Shabbat Services

Shabbat evening services at Beth Ahabah are participatory and joyful. Our siddur, or prayer book, is Mishkan T'filah, the new prayer book of the Reform movement. Our music covers the broad spectrum of styles from contemporary to Classical. There is almost always a Torah service. An Oneg Shabbat, an opportunity for refreshments and socializing, follows every service.

Approximately once a month we have Family services which are more informal and feature Etz Chayim, our youth choir. Family services include a story from the rabbi, a Torah service, and birthday blessings.

Also approximately once a month our Adult Volunteer choir, directed by Cantor Bornstein and Natan Berenshteyn, participates in services. Our choir and Cantor also present occasional music programs at services during the year.

Several times during the year, we have a parallel Shabbat evening youth service, called Kolot Shel Shabbat, led by our Temple Educator, Ramona Brand, our Youth Advisor, Matt Gaskin, and members of JeRAFTY, our Temple youth group.

At some Shabbat evening services during the year, we honor members of the Congregation (e.g. Volunteer Recognition and Installation Shabbats) and our auxilary groups (e.g. Sisterhood and Brotherhood Shabbats). On occasion we use creative services made especially for the evening and welcome guest speakers to the Congregation.

Approximately once a month between September and May we have Tot Shabbat, an informal Shabbat service for very young children and their families. There is a short service led by the Rabbi and Cantor followed by singing or an arts and crafts project led by our Educator. There will be three Tot Shabbats in the fall of 2009, and they will be held on Fridays at 5:30pm followed by a family dinner.

From September through June, Shabbat evening services are held in the main Sanctuary at 7:30pm. During the summer months, most services are held in the Gumenick Chapel at 6:30pm.

There are Shabbat morning services only when we are observing and celebrating a child's becoming Bar / Bat Mitzvah. Shabbat morning services begin at 10:30am.

Everybody: members, non-member, visitors, and students, are welcome to attend and participate in all of our worship services.

- Aliyah Blessings >>

- Candle Blessing and Kiddush Instructions >>

- Hear Cantor Annie chant the Torah Blessings >>

- Hear Cantor Annie chant the Shabbat Blessings >>

<< Back to top

Jewish Holidays

Beth Ahabah holds worship services and other activities to mark the Jewish Holidays. These services and programs reflect the appropriate tone for each occasion ranging from evening festival services, to a Congregational Seder at Passover, to a party at Chanukah, to plays and performances at Purim. Please see the Congregation calendar for more details >>

<< Back to top

Yom Kippur Family Service

Music

Congregation Beth Ahabah is proud to offer a beautiful and comprehensive Music program under the direction of Cantor Annie L. Bornstein. We encourage our congregants and visitors to fully participate in the diverse music of our Worship Services and our community. Our Adult Volunteer Choir, under the direction of Cantor Bornstein and accompanist/conductor Natan Berenshteyn, graces us with their participation in Worship Services throughout the year as well as in concerts and events in Richmond. The Choir meets on Monday nights from 7:00 to 8:30. Our Youth Choir, Etz Chayim, for children five to eleven, is our "jewel." Etz Chayim, under the direction of the Cantor and accompanied by Natan, continues to delight worshippers and audiences with their voices and their enthusiastic and beautiful faces. Any child in our Religious School is welcomed to Etz Chayim. Our rehearsals take place on Sundays from 11:45 - 12:30. Once a year, in conjunction with the Brotherhood-Sisterhood Mothers Day Breakfast, we present a Youth Recital, in which our young people display their talents on their instruments, their voices and their toes. Our Congregation offers several special Music programs annually, including Jewish Music Shabbat, Shabbat Shirah and an annual Concert. Congregation Beth Ahabah is proud to continue to host "Sing Out For Freedom - Pray For Peace," an interfaith Concert celebrating the diversity and oneness of our community. We warmly invite you to join us in making music and friendships that will last a lifetime.

<< Back to top

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

We observe and celebrate a child's becoming a Bar and Bat Mitzvah during Shabbat morning services. Children becoming B'nei Mitzvah lead much of the service and read from the Torah.

<< Back to top

Religious School >>