Our tradition teaches that the world is sustained by prayer, study, and acts of lovingkindness. Incorporating both traditional and innovative approaches, Beth Emet offers a variety of worship opportunities on Shabbat, the High Holidays, festivals, and other occasions throughout the year. Our highly participatory style of worship encourages individual pursuit of spirituality within a supportive community.

Worship opportunities include:

Shabbat at Beth Emet - To find out more about how Beth Emet celebrates Shabbat each week, read our brochure online.  To learn more about our Shabbat programming, check out our brochure for the 5768 year.

* Kabbalat Shabbat.  At 6:30 p.m. each Friday, we welcome Shabbat with the liturgy of Kabbalat Shabbat. This hour-long service features a collection of Psalms and the liturgical
poem L’cha Dodi, as compiled by the mystics of Sefad, which help us express our joy at the coming of Shabbat. We sing the Psalms and L’cha Dodi with much energy and joy as we welcome the Shabbat bride. We acknowledge the holiness of Shabbat with Shabbat’s anthem, V’shamru, and then provide time with the silent Amidah for personal prayer and the beginning of Shabbat rest. 

We begin the evening with a Wine and Cheese Reception at 5:45 pm.  The first Friday of each month following services we have a community potluck dinner with adult learning and special family programming to follow.  On the second Friday of each month, Beth Emet helps facilitate Shabbat meals in congregants’ homes, where you may continue to enjoy both Shabbat joy and rest after our Kabbalat Shabbat service by lingering at the Shabbat table.  The third Friday of each month features our popular 3rd Friday program, and we offer a catered dinner after Kabbalat Shabbat, followed by programming dedicated to a topic of popular and/or topical interest.  On the last Fridays of the month, we encourage you to worship with the Beth Emet community and then join with your families and friends at the Shabbat table in your home, another place for Shabbat holiness and Shabbat rest.  To make reservations for dinner or find out how you can host or be hosted for Shabbat dinner, contact the office or call 847-869-4230 x 0. 

* Kahal Shabbat. Celebrate Shabbat with these spirited lay-led services, which include in-depth Torah study for adults and age-appropriate study for children. Childcare is available for children under age 6. A potluck lunch follows services on the last Shabbat of every month. Saturday morning, Weiner Room.

* Shabbat Minyan. These traditional, lay-led egalitarian services feature a lively discussion of the weekly Torah portion, read in its entirety each week. The participatory services celebrate Shabbat with prayer, song, and reflection. Saturday morning, Minyan Room.

* Tot Shabbat. Young children are invited to bring their parents, grandparents, and other family members for an energetic and musical Shabbat celebration. Saturday morning, once a month.

Healing Services. Held periodically, these deeply moving services provide support for community members in need of physical, emotional, or spiritual healing, and for their caregivers.

High Holidays. Beth Emet offers a variety of worship options for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Services are held in the main sanctuary for adults and children 13 and older, while Chavurah services are held for families with children ages 4 through 13. A community family service is also held in the afternoon. Children's programming and babysitting are offered during services. Worshipers of all ages are welcome to attend second-day Rosh Hashanah services.

Festivals/Holidays. Morning and evening services are held for the festivals of Sukkot, Simchat Torah, and Shavuot. Morning services are held on Pesach, and Yizkor (memorial) services are held on Simchat Torah, Pesach, and Shavuot. Special family services are held on the evenings of Sukkot, Simchat Torah, the Shabbat during Hanukkah, and Purim. Our congregation also observes Yom Ha'atzmaut, Yom Ha'Shoah, and Tisha B'Av.

For up-to-date information on service dates and times, visit our home page that lists the worship times for the next two weeks, see our calendar pages or contact the synagogue office at 847-869-4230.