Our Approach

Our prayer services are joyful, uplifting, egalitarian and inclusive. We are guided by halacha (the Jewish legal tradition), minhagim (Jewish customs) developed by our community over three generations, and a commitment to spiritual creativity and renewal. 

Our community members coordinate all aspects of services, lead us in prayer, guide the Torah service as gabbaim, chant Torah and Haftarah, act as ushers, invite those present to have honors, welcome members and guests, and prepare kiddush.

Our communal prayer is primarily in Hebrew and, on Shabbat morning, we read the entire Torah portion. Rabbi Berman shares a d’var Torah focused on the Torah reading or reflecting on significant events in our world through a Jewish lens.

We love to sing, and while we often sing melodies that our community knows well, our service leaders also introduce new melodies and nigunim. Musical influences span from classic Ashkenazi Jewish melodies to Hasidic nigunim to Shlomo Carlebach to modern Jewish music by Joey Weisenberg and others at the Hadar Rising Song Institute. We invite everyone to join us. If you’re unfamiliar with Hebrew, you ‘ll find transliterations of much of the Hebrew in our Lev Shalem Siddur (prayerbook), or you can “yai didi dai” along without the words – a classic and beloved form of Jewish prayer.

All of our community members are encouraged to lead us. If you haven’t led before, we will be happy to teach you. Please be in touch with Rabbi Berman or Josh Langer, Chair of our Religious Services and Spiritual Life Committee to learn more.