Congregation B’nai Torah celebrates holidays throughout the Jewish year. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our children—and adults—to connect with their Judaism in a meaningful and fun way. Visitors are welcome at all of our celebrations and unlike many congregations, High Holy day services are free to attend. Cost should never be a barrier to your participation.
Passover
We celebrate Pesach by remembering our Exodus from Egypt and the joys of freedom. Every year, we host a catered community Seder that is attended by as many as 80 congregants and guests! We encourage everyone to participate in reading from the Hagaddan and singing. Children get a role in the service and after the meal, they search for the Afikomen.
Sukkot
During religious school, children make and hang decorations in our sukkah, which is a temporary hut that symbolizes shelter. The Rabbi explains the significance of the lulav, a plant frond, and etrog, a citrus fruit, and teaches the appropriate prayers. We then dine in the sukkah and enjoy “pizza in the Hut.” We have been also been known to “shake it in the sukkah” by bringing a karaoke machine in for a family-friendly Sukkot celebration.
Simchat Torah
Right on the heels of Sukkot, we come together to dance with the Torah, finish our yearly Torah readings, and then begin the new year of study.
Rosh Hashanah
B’nai Torah celebrates Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, by coming together to begin the practice of looking within. One of the most significant rituals during Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the Shofar, or ram’s horn. It is used as a call to help us wake up and begin the 10-day period of reflection. How can we improve? What relationships should we work on? To whom do we need to offer an apology to make things right?
On Erev Rosh Hashanah, we have our annual Honey Cake Contest. Want to try a dozen different honey cakes? We’ve got you. Want to show off your grandmother’s honey cake recipe? Yes please!
We also perform the Tashlich cermeony at a nearby creek, usually on the Sunday after Rosh Hashanah. Kids and adults come together to “cast their sins” into the waters.
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is the the holiest day of the year. We come together for Kol Nidre services, followed by a full day of services for Yom Kippur. Between services, we offer adult education such as meditation, yoga, and Torah teachings. In addition to the rabbi and the cantor, we have a cantorial soloist. At the conclusion of services, we break the fast together.
Hannukah
Hanukkah means rededication, and every winter we light more candles each night to bring more light into the world. Have you ever seen 50 menorahs all lit up at once? When we celebrate Hannukah as a community, every family brings their menorahs and it’s a dazzling sight as we dim the lights and light them together. We sing songs and eat latkes and it’s a very special gathering that we all look forward to.
Purim
Of course we have a super fun Purim spiel. I mean, of course we do.
