Congregation Shema Yisraelicon

Shabbat Services

 | 

Song of the day!

New Schedule!

Shabbat services at Congregation Shema Yisrael are held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m. at our worship location in Meridian, Idaho. This schedule departs from our previous tradition and is something we are doing as a trial basis this summer. We hope that this change will make our Shabbat services and teachings more available to both our members and guests.

Ministry

We ask that anyone who attends our services please donate at least one can of food or other appropriate item for our efforts to feed the hungry in the Treasure Valley. All offerings are donated to the Idaho Foodbank. Please see our ministry page for more details.

Liturgy

Our services begin at 9 a.m. with praise and worship songs and then continues with traditional Sephardic liturgy including the core of our devotions; The Shema and Amidah prayers.

The Torah Service

If a minyan is present, which we consider ten readers, we gather together for a Torah service at about 10 a.m. where people are called up to read portions from the Torah, Prophets, Psalms, and Apostolic Scriptures. The specific readings from the Bible for the current month are posted on the monthly readings page.

Children's Class

After the Torah readings, the children are dismissed to their class, while the adults continue with the remainer of the readings and then proceed to the adult teaching. The children's class teaches Torah principles at a level more accessible to young people and can include preparation for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah for those approaching the proper age.

The Adult Teaching

At about 11 a.m., after the reading service, one of the members of our leadership presents the lesson in a guided discussion format based on the Torah portion. Anyone attending is free to enter into the discussion. If there is no Torah reading on this day, we will go directly from the liturgical portion of our service into the study. Snacks such as fruit or other, similar, light foods will be available as provided by different people in the congregation. The teaching will progress until about 12:30 p.m. or as long as students are continuing to discuss the lesson.

After the Service

Once the teaching of the adults and children is done, people are free to continue fellowship or to conduct their Shabbat day as they desire. If anyone is hosting a Havdalah service in their home that evening, an announcement will be made at the end of services. You can also check Announcements page to see if a Havdalah service is scheduled.

To find out more about our services and where they are held, go to the Contact Us page. We can be reached by phone, email, or postal mail. The Shabbat Etiquitte page contains more helpful information about worshiping on this set apart day.

Shalom.