Our year begins with inspiring High Holy Day Services, with music provided by our volunteer Adult Choir. The Volunteer Adult Choir also provides music for “Shabbat Live” services, “Classical Reform Shabbat” services and other special occasion services. Our worship calendar highlights Jewish holidays and festivals as the year progresses. Worship experiences at Schaarai Zedek include Tisha B’Av Service in the summer and Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah, as well as traditional Yizkor (Memorial) Services on Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot. A congregational Second Night Seder fills our Social Hall to capacity with congregants of all ages. The Temple calendar is also filled with many joyful occasions, including Brit, baby namings, B’nai Mitzvah and weddings.
Family Shabbat Services continue to fill our sanctuary to overflowing. Each Religious School grade leads a service during the year. Our Rabbis’ animated stories and birthday blessings are long remembered by Family Service worshippers. The Family Shabbat Services are enhanced with music of our Schaarai Zedek Junior Choir led by our Cantor. The Consecration Service for youngest religious students and the Confirmation Service for our 9th graders begin and end the Religious School year with meaningful life cycle ceremonies in our sanctuary. Our Rabbis and Cantor lead monthly Tot Shabbat worship for our youngest congregants (birth to 4 years) and their parents. The large attendance at Tot Shabbat Services is a gratifying indication of young families’ active interest in worship.
We participate in an annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with the Palma Ceia United Methodist Church begun in 1954. Choral presentations by the Junior Choirs from Schaarai Zedek and the Church, and readings by representatives from both congregations provide highlights in the service.
