Newcomer's Guide

We use the traditional Jewish liturgy, which includes prayers, blessings, and readings from the Torah and other sacred texts. Don't worry if you can't follow along. Feel free just to listen and observe, connecting to God in your own way. If you ever feel lost, just ask the person next to you. People will be happy to help you.

There are are two editions of our siddur (prayer book). Both contain Hebrew and an English translation. One edition has the Hebrew text in Hebrew characters, while the other has the Hebrew transliterated into English characters.

The Torah consists of the first five books of the Bible. The scroll is handwritten on parchment by a trained scribe and is treated with great reverence. The Torah is read in Hebrew, but we will announce the references and summarize each reading in English. To follow along, you can use a Chumash (a printed book of the Torah) or any Bible you like.

Several individuals will be called up to the Torah to recite blessings before and after the readings. If you are a Jewish man, you may be invited to participate in this honor. We will guide you through every step. As we bring the Torah scroll back to the ark, it is customary to touch the Torah with your prayer book or a corner of your tallit (prayer shawl) and then kiss that object as a sign of reverence and love for God's word.

The teaching is usually based on the weekly Torah portion or a seasonal topic. After the teaching, there will be a few more prayers before dismissal. Some people specifically try to arrive in time for the teaching and the smaller dose of prayers that come afterward. However, it's hard to predict exactly when the teaching will occur.

The bimah (reading platform) is toward the center where the Torah is read. The seating is arranged to surround it, just as the Israelites camped around Mount Sinai when they received the Torah. A large cabinet called the aron kodesh (holy ark) contains our Torah scrolls.

A partition called a mechitzah separates the men's and women's sections. The men's and women's sections are the side-facing rows toward the front.

All men and women, including members and guests, Jews and Gentiles, are invited and encouraged to sit in these rows. Young children do not need to observe the gender separation and can sit with parents on either side.

If you prefer to sit together as a family, you are welcome to sit in any of the front-facing rows in the back.

Choose clothing that shows respect for the holiness of the space and the congregation. Be sure your clothing covers your shoulders, chest, midriff, and knees. Avoid wearing clothing with offensive language or images.

The same modesty standards apply to men and women. We do not require women to cover their heads, but some choose to wear a head covering, especially married women. Likewise, some women prefer to wear skirts, but pants are also acceptable.

On Shabbat and holidays, we like to dress up a bit more than on weekdays. But casual or formal style is a matter of personal preference and comfort—not an expectation we place on others.

In Jewish culture, it is customary for men (Jewish and Gentile) to wear a hat or a kippah (the traditional skullcap) when in a holy space or during prayer. If you don't have one, don't let that stop you from coming. We are happy to let you borrow one of ours!

Some Jewish men and boys wear a tallit (prayer shawl) during prayer. This is a specific sign of Jewish identity. In keeping with traditional norms, women in our community also do not wear a tallit.

Don't worry about bringing anything. Just bring yourself and your curiosity. We are happy to provide you with everything you need for the service. If you want to bring a favorite Bible or prayer book, you are welcome to do so. Or just use ours.

Due to the complexity of traditional kosher and Sabbath laws, we prefer to provide the food ourselves. If you would like to contribute, you can send in a donation to help cover the cost of the meal.