I attended a Reform Jewish service at Temple Beth Shalom in Vero Beach, Florida on Friday, October 23, 2015 at 7:30pm which is known to the Jews as the Sabbath or Shabbat in Hebrew. I met a fellow student Mitzie Chatram at the Temple approximately fifteen minutes early so that we may introduce ourselves to the Rabbi. From the parking lot I was drawn immediately to Temple’s roof line which was dramatically arched with its highest point in the center and the sides bowed inward. There was beautiful stain glass design of the Menorah just below the arch laminated with a soft glow of the light within. We followed a path to the rear of the building and entered the vestibule and were immediately recognized by the congregation as not belonging to the
…show more content…
Because this Temple we attended is a Reform Jewish Service they used something called Visual T’Filah to enhance the prayer service. All readings, prayers, and songs were projected onto the wall at the back of the Alter to help follow along with the service. It immediately began with a song of praise lead by the Cantor and it was beautiful. The entire congregation was then welcomed to the prayer service. All were then asked to close our eyes and focus our attention as a prayer was read about Peace and Love. I noticed that upon the closing of all prayers the congregation gave thanks to Adonai. I learned that Adonai from talking to people after the service is the Hebrew name for God. I noticed that every time the congregation said the word Adonai they bowed at the waist forward as a sign of respect. There was a Candle Lighting ceremony conducted followed with singing to honor the Sabbath. During the lighting they stated that it is a commandment of Jewish law or a Mitzvah which I learned means that they are obligated to do it. Once this ceremony was completed a reading was given by a woman who was seated on the altar behind the Bima from the Gates of Prayer which is another prayer book of the Jewish Reform Congregation. The congregation then rose with song and the Cantor made her way to the Altar to those two double doors mentioned earlier that were behind the Bima. When the doors were opened I saw this is where the Torah is
Because this Temple we attended is a Reform Jewish Service they used something called Visual T’Filah to enhance the prayer service. All readings, prayers, and songs were projected onto the wall at the back of the Alter to help follow along with the service. It immediately began with a song of praise lead by the Cantor and it was beautiful. The entire congregation was then welcomed to the prayer service. All were then asked to close our eyes and focus our attention as a prayer was read about Peace and Love. I noticed that upon the closing of all prayers the congregation gave thanks to Adonai. I learned that Adonai from talking to people after the service is the Hebrew name for God. I noticed that every time the congregation said the word Adonai they bowed at the waist forward as a sign of respect. There was a Candle Lighting ceremony conducted followed with singing to honor the Sabbath. During the lighting they stated that it is a commandment of Jewish law or a Mitzvah which I learned means that they are obligated to do it. Once this ceremony was completed a reading was given by a woman who was seated on the altar behind the Bima from the Gates of Prayer which is another prayer book of the Jewish Reform Congregation. The congregation then rose with song and the Cantor made her way to the Altar to those two double doors mentioned earlier that were behind the Bima. When the doors were opened I saw this is where the Torah is