Shabbat Morning Program / Junior Congregation

Shabbat Morning Program – Youth Minyan

Shabbat is one of the many precious gifts that our Jewish heritage gives to us. The Sabbath liturgy, once learned, is similar in congregations throughout the world. That is why a Jewish person skilled in prayer can walk into any synagogue and participate in the service. At Temple Beth-El we want your child to be able to fully participate in services this way. In order to do this, s/he needs to practice. When a child is attempting a new math skill they are given many opportunities to practice that skill. With enough practice, the skill becomes second nature. The same is true for “davenning,” reciting the prayers of our tradition in Hebrew. Thus, we strongly encourage your child to participate in our Youth Minyan or attend services in the main congregation. This will help to prepare them for their whole life, as well as make their preparation for your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah much easier. The recommendations of the Board of Education for minimum attendance in order to attain these necessary skills are listed below:

  • Aleph (Third Grade) 9 Times
  • Bet (Fourth Grade) 12 Times
  • Gimel (Fifth Grade) 15 Times
  • Dalet (Sixth Grade) 15 Times

During the first hour of our Shabbat Morning Program (10:00-11:00), students may either attend services in the main sanctuary or attend the Youth Minyan with Maksim Shilkrot, our Youth Director. During the first hour of the Youth Minyan there will be a folk story, play rehearsal, and a brief lesson about a different prayer each week.
During the second hour (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) students will participate in a prayer service led jointly by Maksim Shilkrot and his cadre of madrichim, teen prayer leaders. The students will then be brought into the main service for the concluding prayers which include Ein Keloheinu, Aleynu, and the Kiddush.
At their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, all children have the privilege of reciting the Talit blessing, having an aliyah and reciting the appropriate Torah blessings, chanting the Maftir portion of the Torah, reciting the Haftarah blessings, and chanting the Haftarah. However, children who have met the minimum attendance requirements will have the privilege and skill-set of leading additional parts of the Shabbat morning service.
How your child obtains Youth Minyan/synagogue attendance credit:

  • When your children attend Youth Minyan, attendance is noted by the instructors.
  • When a student attends a Shabbat morning service, he/she goes to the bimah at the conclusion of the service to obtain an attendance card from the Rabbi or Cantor. The student should complete the card and return it to the Religious School Office as soon as possible.
  • Students receive credit for each hour of Junior Congregation attended.
  • Seventh and eighth graders are encouraged to attend Jr. Congregation, to join the main service, or to attend a classmate’s or friend's Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Shabbat Morning Program – Mechinah

Learning about Shabbat or our Jewish heritage doesn’t start in third grade. It starts from the moment a child is old enough to understand that Shabbat is a special day. At Temple Beth-El we encourage our youngest students, Pre-K through 2nd Grade, to attend the Mechinah program from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday mornings. At Mechinah, our beloved Ms. Joyce Leeson provides a wonderful experience for our students. During the program students hear stories from the weekly Torah portion or about that week’s holiday, play Shabbat appropriate games, say some of the basic Shabbat prayers, and have fun being at shul.