Worship Services and Education

At the heart of our congregation's religious expression are the worship services in our sanctuary. This where  congregants and their guests have the opportunity to participate, as part of a community, in praising God,    thanking God and studying God's Torah. We also have the opportunity for private prayer and contemplation, on a spiritual level, in an uplifting environment.


The Rabbi provides spiritual guidance and congregational leadership, allowing for innovation in traditions and observances without compromising Conservative Jewish law. Temple Beth David believes that the Rabbi should instill in each congregant a sense of importance and value as he responds to their individual needs, life cycle  celebrations and other life-transforming events. The Cantor, responsible for all facets of the musical content of religious services, elevates the members' spirits and inspires spiritual awakening. Through the use of innovative music and liturgical programming for a multigenerational congregation, the Cantor helps to instill a love of    Jewish learning and commitment to Jewish study. The Clergy also interacts with the preschool and religious school students and their parents to support their religious education and to foster lasting, positive attitudes      toward Judaism and their Jewish identity.


Temple Beth David conducts the following worship services:

  • Shabbat services each Friday night and Saturday morning throughout the year
  • Early Friday night "Tot Shabbat" services once a month for families with young children
  • All Jewish festivals and holy days
  • Yizkor memorial services on Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day of Pesach and the second day of Shavuot
  • Services connected with life cycle religious events
  • A minyan each Sunday morning, with a long term goal of daily morning and evening minyans
  • Shiva and Yarzheit minyans on request


RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

An ideal Conservative Jew is a striving Jew, one who is always growing in commitment and knowledge. As the synagogue is considered the basic Jewish institution, aside from the Jewish home, Temple Beth David considers its role seriously. Religious education at all levels from preschool through adult education foster understanding of the faith and its traditions. It is only through study and observance that Judaism is preserved.


  • Preschool Program--This is a powerful vehicle for moving two to four-year-old Jewish children toward    understanding and love of Jewish heritage, values and lifestyle. As many believe that these ages are the most important time for instilling values, the preschool might well be the most productive education program  Temple Beth David offers. The school provides growth opportunities for young children in a vast array of areas including music, art, computers, Hebrew, Spanish, Judaic studies and physical education as well as  language arts, science, reading and math readiness.

  • Religious School Program--The school, for children grades kindergarten through 7, focuses on strengthening the students' Jewish identity and instilling pride in their heritage in hopes of making Judaism a vibrant force within their lives. The curriculum includes instruction in holiday traditions and rituals, Jewish values and  ethics, Hebrew reading and prayer, Jewish history, the study of Israel and Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation.

  • Adult Education--Adult education in Judaism is essential because it allows us to appreciate our past,         understand our present and chart where we wish to go in the future. Programs offered are appropriate to a broad range of members and non-members, including:
  • Those who have a limited knowledge of Judaism and seek to learn the basics, such as basic Hebrew reading and comprehension, how to "do things Jewish" (make Shabbat, conduct a Passover seder, etc.), basic Judaism (religious thought, ideas, etc.)
  • Those who have a deeper understanding or want to expand their proficiency/direct participation in the liturgy--our courses include Bible class, Judaic topics of an advanced nature, Torah-Haftorah chanting, Baal Tefilah, etc.
Types of programs include:

  • Scholar-in-Residence
  • Lectures/discussions led by expert speakers on such subjects as Israel, the Holocaust, anti-semitism
  • Continuing Education series, such as book review club, interfaith exchange series, Bible class, Lunch and Learn
  • Basic Courses in Hebrew and Judaic studies.
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