Friday evening 7:00pm Shabbat Day 9:00am
Shabbat Service
Our Shabbat services are traditional. They are usually led by the Rabbi, with backing by members of our congregation. Services are conducted in Hebrew. It is important to know that only each individual among us knows how he or she best communicates with G-d. At Loughton Synagogue the language you use or the pace you set for yourself are not of paramount importance. Our prayer books are written in both Hebrew and English, and the page numbers are announced continuously so you may always catch up if you prefer to meditate at a slower speed.. Please connect with the day and with G-d and with your own soul in whatever personal manner suits you best.
The tunes are old, familiar ones, and they are sung by those of us who know the words and by those of us who can only hum along, with all the gusto befitting the joy of Shabbat.
D'var Torah / Sermon
Each week, our Rabbi, Rabbi Yehuda Aronovitz enlightens us by expounding upon the meaning of the Torah section of the week. Rabbi Aronovitz guides each of us on a weekly journey from ancient times to the present, by opening our eyes not merely to the words in the Holy Books of the Torah, but also to the unspoken allegories the words reflect. Shabbat after Shabbat, he synthesises the Torah stories and directives, and relates their messages so that we may grow from them as we incorporate them into our contemporary hectic lifestyles. Remarkably, his message manages to be universal and personal simultaneously, and touches each of us, regardless of the mile markers on our individual spiritual highways.
Kiddush
Please join us for our weekly Kiddush immediately following the service. The kosher Kiddush is provided on a volunteer basis by members of our minyan who may have a simcha to celebrate, a milestone to mark, or a family member they wish to honour. Often the Kiddush is prepared simply to honour the Shabbat. Our Kiddush affords us a collective opportunity to partake of the food and drink, to share the news of the week, relax into the Shabbat tempo, and enjoy the warmth and companionship that emanate from this community.
