Woodside_park Synagogue

Shabbat Morning Service Guide for Woodside Park Synagaogue

A new Shabbat Morning Service Guide for Woodside Park Synagaogue has been published. A few copies are available in the lobby for members of the community and visitors to read in shul.

For your own personal copy please scroll to the bottom of the page to download the .pdf or you can read through the guide on the website by clicking on the linked pages after the introduction written by Rabbi Hackenbroch.


Introduction by Rabbi Hackenbroch

The shul is the house of G-d, the place where we gather in celebration or in sadness, in commemoration or in anticipation and where we come as individuals to pour out our hearts and souls to our Father in Heaven. We express through prayers our needs and requests on the one hand whilst at the same time singing praises of thanksgiving for all the bountiful blessings He bestows on us and our families.

We arrive as individuals absorbed with our private needs and concerns, yet in shul our load is lightened as we join and become part of communal prayer, reflected in the stained glass windows each representing our festivals and some of the twelve tribes from which we descend. We know that when Jacob laid down on Mount Moriah and experienced that remarkable vision of the ladder going from heaven to earth he placed twelve stones around his head symbolising those twelve tribes that were destined to descend from him. Those stones, says the medrash, unified and became one, symbolising the potent power of communal prayer. We arrive as individuals but leave as one community.

I hope that this Guide, prepared by Neil Cohen and David Conway, with assistance from Karen Simon and contributions from members of our Board, will assist you in being comfortable in and feeling a part of our wonderful warm caring community.

May we all through unifying in communal prayer be able to reach the lofty heights in holiness and sanctity in our prayers. But may we also be uplifted through coming to shul and feeling a true sense of community so that like the stones representing the twelve tribes in Jacob's vision we should feel a part of the Woodside Park family, and realise we are all there to share and care with one another.

May Hashem bless our community through prayer with His bountiful goodness.


Rabbi Pinchas Hackenbroch



THE SYNAGOGUE

Synagogue is a word of Greek origin meaning assembly. Some use the Hebrew term, Beit Knesset, meaning House of Assembly. For others it is simply Shul, a Yiddish word derived from the German for school, emphasising its role as a place of study. It is the place for Jewish communal prayer and assembly, the fulcrum of any community.

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THE SHABBAT SERVICE

Introduction

The Shabbat morning service starts at 9.15am and ends at approximately midday. If you are coming for a Bar/Batmitzvah we suggest you arrive before 10am. Please do not feel embarrassed if you do not arrive at the beginning of the service, although we encourage you to do so.

The Shabbat service is divided into parts as follows (with page numbers from the different versions of the prayer book, called a Siddur):

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What to do if a Jewish Male is Invited to Take a Part in the Service

Jewish males may be invited to carry out a Mitzvah during the service. A Mitzvah in this context is the honour of taking a part in the service itself. Men are given the Mitzvah of being called up to the Bimah to stand beside the reader who will read a section, (called a portion), of the Parashah. The reader is sometimes known by the expression Leyner, (Yiddish for reader). The "calling up" is called an Aliyah, which means ascent.

If you receive this Mitzvah, please step on to the Bimah when your Hebrew name is called, and stand to the right of the reader who will read the relevant portion of the Parashah.

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After the Reading of the Parashah and the Haftarah

After the reading of the Parashah and the Haftarah, the congregation will stand whilst the Rabbi reads a Prayer for the Royal Family, (in English), and then for the State of Israel and the Israel Defence Forces. The Chazan will then say a prayer for members of the community who are unwell, and then a memorial prayer for those who are commemorating the anniversary of family members who have passed away, (called a Yahrzeit).

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CHILDREN AT OUR SYNAGOGUE

Children are very welcome to stay and enjoy our main service. Alternatively they may prefer to participate in and enjoy our various popular services designed to cater for their age group. The person greeting you on arrival will assist in directing your child/children to a suitable service. We have services to cater for specific age groups, designed to be fun and preparing them for adult services.

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After the Service Ends

The congregation is normally invited to the Wiseman Linden Hall after the service where wine, whisky, biscuits, cake etc, are offered. This is called the Kiddush, (literally "sanctification"). Often the Kiddush is kindly sponsored by the family holding the Simcha. On other occasions it sometimes celebrates a specific event or an achievement on the part of one of our members. Please do not eat or drink at the Kiddush until the Rabbi or Chazan has pronounced the blessings. The Kiddush will not usually start until the Simcha family arrives in the Hall so please allow them to enter as soon as possible! There will be plenty of opportunities to wish them Mazeltov during the Kiddush.

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A Guide to Some Do's and Don'ts

All males should wear a head covering (called a Kippah or a Cupple or a Yarmulke) in the Synagogue and its grounds. If you do not have one, there are some available in the entrance lobby. Jewish men should wear a prayer shawl (called a Tallit) during the service. If you do not have one, please ask the Shammas who will provide. Any non-Jewish male guests need not wear a Tallit. Jewish married ladies should wear a hat or head covering e.g. a scarf, whilst in the Synagogue.

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GLOSSARY

Acharon - extra portion in the Parashah Aliyah - call-up (ascent) Amidah - the standing prayer Anim Zemirot - Song of Glory Ark - Aron Kodesh, (see below) Aron Kodesh - the cabinet where the scrolls are kept Bar Mitzvah - 'son of the commandment,' celebration of the 13th Hebrew birthday of a Jewish male Bat Mitzvah - 'daughter of the commandment,' celebration of the 12th Hebrew birthday of a Jewish female

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