Temple Shalom Flyer

 A Jewish thinker who used the pen name Achad HaAm once wrote, "More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel."  And a very prominent Twentieth Century Reform rabbi by the name of Leo Baeck wrote, "There is no Judaism without the Sabbath."

     So it is sad that for so many Jews today the seventh day of the week is just another day without any Jewish content.  There are many Temple Shalom members who attend Shabbat services on a regular basis.  But, unfortunately, there are also a number who attend only occasionally or rarely.  Some of us have lost that sense of commitment which is an important part of the Jewish heritage.

     The following are some reasons people give for not attending Shabbat services:

I can't read Hebrew. -   The prayer book we use, Mishkan T'filah, has English transliterations next to the Hebrew text.
I don't understand Hebrew. -   Every Hebrew prayer is translated into English.  in addition, a large part of the service is read in English.                                                                                                    I don't like to go out at night. -   Temple Shalom has two Shabbat services every week,  one at 7:30 P.M. on Friday evenings and the other at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday mornings.  Take your choice or attend both.
Religious services are too long. -   The Friday evening service lasts about an hour and the Saturday morning service lasts about an hour and a half.
 I don't like long sermons. - The sermon on Friday evenings lasts about ten minutes.  There is no sermon on Saturday mornings.  Instead of a sermon, on Saturday mornings there is a discussion of the weekly Torah portion with extensive participation by the congregants in attendance.
I like to socialize. - There is an extensive Oneg Shabbat with refreshments and socialization following services on Friday evenings.  On Saturday mornings, there is a small Kiddush following services, but everyone is invited to go as part of a   group to Eggs Up Grill for lunch.                                                                                                                                                                                   Many of the things you do in life you do out of habit.  You develop patterns you  repeatedly follow.  Once you start coming to services on a regular basis, it will become a habit.  You won't even have to think about it.  It will become part of your weekly routine.  Just like a weekly mah jongg or card game.  Or watching your favorite program on tv.    

Rabbi David Weissman