Services

Our July 8 service will include melodies from Woody Guthrie, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, the Beatles, and more. We won’t change the words much, if at all, because we’ve chosen songs to reflect on the themes expressed in our traditional liturgy — feeling grateful for the gift of Shabbat, celebrating our community, and resolving to help heal our world.

(Besides, we’d like you to sing along!)

Per request from one of our beloved youngsters, please wear your Or Olam T-shirts if you have them. Feel free to match up their radiant blue tones with red and white. Or just wear American colors. As you wish, of course.

Please join us for a Kabbalat Shabbat feelin’ altogether groovy…..

Event: Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Date: July 08 at 7 pm
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord.

Korach on one side; Moses on the other. The two face off over leadership, holiness, and God’s real intentions.

Who will win the battle? The upstart Korach or the much-beleaguered Moses? Is the battle really about who has the right to lead in the first place?

Join us as we see Torah presented as we’ve never seen it before at our June 24th Kabbalat Shabbat service in 3d!

Why didn’t our own Sunday School teachers talk to us about the how’s and why’s of our Shabbat services? Why do we stand for the Amidah but sit during the Shema? How should we handle our Torah, wrap it and hold it?

Our next service is about the Way Things Work at a Jewish service. We’ll take the essential components and explore what we do and why through stories, legends, and even Jewish jokes.

Then we can turn to greet the Sabbath bride knowing why we turned in the first place. Then we can rise for the Barchu together with the wonderfully communal intention that that act deserves.

Join us for our next Shabbat service and learn together with us!

In this week’s parsha, B’har, the Israelites are given a vision of a world of equals. According to the laws of this parsha, no human being can be condemned to perpetual servitude, there are provisions for the forgiveness of debts, and every fifty years all land returns to its original owners. Since all the earth and its inhabitants belong to God, no one can lay exclusive and permanent claim to land or people.

The rabbis say that this parsha teaches us that all human beings deserve the respect and care that prevents their utter degradation. But to care for each other, we must know that we are connected. At this service, we’ll hear a story that tells us why understanding that we are connected is the key to our survival, our freedom, and our chance at a jubilee of our own.

If, however, he is poor, and his means are insufficient… (Parsha Metzora)

Toddlers learn two important words: me and mine! But what happens when a child grows up and keeps on saying me and mine? A world in which everyone is out for themselves becomes a narrow, confined place.
At this Kabbalat Shabbat service, we’ll hear a story that teaches us one of Judaism’s most important values – that of giving. We’ll learn why the rabbis remind us that each act of generosity leads to another.

We’ll also sing our Religious School’s recently adopted tikkun olam song, beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat prayers, and, perhaps, a special song to welcome (finally!) spring.

Leviticus begins with a charming reminder. In our Torah, the aleph of the first word (call) is written half the usual size. Why? Because Moses and God had a difference of opinion over whether Moses should write “the Lord called” or “the Lord appeared/happened upon Moses.” Leviticus begins by noting the value of humility.

At our service, we’ll hear the story of a very special king who understood how important it is not to take yourself so very seriously. In keeping with our theme and the nature of Shabbat, the music will be joyous, the instruments will multiply, and we’ll all have fun.

Location: McGill Baptist Church, Concord 5300 Poplar Tent Road

Everyone Whose Spirit Moved Him Came, Bringing to the Lord his Offering (Ex. 35:21)

This beautiful passage in Torah describes the Israelites as so moved that they bring Moses more gifts than are actually needed (just imagine!). The text describes the rich and extraordinary nature of those gifts and highlights – in particular – the role of the Israelite women. The entire community participates with a whole heart.

In this moment, the Israelites know what it is to be a sacred community. They have a holy purpose: Building a Tabernacle that will sanctify the space in which they affirm their relationship with YHVH.

During this service, we will discuss the nature of giving and becoming in our own age, with our own hearts, together with our congregation.

These are the Rules that you Have Set Before Them

Almost half way through the Jewish year, we come upon the first body of Torah legislation.  Narrative is set aside.  Here, we learn how to create a just society.  Arson, lending, caring for the stranger and the needy among the people – all this and more is treated in this parsha.  The Hebrew Bible treats these and other matters of social justice in detail.

At this service, we’ll see how, and why.  Please join us and learn how deeply our ancient forebears thought about human needs and human rights.

It’s the darkest night of the year. And not only that, the longest night of the year. What are the people of Chelm to do? Why, capture the moon!

It’s our last service of 2010. But we will enjoy a cozy Kabbalat Shabbat, and find out how the Jews of Chelm overcame their sadness and fear when gloomy and long, black nights took away the light.

Join us for a service of sweet song and joyous prayer at our usual location (McGill Baptist Church, Concord). We hope to see you there!