Religious Services at Temple Beth Ami

Temple Beth Ami offers Shabbat services every Friday night and every Saturday morning throughout the year. On some Shabbats, an afternoon service is held followed by havdalah to bring Shabbat to a close. Additionally, minyan services are held on Sundays. See start times below.

All sanctuary services can be heard through any telephone by calling 301-309-3834. When answered, enter 9 and you will be connected to the sanctuary.

EREV SHABBAT

1st Friday Night Service of the Month

Shabbat of Song and Story/ Birthday Service: 6:30–7:45 pm –service uses the Shabbat music taught in Machane TBA (Religious Education). A story is told and monthly congregant birthdays are celebrated.

Infusion Shabbat - three times a year, the service is infused with the music from a classical instrumentalist. A 25-minute concert is offered during the oneg.

Hey Class Participation – three times a year, the service welcomes the 5th grade students to the bimah.

2nd Friday Night Service of the Month

Tot Shabbat: 6:30–7:00 pm. - service of music and stories for nursery school age students and families.

Classic Shabbat: 8:00–9:15 pm. – service uses the signature music of the congregation and includes a sermon.

3rd Friday Night Service of the Month

Spirit of Shabbat - Wine and Cheese Social: 6:00–6:30 pm. – unwind after your workweek with a glass of wine and a nosh before services.

Spirit of Shabbat Service: 6:30-7:30 pm. – service consists entirely of participatory music; scheduled to get you home early enough to have dinner or attend a TBA program

4th Friday Night Service of the Month

Kumsitz – Sing-a Longs: 7:15–7:50 pm. – pre-service sing-a-long service teaching new music with rounds and two part harmonies. All ages are welcome.

Teaching Shabbat – 8:00–9:15 pm. – service uses the signature music of the congregation infused with the addition of new music learned in the Kumsitz. Rabbis introduce a teaching and encourage discussion with the congregation.

5th Friday Night Service of the Month

Coffeehouse Shabbat Service: 7:30–8:30 pm. – an all-music service.

Coffeehouse Shabbat Performance: 8:40–9:30 pm - enjoy the beautiful music of secular artists in concert and delicious home-baked desserts, courtesy of the Culinary Crew

SHABBAT MORNING

Every Saturday morning: 10:30 am-12:30 pm throughout the year. Our children may be called to the Torah as Bar or Bat Mitzvah and other lifecycle events may be observed

Chapel Service - 10:30 am-12 noon on the 2nd Saturday of the month in the Chapel - a clergy-run service with lay involvement, followed by a Kiddush luncheon

SHABBAT AFTERNOON

5:30-7:30 pm during non-daylight savings time months. Our children may be called to the Torah as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and other lifecycle events may be observed

SUNDAY MORNING MINYAN

10:30-11:00 am every Sunday. A lay-led minyan for our community members to say Kaddish

FAMILY FESTIVAL CELEBRATION

Generally held on the first days of Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot, these celebrations are greaed for preschool-age children and their families. Led by Cantor Eschler, the focus is on singing and rejoicing. Holiday-appropriate treats follow.

About our Services

All of our worship services are open to the entire community, and to all ages; however, certain services are designed to better meet the spiritual needs of select age groups within the congregation.

TOT SHABBAT – a brief, musical service designed for tots, ages 2-5, and their families are held once a month. Four “Tot Shabbat” services each year are sponsored by the Nursery School and honor particular classes within the school. All are welcome. The remaining Tot Shabbat services are sponsored by the congregation. Services are led from a specially prepared Tot Shabbat booklet. Together we give tzedakah, welcome in Shabbat with blessings over candles, challah and grape juice, sing, listen to a story, and give thanks for the blessings of our families. Tot Shabbat is generally held the second Friday of each month, at 6:30 pm.

SHABBAT of STORY AND SONG – a monthly, family-oriented worship service. We sing familiar songs and listen to a story in lieu of a formal sermon. Shabbat of Story and Song services are generally held each month, usually on the first Friday at 6:30 pm. Everyone celebrating a birthday in that month will be called to the bema to receive a blessing and a sweet treat!

TEEN SHABBAT – a creative and musical service planned and led by teens, for their peers, in the chapel. Teen Shabbat is held periodically throughout the school year. Teens are also invited to join together before the service for Shabbat dinner. Dinner is at 6:00 pm; the service begins at 7:00 pm, followed by an Oneg Shabbat.

EREV SHABBAT – our regular congregational Shabbat evening service is held on Friday night at 8:00 pm, usually in addition to one or more of the earlier services offered. The service is led from Gates of Prayer. Jewish simcha observances may also be included (aufruf, baby naming, etc.).

SPIRIT OF SHABBAT – a relaxed and more informal service will be mostly musical and is intended for those individuals and families who prefer to worship at an earlier time, so that they can follow services with dinner at home or with friends. Spirit of Shabbat services are held on the third Friday of the month at 6:30; this will be the only Shabbat service. Wine and Cheese is served beginning at 6:00 pm.

SHABBAT in the CHAPEL – a clergy assisted Shabbat service on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:30 am. Light Kiddush lunch follows. All are welcome. Opportunities are available to chant Torah, present a D'var Torah, and assist with the Kiddush lunch.

SHABBAT ONEG - Following every Erev Shabbat service, members of the congregation friends and guests join together to celebrate the Shabbat with food and conversation. Each family in the congregation is expected to serve as a host at an Oneg . This is a privilege of membership; it is the opportunity we each have to make others feel welcome at the Temple. You will receive notification of your date (usually once every two years) and the responsibilities of a host. Click on this link to view instructions for Oneg participation .

MINYAN - Every Sunday at 10:30 am. Please come so others can say kaddish with their community.