Adult Services
Saturday Morning
Begin your day before services with either meditation or the tish (described below.)
Choose either the regular service or the Learner’s Minyan (on select dates).
After the morning service, the weekly Torah portion is chanted by Cantor Stevens and by members of the congregation, and each week a congregant or a Bar/Bat Mitzvah chants the Haftarah. Since the readers come from diverse backgrounds, we are treated to a rich variety of renditions of the sacred texts.
The Torah discussion, led by Rabbi Strassfeld, begins immediately after the Haftarah reading.
On a Synaplex Shabbat date, additional options may also be available.
Meditation
A weekly meditation is offered on Saturday mornings in the Sanctuary and will incorporate silence, some singing, and a teaching or kavanah (intention). Whether you are experienced at meditating or you’re a beginner, please join us. Also see the Friday evening meditation service.
Led by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld or SAJ members.
Saturdays, 9:15 - 10:00 AM, just before Shabbat Services.
See calendar for specific dates.
Meditation Schedule > (dates and leaders)
The Tish
The tish, (literally table) is a brief discussion, usually led by a member of the congregation over coffee, tea and biscotti on a different theme each week. Topics range from commentaries on the weekly Torah or Haftarah portion, themes of the prayer book, classical Jewish texts and their commentary, philosophy, theology, ethics, reflections on traditions, rituals, holidays, Jewish life, Jewish and Israeli culture and the arts, social justice, contemporary events, and much more!
Led by SAJ members.
Saturdays, 9:15 - 10:00 AM, just before Shabbat Services.
See calendar for specific dates.
Tish Schedule > (dates, topics and speakers)
Learner's Minyan
The Learner's Minyan is an opportunity to understand the ins and outs of the Shabbat morning service. The Learner's Minyan joins with the regular service for the Torah discussion. Please bring your questions.
Saturdays, 10:00 AM.
See calendar for specific dates.
Led by Rabbi Joy Levitt.
Friday Evening
Our lively Kaballat Shabbat evening services at 6:30 PM welcome the beginning of Shabbat through music and prayer, led by either Rabbi Strassfeld or Cantor Stevens.
See calendar for specific dates.
Meditation Service
A monthly service with a mixture of contemplative meditation, nigun singing, a little bit of liturgy, and kavanot. In the noisiness of our busy world, a period of silence is a rare opportunity to be reflective. No experience with meditation is necessary to participate in this service. Also see the Shabbat morning meditation.
Adult potluck dinners follow many of the Friday evening meditation services.
Led by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld.
See calendar for specific dates.
Nigun Service
Nigunim/melodies were composed in Hasidic communities as sacred music. Sometimes these melodies were put to words; often they were wordless and are intended to move us beyond words and to express that which cannot be expressed in language. The melody is repeated in a seemingly endless way, until the power of the nigun opens a door that reaches deep inside us. Like meditation or chanting, the singing of nigun is a spiritual practice. Yet most of this music is unknown outside the Hasidic world. Each month, Rabbi Strassfeld will draw on his extensive collection of Hasidic music by focusing on one particular Hasidic group and its music for our service. We will also study a text from a Hasidic tradition. The groups will include Bratzlav, Habad, Ger, Belz, and Moditz.
Led by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld.
See calendar for specific dates.
Kol Zimrah
On select Friday evenings The SAJ hosts Kol Zimrah, a hevra of young people who join together for Kabbalat Shabbat services accompanied by musical instruments. Pot luck dinners usually follow.
All are welcome!
Please check their kashrut policy, which is a little different than SAJ's policy.
Kol Zimrah NYC potluck and kashrut policy >
See calendar for specific dates.
Holidays
Whether falling on Shabbat or occurring during the week, we offer services for most of the key Jewish holidays in the festival cycle.
Additional programming appropriate to the event such as dinners, speakers, and activities for children round out many holiday celebrations.
See calendar for specific dates.
