Whether you are visiting for a short time or live in the Palm Beaches, we welcome you. As a growing and evolving community, we value your presence and participation.
Here’s what you should know when you worship with us on-site:
At our Erev Shabbat /Friday service, one of our official “Greeters” is stationed at the entrance (leading from our parking lot) to welcome you and provide you with a Visitor Nametag plus answer any questions you may have. At some point in the evening, we hope you’ll have a chance to personally meet and speak with our Rabbis and a few of our Board members (they have special nametags). You’ll find friendly introductions are easily made once congregants see you’re wearing that Visitor Nametag.
As you enter the Kraft Sanctuary, another of our “Greeters” will hand you a siddur. Additionally, you will find tallitot (ritual fringed shawls) and kippot (head coverings). Both Jewish men and Jewish women are invited to wear a head covering in the synagogue, but it is absolutely not required. If you so choose, you are also welcome to borrow a tallit to wear; however, please note that they are traditionally only worn during morning/daytime services.
Every word in our prayer book, Mishkan T’filah, is translated and transliterated to assist with those who are not familiar with Hebrew. Additionally, our Rabbis work hard to create worship services that are 50% Hebrew and 50% English to keep our worship accessible to all. Texts and prayers are also artistically displayed on large overhead screens to enable worshipers to easily follow our services.
During our Friday evening worship, our Rabbis invite the congregation to include the names of their loved ones who are in need of a prayer for healing of the body, mind or spirit within our Mi Sheberach for healing. Please feel free to share your loved one’s name during this time.
If you are observing a recent passing of a loved one, or observing the anniversary of a loved one’s passing, please feel free to include their name when the Rabbi asks for names before the recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish.
Our traditional Oneg Shabbat dessert reception follows all of our services, and again this is where so many new friendships among congregants are forged.
In addition to weekly Shabbat services on Friday evenings, online Torah Study every Saturday morning, and occasional “Out of the Box Shabbat”, we celebrate the full range of annual holidays and have an extensive adult education program which includes both Jewish and non-Jewish learning. New programs are constantly developed in response to our evolving community. We are here to support you on your Jewish path and believe that coming together to learn and celebrate enriches everyone.
In addition to sending out announcements about special classes, events and programs in the community, we produce a newsletter – our Koleynu – which is issued approximately once a month. If you would like to receive it and/or other information about what’s happening at Temple Israel, please click here.
Lastly, thank you for visiting Temple Israel… and please let us know how we can help you on your Jewish journey!