PRAYER SERVICES

Adat Shalom is a traditional egalitarian congregation. We are traditional in that the liturgy is presented mostly in Hebrew, with the triennial Torah portion chanted each week. We are egalitarian in that we provide equal opportunities for participation by men and women. While these values are present in our daily worship, they are truly highlighted in the Shabbat and festival services.

In Hebrew, only one day of the week merits a name. The other days are one, two, three etc. leading up to Shabbat, the highlight of the week, the pinnacle of creation. At Adat Shalom, Shabbat begins with a beautiful service of songs to mark the transition from the workweek to our day of sacred rest. On Saturday morning, we offer a variety of opportunities for worship and study, with the chanting of the weekly Torah portion central to our service. After services, we gather for a Kiddush reception featuring good food and company. Shabbat concludes with an evening service.

Each holiday is observed at Adat Shalom with the appropriate festivities, from the sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah to the dancing Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah, to the silliness of Purim to the somber recollection of the destruction of Jerusalem on Tisha B’Av.