Services

The core of Temple Rodef Shalom is our worship experience — at the end of the week, on Friday night and/or Saturday morning, we pause for Shabbat and come together as a community of people who care for each other. Together, in times of joy, sorrow, and every day, we hope to create spiritual encounter with self, community and God.  

Reflecting the diversity of our membership, we have diversity in our prayer-life as well. We celebrate Shabbat with song, prayer and learning.  Our dynamic clergy team leads the congregation and seeks to provide a prayer experience to which each of us can connect.  Opportunities for worship vary throughout the year; please visit our calendar of upcoming services here.  We invite you to join us!

Pray

Shabbat Evening Service

Each Friday evening, immerse yourself in Shabbat with the music and meditation of prayer and the warmth of community.  Temple Rodef Shalom offers worship that finds itself at the intersection of tradition and modernity, presenting each the opportunity to find their own place and connection. Our services are spiritually and intellectually uplifting experiences. 

Shabbat Morning Service

The young men and women of our Temple Rodef Shalom community who are becoming bar and bat mitzvah join our clergy in leading the congregation in worship.  This open and accessible service includes prayer and music for all and includes a torah reading and d'var torah from the b'nai mitzvah.

Special Services

Bo'i Shabbat

The "Welcome Shabbat" is a shorter, one hour adult oriented service with an emphasis on trancendental spiritual music.  This is the adult alternative to the Family Shabbat Evening Service.  

Family Shabbat Evening Worship

This warm and welcoming service is for families to celebrate Shabbat together in an informal, child-centered atmosphere.  School-aged children and their families participate through prayer and song using the Gates of Prayer for Young People.  The clergy engages families with a meaningful story.   At the Oneg following the service, join in our popular Israeli dancing session and nosh on a variety of kid-friendly goodies.

Tot Shabbat Service

For many of us, we have warm memories of experiencing Shabbat as children, and we hope to encourage similar memories in your children.  This lively service, led by one of our clergy, typically lasts around 30 minutes and is created with our preschool-aged children in mind.  Young ones and their parents are invited to join in Shabbat prayers and music, and are treated to a quick story.  A fun-filled, festive Oneg follows.

Parallel Shabbat Morning Service

Once a month, on Saturday morning, we welcome Shabbat together with this inclusive and informal service that includes a torah reading, d'var torah, and other personalized shared thoughts.  Parallel Shabbat is a participatory and interactive service led by a clergy person along with members of the congregation and is an alternative to the Shabbat Morning Service.

A pot-luck vegetarian luncheon follows the service and all are encouraged to celebrate Shabbat in this intimate setting.  Please contact Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe, jsaxe@templerodefshalom.org if you would like to help lead the service.

Shabbat Hanefesh Service of Healing

The soothing and spiritual music, prayer and readings will offer healing, comfort and support to anyone, and especially those struggling through challenging times.   Led by one of our clergy, this inspiring, uplifting, adapted Shabbat service lasts about 45 minutes and is open to everyone, not just those in need. 

For those who wish to stay after the service, a Sacred Circle will begin after a short break. This will be guided by a facilitator and will allow the opportunity to share personal stories, challenges, and experiences for those who wish to stay. It is our hope that in sharing our personal situations we will not only support one another but strengthen our community.

Shabbat Rocks

Shabbat Rocks is a sophisticated, contemporary musical service designed to create a new spiritual dimension of the traditional Shabbat service.  The music of our Shabbat Rocks band provides an atmosphere of participation - you will find yourself grabbing the egg shakers, dancing, and clapping in celebration of Shabbat.