Worship

Shabbat Services

The 6:30 p.m. Friday night service includes both Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv and is a wonderful time for couples, individuals and families to be part of the congregation and greet each other. Following the service there is a kiddush that gives us time to schmooze with each other and say Shabbat Shalom.

The Shabbat morning Sanctuary service is led by Rabbi Adam Feldman, Rabbi Annie Tucker and (approximately once a month) Cantor Tahl Ben Yehuda, with additional participation by congregants who read Torah and/or lead parts of the service. The Siddur Hadash prayer book is used, and Etz Hayim, Plaut and Hertz chumashim are used by congregants who wish to follow the Torah readings in Hebrew or English. Services begin at 9:45 a.m. and conclude approximately 12:15 p.m. B'nai Mitzvah are scheduled at this service and, less often, at special Shabbat afternoon Mincha services.

The Havurah Shabbat service meets twice monthly during the September-June year.. Times and dates are noted on the calendar page and in the Jewish Center newsletter, or you can call the office for details. This service, under the auspices of a long-standing Jewish Center Havurah, is a participant-led service characterized by lively singing, intense Torah discussions, moments of learning and experimentation (which may include special melodies, short discussions of prayers, or meditations) and music composed by a Havurah member. Services vary based on the preferences of the leader (there are different leaders each week for each part of the service); the Torah reading is shorter than in the Sanctuary, and there is no Haftorah chanting or Musaf service. Send an email to Herb Abelson for additional information or to be added to the Havurah service email list.

On Shabbat morning there is a variety of services for children and families:

  • Tot Shabbat (Shabbat Lataf): This is for Early Childhood Education (Nursery School) aged children and is led by Ronit Johnson. It includes stories, prayers, songs and a Torah Parade. A small Oneg Shabbat follows. It is held twice a month in the Adult Library at 11:00 am. A prayer book designed for this age level is used. See the newsletter or the calendar page for dates.

  • Mini Minyan (Shabbat Latze’eerim): This service is for grades K - 2, led by Ellen Pristach.  It includes Shabbat morning prayers, and stories & Torah discussions appropriate for this age group. A prayer book designed for this age level is used. Mini Minyan takes place every Shabbat in the Children's Library from 11:00-12:00 noon. (Please note: Mini Minyan is not held on Shabbatot when a Family Service is scheduled – see below.)

  • Junior Congregation (Shabbat Layeladim): This service is for 3rd - 5th graders. We are very fortunate to have Debbi Dunn Solomon leading Junior Congregation. Debbi is a teacher in our Religious School, a.k.a. "the Torah Morah," and she brings innovative and inspiring ideas to the service. The children actively participate in leading the service. It is an excellent way to help them learn the Shabbat prayers in preparation for B'nai Mitzvah study. It takes place each Shabbat in the Beit Midrash from 9:30 – 10:30 am, except when noted in the newsletter and on the calendar page.

  • Family Service (Shabbat Lamishpacha): This service, designed for children in pre-school through 2nd grade and their families, is led by Rabbi Tucker and typically meets on the second Shabbat of each month (except as noted in the newsletter or on the calendar) from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Youth Lounge. The service combines prayers and songs of Shabbat morning with stories, games, and activities for families to enjoy together.  Parents, grandparents, and all others are welcome

Periodically there are other services offered on Shabbat; they will be announced in the newsletter and on the calendar page in advance.

Weekday Services

Weekday minyanim are held on Sunday mornings (8:30 a.m.) and Wednesday mornings (7:00 a.m.), and start 15 minutes earlier on Rosh Chodesh and festivals. These traditional services offer everyone an opportunity to be together for worship and provide a way for congregants who are in mourning or who are observing a Yahrzeit to recite the Mourner's Kaddish.  Since it is very important for mourners to be able to say Kaddish, we strongly urge you to attend whenever possible to help ensure we have a minyan.

The High Holidays

Please see our Resource page for details of the High Holidays Honors.

Our services on both days of Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur are led by Rabbi Adam Feldman and Cantor Tahl Ben Yehuda, with participation by Rabbi Annie Tucker and by congregants as well. We use Mahzor Hadash that provides us with the traditional Hebrew prayers and contemporary English translations. One of the highlights of the Yom Kippur services is when we all gather for Neilah and Havdalah at the end of the day.

The Jewish Center also offers the Riverside (formerly called Classical) Service that meets at the Riverside School on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur morning.  Created over a decade ago by a group of lay people under the direction of Jonathan Gross, this service was led by Rabbi David Wolf Silverman until 2009 when Rabbi Annie Tucker took over this role.  The Riverside service uses Machzor Lev Shalem and does not employ a professional cantor, relying instead on a cadre of talented volunteers to lead various aspects of the worship.
The service is designed to be participatory, with joyful congregational singing and brief kavannot (short teachings or spiritual frames) interspersed throughout and has an intimate and informal feel.

Youth services for children of several age groups are offered on the High Holidays.  The traditional Tashlikh service is held at the Carnegie Lake parking area on Rt. 27 approximately one mile north of The Jewish Center.

Selihot services are held on the Saturday night prior to Rosh Hashanah. The Jewish Center joins with other Princeton area congregations for Selihot, with services held each year at a different synagogue.

For additional details on all the High Holiday services and events, please see your High Holiday tickets and information letter that are mailed out to all congregants a few weeks before Rosh Hashanah.

Admission to High Holiday services is by ticket only.  Any non-member who wishes to attend services may purchase a ticket by contacting the Office at The Jewish Center at 609-921-0100.

Festivals

Festival celebrations are joyous at The Jewish Center. We observe both days of all Festivals, and details on service schedules are made available shortly before each holiday. On the evening of Simhat Torah, a celebration including traditional dancing and music attracts hundreds of congregants and their children. At Purim, a family Purim "shpiel" precedes the megillah reading, with clergy and congregants serving as readers of Megillat Esther. Also, services are held on Tisha B'Av evening, when the book of Eicha is recited. We welcome and encourage everyone to join our celebrations.

updated: March 6, 2012