Shabbat and Festival Services

Welcome to Oseh Shalom and our welcoming services. We offer a variety of options to meet the needs of all of members from preschoolers to the most devout. Please come by one Friday or Saturday and experience the warmth of our congregation. We welcome you to High Holy Days, Holiday and Shabbat services.

• Shabbat evening services are held every Friday starting at 8:00 p.m., except the first Friday of the month, when we have a family service which starts at 7:30 pm. This family service is often preceded by a community Shabbat dinner that you can join for a reasonable cost, typically $10 per person, $20 for any size family.  The family service features a drash or story geared toward children, lots of music and a special birthday celebration for each month plus a special oneg.  We welcome children to all our services, not just the family service.  Contact the office in advance to join the dinner: 301-498-5151
• Signed Services: Our monthly family services also features interpreted services for the deaf.
• Shabbat morning services start at 10 am Saturday. Children are welcome at all services.
• Tot Shabbat Service: Looking for a fun, engaging, uplifting Jewish experience for a young one in your life? Then come to Oseh Shalom’s Tot Shabbat on the first Saturday morning of each month at 10 AM.  The 45 minute program includes stories, songs, reflection, prayer and movement for children in the age range of approximately 2-5 years old.  For more information please e-mail Jeremie (jwhouse70@hotmail.com).
• Yiskor Services on Passover, Shavout and Yom Kippur
• Annual College Homecoming Shabbat Service for Oseh alumni who have moved on to job away from home or to college.
• Plus special Event Services such as those honoring volunteers, scouts and other special groups as part of evening or morning service.
• Interfaith Jewish Weddings
• Kashrut Policy

Come and Join the Choir

The Oseh Shalom High Holiday Choir will begin rehearsals during July.    We are always seeking additional voices for our choir.  There are no auditions.  No Hebrew reading skills or even previous experience is necessary.  All that is required is that you be a member of Oseh Shalom, above bar or bat mitzvah age and have a desire to sing with us to enhance our worship service.  If you are interested, please send me an e-mail at cantorcharlie@earthlink.net.  I will send you a schedule for the rehearsals.  Please drop me a note even if you have already indicated interest in joining the choir earlier this year.  This especially applies to new members of the congregation.  I don't want to miss anybody. I look forward to singing with you soon.

Tisha B'av Service and Discussion

On Monday, July 19th, at 8:00 PM, we will once again hold a Tisha B'av service and discussion. Traditionally, Tisha B'av is one of the two 24-hour fast days held during the year. During the service we will have a special discussion group, lead by Rabbi Heifetz, read special prayers and readings and chant part of the book of eichah -- Lamentations. Come join us, Monday, July 19th at 8:00 pM as we remember and mourn the tragedies that have befallen our people and celebrate the power of hope and redemption through Tikun Olam.

 

High Holy Days 2010

• Color Brochure detailing services, study options, movies, celebrations, dinners, tzedacah, and much more
• Quick Guide to High Holy Day Services and Events
• Members Package with all forms, schedule, info
• NonMember High Holy Day Package with all forms, schedule, info

Reminders:

• Member children over the age of 22 who are not full time students or active duty military must purchase a ticket.
• If you have a special situation and are not sure how to handle it, please contact Judee Iliff, the Synagogue Administrator.
• Oseh Shalom has a dozen assisted listening devices. Should you require one, please ask an usher when you come to synagogue.

EXPANDED TOT SHABBAT

Looking for a fun, engaging, uplifting Jewish experience for a young one in your life? Then come to Oseh Shalom’s Tot Shabbat on the first Saturday morning of each month at 10 AM.  The 45 minute program includes stories, songs, reflection, prayer and movement for children in the age range of approximately 2-5 years old.  For more information please e-mail Jeremie (jwhouse70@hotmail.com).

Aicha Service for Tisha B'Av

On the Ninth of Av - we will commemorate Tisha B'Av with an evening service and a candle light reading of Aicha, the Book of Lamentations. By tradition, Tisha B'Av commemorates the catstrophes that have befallen our people, including the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 and the expulsion of the Jews of Spain in 1492. It also affirms the continuity of the Jewish people and our ability to  survive catastrophe and continue to prosper. Please come and join in our communal remembrance.
John Riehl

Shabbat B'yachad

High Holy Day Services

What are the differences between the ‘Aleph’ and ‘Beit’ Services?

Oseh Shalom offers two services on both Rosh Hashanah (1st day) and Yom Kippur. The first service is referred to as Aleph and the second as Beit. Both services are led by Rabbi Heifetz and Cantor Bernhardt, follow the traditional outline of the High Holy Days Service, contain the same sermon and, on Yom Kippur, includes a Yizkor Memorial Service.

The Aleph service is longer. The service includes full Torah and Haftarah readings, cantorial solos, High Holy Days choir, and Musaf (“Additional”) service. For those worshippers who prefer a more elaborate service, spending the morning in synagogue and being home in the afternoon, the Aleph service is the service of choice.

The Beit service is much shorter in length, does not include the Introductory Service, and has no choir participation. Most sections of the service are abridged, except the Torah/Haftarah readings. Worshippers who prefer a more relaxed morning at home, a more leisurely dinner on Erev Yom Kippur, a later service that makes babysitting arrangements easier, and a chance to have younger children experience a brief, but complete service, should choose the Beit service.

What special programs are offered for our children and youth? (Registration required, see tan form with program details.) While children may attend services with their parents in the main sanctuary we also offer a separate program for the children on the 1st day of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur from 10:00AM to Noon. The children’s program has been planned and coordinated to provide a meaningful High Holy Days experience which includes age appropriate activities and services. The children are generally grouped as follows:

• Pre-school – Grade 1 A parent needs to escort the child to and from the program
• Grades 2-4 – A parent needs to escort the child to and from the program
• Grades 5-6 - A parent needs to arrange for where and when to meet the child at the end of the program.

Please note that an announcement is made in the Sanctuary as to when the special children’s program begins and ends with short breaks to allow parents to escort or meet their children.

A Special Quiet Room is Available. When small children need a break from the quiet of the  sanctuary, there is a room with toys and books which has visibility into and sound from the sanctuary for the parent and child. An adult must stay with the child.

What about teenagers? Teens attend services in the Sanctuary. Many read from the Torah or take other parts in our service. Some take a break and do a mitzvah by volunteering to act as ushers, giving out prayerbooks and programs, or help run the programs for the younger children.

What prayerbook do we use? The Reconstructionist mahzor Kol Haneshamah: Yamim Nora’im is used during our services. We encourage all congregants to purchase their own copy of Yamim Nora’im (see pink form) if they have not already done so.