship services are egalitarian and are conducted mostly in Hebrew with English translation and transliteration in the siddur (Sim Shalom). In conjunction with the Rabbi, men and women act as service leaders. We especially encourage youngsters who have completed Bar / Bat Mitzvah to participate as prayer leaders. Members of our Orthodox community conduct services with regular participation by the Rabbi. Members of Beth El are equally welcome in the Orthodox minyan. We welcome families with children at all worship services. We welcome even the youngest children and provide a toy box in the library for those who become restless. Children are also invited to walk in the Torah procession on Saturday morning. In addition, services for children (Jr. Congregation, Jr. Jr. Congregation, and Tot services) are held once a month during the school year.
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One of our new initiatives this year is called "Shabbat 25": 25 hours of Shabbat programming at Beth El. On the third Shabbat of each month, our programming will give the community a chance to connect with Beth El from the moment Shabbat begins Friday evening to the moment it ends on Saturday night beginning with Shabbat Shira – a joyous Friday night service led by Rabbi Greyber using the melodies of the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, followed by a community Shabbat dinner. Our celebration will continue on Saturday with Shabbat Morning Services followed by a community Shabbat lunch. Later, as Shabbat wanes, we will spend some time in the afternoon learning with Rabbi Greyber followed by mincha, a seudah shlishit, singing, and havdalah. Shabbat 25 represents two important values: Welcoming and Tradition. By creating many moments throughout Shabbat to come to Beth El, we hope to welcome as many people to Beth El and to give as many people as possible a chance to participate in our community. If you can’t come Friday night, come Shabbat morning. If you can’t come Shabbat morning, come Shabbat afternoon or evening. You are always welcome! Shabbat 25 represents tradition by reminding us that Shabbat is not something of our own creation. It is a holiness that descends into the world (approximately) 18 minutes before sunset on Friday night and departs (approximately) 42 minutes after sunset on Saturday evening. September 16-17, 2011 Shabbat 25 Saturday afternoon/evening schedules for spring, 2012: 3/17/12: begin at 5:30pm with Mincha - 4/21/12: begin at 6pm with Mincha - 5/19/12 (tentative): begin at 7pm with Mincha - Please RSVP for Friday & Saturday evening meals to Miriam Cost for dinner is $18 per person 13 and older / $9 per child 7-12 / no charge for children under 7. Family maximum charge for dinner is $45.00. Please mail payment to Beth El Synagogue with “CSD (note date)” in the memo line. Any cancellations made after 11/14 will still need to be paid for in full. Thank you for your understanding. Beth El is committed to ensuring that everyone in our community can participate in all programming, regardless of financial circumstances. If you would like to help those in financial need attend dinner, please consider a donation of $18 or more.
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Come to "Synaplex Shabbat" at Beth El and find Jewish experiences that speak to your heart. In addition to our weekly Mishnah study led by Rabbi Emeritus Steve Sager, our engaging and participatory egalitarian and Orthodox Shabbat morning services and our children's programming for kids of all ages, Synaplex Shabbat will offer options such as a yoga experience based on the morning prayers, an in-depth Torah discussion with a local scholar, creative services with more gender sensitive language, a learner's minyan, a tefillah hike and more. Our community will come together for a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Greyber followed by a communal lunch where all are welcome. Look for one Synaplex Shabbat this fall and one in the spring. If you're interested in helping us get this exciting initiative off the ground, contact Rabbi Greyber at rabbigreyber@betheldurham.org. March schedule will be posted soon. Click here to download the November 5 schedule |
Yahrzeit, Birthday and Anniversary CalendarEnter date (and optionally, name) in the form below to generate a list of Yahrzeit dates, Hebrew Birthdays, or Hebrew Anniversaries for the next several years. After clicking the Compute Calendar button, you will also be able to download the results.
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