Religious Life at Beth Torah
Overview
Ritual practices at Congregation Beth Torah underscore the Conservative character of our congregation. We are an equal opportunity congregation where both men and women assist in services, read Torah, serve as officers, and participate in all aspects of synagogue life.
It is easy to see that members of Beth Torah value spiritual and community participation because our service leaders and Torah readers are fellow congregants. We welcome and encourage new people to step forward to study, learn, and help lead services or to read Torah throughout the year.
Shabbat Services: Tefillot shel Shabbat
We welcome everyone to our religious services. Free babysitting is available every Shabbat morning as well as our various monthly and bi-monthly young families and youth services (Junior Congregation, Tot Shabbat, Shabbat Shalom Bayit).
Friday night services will begin at 6:30 PM each week.
Friday Evening
At our Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday evening, we welcome Shabbat with prayer and song. For Shabbat Services & Candle Lighting Times click here to return the home page.
Shabbat Morning services will begin at 9:30 AM each week.
Held in our Sanctuary, our services use Siddur Sim Shalom and Etz Hayim chumash. Transliteration is available to help anyone participate.
Beth Torah is a participatory and egalitarian synagogue, where congregants lead services with Rabbi Cohen, and serve as weekly Torah readers. Men and women share equally in all aspects of religious observance, and you will frequently find recent Bar and Bat-Mitzvah "graduates" on the bimah leading or reading.
Shabbat Services at Beth Torah are often congregant led and there are many opportunities to get involved. For more information on leading the services, please contact Chuck Smith or call the Rabbi's office (972.234.1542)
Minyan
Sunday 8:30 AM & Monday 6:45 AM
Parsha Study
Join members of CBT and Rabbi Cohen for a bagel breakfast and Parsha study following Monday Morning Minyan. Rabbi Cohen shares his own and traditional commentaries on the weekly Torah portion. If you're interested in delivering a D'var Torah of your own, sign up with Rabbi Cohen. Unless it's a festival, minyan starts at 6:45 with breakfast and discussion to immediately follow.
Our morning minyan is a cornerstone of who we are; We meet the needs of our community through supporting one another in a time of mourning and saying kaddish.
If you're not ready to make a weekly commitment, please consider attending once or twice during the month of your birthday.
Junior Congregation
We have a Junior Congregation that meets on Saturday mornings for children ages 6 through 12. Led by Eli Davidsohn, a well-known talent in the Dallas Jewish community, this service teaches younger members of our community the core elements of Shabbat worship in a musically rich context.
Shabbat Shalom Bayit
Congregation Beth Torah's new family service is for families and their children in grades kindergarten through 6th grade. Celebrate Shabbat in a fun and interactive service, with your family and friends, and plan to remain for CBT's Kiddush luncheon following the sanctuary service.
Shabbat Shalom Bayit meetings monthly at 10:30 AM in the Multi-Purpose Room and is led by Ruth Schor, Eli Davidson, and includes active involvement of children and parents. Upcoming dates are November 3, December 8, January 26, February 16, March 16, April 6, and May 4. Please contact Robyn Rose at rrose727@yahoo.com for additional information.
Holidays
Our Holiday Committee plans the congregational celebrations for the Jewish holidays throughout the year. We work closely with our Ritual Committee to support the traditions associated with the holidays. Holiday activities at Beth Torah include our Sukkot Dinner, Tu B'Shvat celebration, Simchat Torah Parade, Hanukkah Candle Lighting Party, Passover Seder, and the Megillah Reading during Purim.
Ritual Committee
Our Ritual Committee serves as a sounding board for the religious and ritual needs of the Congregation. The committee is deeply interested in the content and style of religious services at our synagogue. We combine the desire to embrace new ideas with the need to preserve traditions.
Life Cycles
Life cycle events are very important at Beth Torah. From the moment a child is welcomed into the community, either through brit milah or a baby naming ceremony, the child and congregation share major life events.
Consecration, Bar/Bat Mitzvah and confirmation are carefully planned with each family, the Rabbi, and members of various synagogue committees, including the Learning Center, Sisterhood and Ritual Committee. Our goal is to provide a strong religious identity through education and ritual observance.
Couples plan weddings at Beth Torah with the help of the Rabbi.
Our Beth Torah family is also there during times of sorrow. The Rabbi-along with the Ritual Committee, Cemetery Committee and chevrah kadisha--are available to help and advise congregants with funeral arrangements at our traditional Jewish cemetery section on the grounds of Hillcrest Memorial Park when needed. The Ritual Committee also maintains and updates the Yahrzeit database.