House of Prayer

WORSHIP SERVICE

Prayer is a way of expressing life’s meaning in words.  We find fulfillment in worship that is enriching, participatory, musical, and joyful.  All of our worship services are open to everyone.  Everyone – members and non-members, Jews and non-Jews – are welcome.

OUR SONGS

Singing and prayer go hand in hand.  Want to learn a new song, brush up on an old one, or just looking for that line you keep mumbling through?  Here are the words and songs used at services.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT SERVICES

Many people who attend Jewish services, especially first timers and non-Jews, want to know what to expect.  Worship at Temple Beit HaYam is fun, musical, and participatory.  Most of our music invites group singing and we encourage you to join our celebration.  On Friday night we welcome Shabbat with Lecha Dodi.  We stand as a community and sing the Shema.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t know Hebrew or the words – we invite you to hum, tap, and clap along!

About half of our prayerbook is in Hebrew, the ancient language of Jewish faith and worship. Our prayer books include complete English translations and transliterations to allow all to participate meaningfully.

Both men and women, Jews and non-Jews, are encouraged to wear a kippah (yarmulke) during worship, but it is not required. Jewish men and women above the age of bar/bat mitzvah are encouraged to wear a tallit (prayer shawl) during morning services, but it is not required. Wearing the tallit is not appropriate for non-Jews. Kippot and tallitot are available at the Temple.

We ask that you dress for a religious service, but formal attire is not required. Many people wear their neat weekend clothes to services. On special occasions, such as the High Holidays or at the celebration of a bar or bat mitzvah, people do dress a bit more formally—jackets are appropriate for men; dresses, skirts or pants suits for women.

We respectfully request that clothing be appropriately modest. If you’re attending a bar or bat mitzvah celebration, dress for the service, not for the party that follows.

OUR TORAH SCROLLS

Temple Beit HaYam has five Torah Scrolls.  They range in age from 80 to 200 years old.