Friday Evenings: Kabbalat Shabbat
At Temple Anshe Sholom, Kabbalat Shabbat, вЂwelcoming Shabbat’, is a cherished time to gather, reflect, and welcome Shabbat together as a community. Our weeklyВ Kabbalat Shabbat service begins at 7:00 PM every Friday throughout the year. The start timeВ remains constant, regardless of when the sun sets. This consistency allows everyone to plan their Friday evenings with ease. Services are usually preceded by a warm and welcomingВ Oneg Shabbat at 6:15 PM, where attendees can enjoy light refreshments and connect with one another.
Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan once said, “Shabbat is not only a time to rest, but a time to refresh the soul and restore a sense of purpose.” At our Kabbalat Shabbat services, we create a space where prayer, song, and connection can uplift our spirits and prepare us to greet the day of rest with joy.
Whether you prefer to join usВ in personВ orВ online, everyone is invited to take part in welcoming Shabbat with us. Please join us HERE!
Family Shabbat
Throughout the school year, we host four specialВ Family Shabbat services, designed to create a welcoming environment for families with young children. These evenings begin with aВ Family Potluck, followed by an engaging and lively Kabbalat Shabbat service, and conclude with a delightfulВ Dessert Oneg.
What to Expect
Our Kabbalat Shabbat service blends traditional and contemporary elements, creating an inclusive and spiritual atmosphere. We use the Reform Siddur (prayer book) Mishkan T’Filah, which offers traditional prayers in Hebrew, English phonetic transliterations, literal translations, and interpretive readings based on traditional prayer themes, making it accessible for participants of all backgrounds. Siddurim can be found underneath your seat when attending in person.
- KippotВ (head coverings) are encouraged for all, but not mandatory. We provide kippot for those who wish to wear one.
- Tallitot (prayer shawls) are only worn by Jewish teens (who have already become b’nai mitzvah) and adults; and usually only worn on Shabbat and holiday mornings. Like the kippah, prayer shawls are optional.
- We kindly ask that participantsВ refrain from eating or drinkingВ in the Sanctuary.
- Please ensure that allВ phones are set to silentВ orВ do not disturbВ mode during the service.
Saturday Morning: Shabbat Shelanu
Shabbat Shelanu, вЂa Shabbat for all of us’, are designed to be welcoming and engaging for people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to Shabbat services or a regular participant, Shabbat Shelanu offers an inclusive atmosphere for communal prayer, study, and celebration.
Shabbat Morning Services & Torah Study
On Shabbat mornings, we offer a Morning Shabbat Service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 AM, followed by Torah Study at 11:00 AM in the library. Shabbat morning services are in-person only, but Torah Study is available both in person and online during the school year. As our sages taught, “Turn it over and over, for everything is in it.” We invite you to join us for a journey of exploration, discovery, and connection. Join our Torah Study HERE!
Tot Shabbat
We also regularly offerВ Tot ShabbatВ services for young children and their families throughout the school year. These short, musical, and joyful gatherings help introduce Shabbat in an age-appropriate and meaningful way. For more information on Tot Shabbat, please contact our Family Programming Director, Dora-Ann Cohen Ellison at dacellison@anshesholom.ca
Why We Celebrate Shabbat
Shabbat is a time to set aside the worries of the week and focus on rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal. It begins at sundown on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday, symbolizing a break from the mundane and a moment to connect with holiness. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel beautifully described Shabbat as “a palace in time,” reminding us of its role as a sacred space in our weekly lives.
Whether you join us in person or virtually, we look forward to celebrating Shabbat with you. Let us come together to sing, pray, and find peace in the presence of community.