Jewish Life

The beauty of Shabbat and Jewish holidays are celebrated in a myriad of ways that capture the meaning, solemnity, and/or joy of each holy day throughout the calendar year. Prayer, music, visual t’filah, guest speakers, student participation, Torah study, and stories all embellish each occasion.

Friday Kabbalat Shabbat Services

Our Friday evening services help usher in the joy of Shabbat with music, community, and worship. Membership is not required to join us – all are welcome to attend!

Services normally begin at 7:00 PM in-person in our Sanctuary (mask optional). You can also join us virtually by joining our YouTube livestream. Our Summer Shabbat Services normally begin at 6:00 PM.

Kabbalat Shabbat Services

Please note that our virtual services normally go live at the scheduled time of the service, not before. Our link for Shabbat is also included in our weekly Temple email and Rabbi’s Shabbat Message.

Shabbat B’nai Mitzvah Services

Saturday Services take place to celebrate our congregants becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Morning Services begin promptly at 10:30 AM. Our evening Mincha B’nai Mitzvah Services begin promptly at 5:00 PM. All services, unless otherwise noted, occur in our Sanctuary.

You can join us virtually by joining our YouTube livestream:

Shabbat Services: Morning and Mincha

Holidays

As a community rooted in coming together, Temple Har Shalom celebrates the entire Hebrew calendar’s array of holidays in the most engaging of ways. While holiday programming is communicated to our congregation through various means and methods, general holidays celebrated and commemorated through the year include: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot.

Customs, Practices, and Minhag

In Hebrew, minhag roughly translates to the general traditions or customs of a given Jewish community. To help make all of our guests comfortable in joining us for whatever event brings you into our midst, below is some brief information about worship at Temple Har Shalom:

When you enter the Sanctuary, you may be welcomed with one of our traditional Sabbath greetings, either Shabbat Shalom, which means “a peaceful Sabbath,” or Good Shabbos, which means “a good Sabbath.” It is appropriate to respond with either of these phrases.
The wearing of a kippah or yarmulka (head covering) and tallit (prayer shawl) is optional for both men and women.
The Sanctuary is a sacred place for reflection and prayer and, as such, we ask you not to bring in food, drinks, or gum.
Similarly, we thank you for turning off all cell phones and other electronic devices so as not to interrupt others’ experiences.
We welcome children of all ages into our Sanctuary. Please take this special time to guide your children in the uniqueness of the experience, especially as it relates to appropriate behaviors. To assist you in this endeavor, Jewish children’s books are available outside the Sanctuary door in a special bookcase for children.
We ask that you avoid entering and exiting the Sanctuary while the Torah is being read or when the ark is open.
For those entering our Sanctuary, we ask that attire be consistent with the dignity of a religious worship service. Miniskirts, bare midriffs, exposed shoulders, backs, and low-cut garments are not appropriate and will not be permitted on the Bimah. Likewise, casual attire such as jeans, t-shirts, baseball caps, etc. are not permitted during a worship service.

Visiting Us?

Temple Har Shalom is location at 104 Mount Horeb Road, Warren, NJ. For directions, click here.

For questions about our worship or religious engagement, feel free to contact our clergy here.