Worship services are the centerpiece of synagogue life. At Temple Beth-El, our worship honors the ancient traditions of Judaism while relating the lessons of Torah to a complex, 21st-century world. Rabbi Altman and Cantor Sonnenstein lead our Friday night Shabbat services, which begin at 7:30pm. Congregants of all ages assemble in the Schott-Pepper sanctuary to pray for Shabbat peace as the last traces of daylight fade away. The first Friday of each month is our Family Service, an evening of prayer and music beginning at 7:15 p.m. and designed with our families in mind. In addition to Cantor Sonnenstein’s lively Shabbat music, the Rabbi’s sermon is a story designed to instill Jewish values in our youngest members. At every Family Service, the children celebrating birthdays that month receive the Rabbi’s special “birthday blessing”, including an explanation as to why their birthdays fall in a “very special month”. Throughout the year on special holidays, Cantor Zev conducts our “Tot Shabbat” service where our youngest members and their parents learn Shabbat music and traditions.

We are dedicated to integrating family life into Temple life to the greatest extent possible. We strive to provide opportunities for parents, children, and grandparents to come together as families, and as Jews, to celebrate our rich religious and cultural heritage. Throughout the year there are many special family celebrations at Temple, such as the Simchat Torah Dinner, Selichot, our Chanukah Family Dinner, and Pizza Purim.