Shalom! We look forward to welcoming you to Kehillat Beth Israel (KBI). We are a welcoming egalitarian congregation affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. We hope you find ways to engage with us during our Shabbat services that allow you to find additional meaning in your life, learn, grow as a person, and connect with all aspects of our Synagogue services.
Below is our Guide in FAQ format. There are printed copies at KBI (in the sanctuary seats and at the door to the sanctuary).
You can email Cantor Green with any feedback or questions: cantor@kehillatbethisrael.com.
We hope you will follow along and join right in during prayers. While most of our prayers are in Hebrew, the holy language of prayer, all our books have English translations with which you can follow along.
During Saturday (Shabbat) morning services we use two books:
Both books open right to left, as all Hebrew texts do. There is a page indicator located on the bimah (pulpit) to help congregants follow along.
Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest, but it is also a day for communal gathering and reflection as we renew ourselves spiritually and physically for the coming week. To this end, it is part of our tradition that we come together as a community for prayer. We do this every day, three times a day, but the daily rhythm of prayer takes on a special significance on Shabbat.
There are a few things we ask you to keep in mind as you join our community for this service.
At KBI, all males (Jewish and non-Jewish) are required to wear a kippah (skull-cap, known in Yiddish as a yarmulke) as a sign of humility and respect. With an eye to tradition and change, all others are encouraged to grow into the practice as well. When worn by non-Jews attending our services, this head-covering is simply a sign of respect for the congregation and not an affirmation of commitment to Jewish practices. Head coverings are available in the foyer near the sanctuary entrance.
You may notice congregants wearing a tallit (prayer shawl). It is worn during some, but not all, services. The tallit serves as a reminder of an adult Jew’s commitment to the 613 laws of the Torah, symbolized by the strands and knots of its fringes. As such, it is not worn by non-Jews.
Out of respect for the day of rest, we ask that you refrain from using electronic devices and from smoking in the vicinity of the synagogue. Please turn off or silence any devices that might disturb the prayers.
Children are welcome in the main services, though they may wish to join the children’s services appropriate for their age group. Kehillateinu (Junior Congregation) for ages 7-11 is typically held in the smaller chapel. Tot Shabbat for children up to age 6 is held in the playroom. Currently these programs run every other week—please check the KBI calendar. On weeks where Kehillateinu and Tot shabbat are not available, children accompanied by their caregivers are welcome to play in the playroom at any time.
After the service ends, you are welcome to join the congregation in the social hall for a light meal, called kiddush. More about that as you read on.
The Rabbi (Rav)
The word Rabbi means “teacher”. The Rabbi’s primary role is to instruct and guide the community in the study and practice of Judaism. Rabbis derive their authority from an extensive education in the traditional sources of Jewish texts as well as secular studies. A Rabbi is chosen by a congregation to be an interpreter of the Jewish tradition and a spiritual leader. Rabbis today hold university degrees and are graduates of accredited seminaries where they are ordained.
The Cantor (Chazzan)
Jewish tradition dictates a distinctive musical format or ‘flavour’ (called nusach) for each service, whether weekday, Shabbat or Festival. The Cantor is entrusted by the congregation with the unique musical heritage of the Jewish people, expressing spiritual leadership through song, sacred chant, choral development, teaching, pastoral counseling and sharing in the life experiences of the congregants. Like Rabbis, Chazzanim receive their investiture under the auspices of major Jewish seminaries.
The Torah Reader (Ba’al Koreh)
As in ancient times, text in the Torah scroll contains no vowels, punctuation or musical notes, so those reading from the Torah must memorize their portion. They combine Judaic knowledge with training in the tropes (cantillation, or in Hebrew, Ta’amei HaMikra — literally, the flavour of the reading). Torah readers are often lay members of the congregation. KBI is very proud of its cadre of volunteer Torah readers, including experienced ‘veterans’, adults returning to Torah study even years after their b’nei mitzvah, and teens and young adults following their own bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah.
The Congregation (Kehillah)
The active involvement of the congregation in songs and readings is an essential component of the Jewish prayer experience. KBI is proud to be an egalitarian community. Members of any gender may participate in all functions of the worship. KBI observes the ancient tradition of sequentially calling those who are Kohein, Levi, and Yisrael tribespeople to the Torah, corresponding to descendants of the ancient High Priests, Levites, and the rest of the Israelite population respectively. Members of other faiths are warmly welcome to attend our services and may participate in select roles in the services as allowed by Jewish law.
The following is not a comprehensive list. Please feel free to approach the clergy and/or knowledgeable congregants when you visit, to learn more or to ask questions about the objects you see in the Sanctuary.
The Synagogue (Shul or Beit K’nesset)
The synagogue is a building established for Jewish communal worship, education for adults and children, and social gathering.
The Torah Scroll
The Torah (literally: “The Teaching”) is composed of the Five Books of Moses. It is a scroll which is in the same form as in ancient days. The Torah is the foundation, core, and holiest part of Scripture for Jews. It is written on parchment by a scribe who is pious, learned, and specially trained for this work.
The Holy Ark (Aron Hakodesh) and the Eternal Flame (Neir Tamid)
The Holy Ark is the artistically designed cabinet at the front of the sanctuary that holds the Torah Scrolls. The eternal flame hangs above the ark as a reminder of the continuously burning lamp in the ancient Holy Temple, representing the everlasting light of our One God.
The Pulpit (Bimah)
The elevated platform from which the service is conducted and the Torah is read.
P’sukei D’Zimrah – Preparatory Readings and Songs
P’sukei D’Zimrah (“verses of song”) serve as a ‘liturgical warm-up’ before the rest of the morning prayers service. At KBI, we recite the entire set of songs, mostly privately. This usually takes about 20 minutes at the start of our Shabbat morning service.
The Sh’ma and Its Blessings
Sh’ma is a declaration of Jewish faith and a centrepiece of Jewish prayer services. This section begins with a call to worship for which Jews stand and proclaim, “Praise God to Whom our praise is due!” The essence of this part of the service is the proclamation of our faith: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One!”.
The Amidah
The Amidah is a central prayer in every Jewish service. It is recited standing up (“amidah” in Hebrew means “standing”). It is typically recited twice: first quietly by the congregation, then repeated aloud by the Chazzan (Cantor). The Amidah is modified on various occasions, with content changing slightly according to the day of the week, the time of year, and on Festivals. This section ends with a prayer for peace.
Reading and Interpretation of the Torah
The fourth part of the Shabbat service is the reading and interpretation of Torah. The Torah reading can be found in the chumash (large red books by the sanctuary entrance). Blessings for these portions are chanted before and after each of the readings, thanking God for the gift of teaching and for the prophets and sages who interpreted God’s teaching. The reading of the Torah is usually preceded or followed by a lesson on the weekly Torah portion offered by the Rabbi. This sermon is called a D’var Torah, meaning “a word of Torah”.
The Haftarah
Following the reading from the Torah, we chant a selection from the writings of the Prophets (ie., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc.). This reading is called the Haftarah (which in Hebrew means the “closing” section of the readings). Each prophetic portion was chosen by the ancient rabbis to match the themes in that week’s Torah portion or to reflect thoughts of the season. This reading can also be found in the chumash.
Conclusion of the Service
After the Torah reading, we return to the siddur for the last part of the service. The service concludes with a summation prayer called Aleinu that evokes a vision of healing for all that is broken in the world. Mourners recite a prayer called the Kaddish (whose meaning is “sanctification”), which praises God even in the face of death. The Kaddish is an affirmation of life, of our belief in the holiness and dominion of God, and our hope for a better world for all of God’s children.
On Shabbat and other holidays, we add another prayer service called Musaf (meaning “additional” or “supplementary” service) at the end of the main morning service. The exact content varies by occasion, but it is often a shorter service consisting of several features from the main service, including introductory blessings and another Amidah.
Kiddush and HaMotzi
Kiddush is the Hebrew word for sanctification. The kiddush prayer is chanted over a cup of wine to bless the Sabbath. An honouree ritually washes their hands and recites HaMotzi, the blessing before eating bread. The response to both prayers is “Amen”.
If you’ve visited us for Shabbat services and are reading this guide to learn more about what you saw, we’re glad to have met you. If you are taking a look ahead at what to expect when you visit, we hope you have found this helpful and look forward to seeing you at KBI.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to KBI staff and congregants if you have any questions. We usually have a light meal, or kiddush, in the social hall next to the main sanctuary. You are welcome to join us!
Shabbat Shalom! We wish you a peaceful Shabbat!