Congregation B'nai Israel

"A home for your total Jewish experience on the Southside of Atlanta"

 

Shabbat Services

Shabbat services are held each Friday evening at 8:00pm at our synagogue located on Highway 54 East of Fayetteville on the corner of Hwy 54 and Corinth road. Friday night services are led by Susan Levine, our Cantorial Soloist. The music at our services is an aid to achieving kavanah; a Hebrew word signifying the intent to draw closer to God through the proper spirit of awe, humility and reverence needed for prayer. The Rabbi conducts services occasionally throughout the year. All Shabbat services are followed by an Oneg sponsored by a B'nai Israel member.

The Sabbath (or Shabbat, as it is called in Hebrew) is one of the best known and least understood of all Jewish observances. People who do not observe Shabbat think of it as a day filled with stifling restrictions, or as a day of prayer like the Christian Sabbath. But to those who observe Shabbat, it is a precious gift from G-d, a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time when we can set aside all of our weekday concerns and devote ourselves to higher pursuits. In Jewish literature, poetry and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (come, my beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] bride). It is said "more than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel."

Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more important than Yom Kippur. Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.

One Friday of each month is a Family Shabbat which starts at 6:30PM with a vegetarian pot luck dinner followed by Services. Check our calendar for exact dates.

We hold a Consecration Service for our new Religious school members. The school kids also participate in a Shabbat Service, and perform in various skits, plays, and singing during the annual Chanukah party. At Passover, a walk-through Seder is held.



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