Shabbat ~ Taking a moment to breathe together

by Rabbi Audrey Berkman

Shabbat, as our sages understood, is a taste of the world as it should be – a pause from the busyness and noise of the day-to-day and a time to be present for ourselves and for one another; a time to bask in our blessings, focusing on the abundance of our lives rather than what we are lacking. At Temple Ohabei Shalom, we believe that everyone, of every age, can experience the power of taking a sacred pause, and that families and friends should come together to take a deep breath, to sing and to pray and to connect to Jewish community and tradition. With that in mind, we welcome children of all ages to our Shabbat services (and we invite them to open the ark before the Aleinu prayer), and we provide free child care during every Friday night service (and Shabbat Morning B’yachad services) so that kids can have some playtime as well, if they’d like.

As we navigate a tumultuous world and our busy lives, may we find comfort, inspiration, strength and blessing in connection to one another, to our community, and to the transcendent, by taking a sacred pause on Shabbat. No matter your age or background, no matter whether you are familiar with Shabbat prayer or have never experienced it, we hope you will join us for musical, inclusive, and warm Shabbat services.

We offer a wonderful Shabbat experience every Friday evening throughout the year. Please join us for a special Shabbat service on July 6th, when we will welcome our new Assistant Rabbi, Daniel Schaefer, to our community.

As always, be in touch with me with any questions about services or to discuss anything that’s on your mind or heart. I look forward to connecting.

Rabbi Audrey Berkman