Overview of Services
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Overview of Services
- Daily morning and evening minyan
- Friday evening services
- Saturday morning services
- Shabbat Mincha/Afternoon Service
- Shabbat activities for preschool children
- Services and activities for school-aged children
- Shabbat Under the Stars
- Special Services with JCL
- Festival Services
- High Holiday Services
Service and Activity Offerings
Daily Morning and Evening Minyan
Morning and evening minyan is held in the Levine-Shein Chapel each weekday and also held via Zoom. The morning minyan is held at 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, and at 8:45 a.m. on Sunday. The evening minyan is held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Each minyan includes Kaddish for those in mourning and those observing yahrzeit and incorporates some English readings. We read Torah on Monday and Thursday mornings, as well as on Rosh Chodesh (the new month). At each service we read a list of names of those loved ones for whom yahrzeit is being observed. Our minyans are very welcoming to those who are saying Kaddish or simply want to sit in the comfort of a prayer community.
What is appropriate dress for Shabbat?
Shabbat Mincha/Afternoon Service
We gather for Shabbat Mincha, the brief afternoon service, every Saturday at 12:15 pm (or 20 minutes after Shabbat Morning Services end, whichever is later). We read from the Torah, often honoring an upcoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah student or those with yahrzeit.
Services and Activities for Preschool Children
Parents and their youngest children are welcome to attend our main services on both Friday night and Shabbat morning. In addition, preschoolers and their parents can join us for Shababa on special Friday nights and Mazal Tots every Shabbat morning.
Shababa: Kids age five and under experience the joy of Shabbat with dancing and singing with Dr. Eliyahu Krigel, followed by a free child-friendly dinner. In summer months, we sometimes run in the sprinkler after dinner.
Mazal Tots, 11:00 a.m.: Mazal Tots is the spot for kiddos on Shabbat mornings, full of songs, prayers, and stories. This program is geared for children from birth through kindergarten with their parents, but all are welcome. Please bring a small, kosher, nut-free snack for your child.
Services and Activities for School-Aged Children
For more information about our children’s programs, please contact Rabbi Rachel Zerin at 860-233-9696.
Special Shabbat Services and Activities
Beth El offers different services and activities during the year:
Shabbat Under the Stars: an outdoor service preceded by a bar-b-que. Welcome Shabbat and schmooze with friends at this fun and festive evening, under the stars.
Special Service with JCL Adults: Once each month Beth El and our JCL (Jewish Association for Community Living) friends join together to explore the morning service through prayer and Torah, story, signs and songs. We follow with a kiddush luncheon.
Shabbat Yoga: Wear yoga clothes (yes, to synagogue!) and bring a mat if you have one. This all-levels class incorporates yoga poses and Hebrew prayers. Open to all (children too, if they can participate in a quiet yoga class). Check Temple Topics or the Shabbat Leaflet for dates.
Festival Services
Our Festival offerings range from the traditional services on Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot, to Sukkah Dinner/Services, Simchat Torah Live! with a band and Hakafot, and even a Tikkun Ley'l Shavuot each year with guest speakers and teachers. In traditional manner, we read from Kohelet at Sukkot, Shir HaShirim at Pesach, and the Book of Ruth at Shavuot.
Purim keeps us smiling and dancing. Our annual carnival is always a big hit with our families. Two Megillah readings are held on Purim eve. Our Mishpacha program, for families with children (and anyone who wants to have a good time!), combines reading and shtick. Later in the evening, we offer a full Megillah reading for adults.
In a more reflective mood, Beth El participates in community-wide services for Tisha B'Av that generally take place at night with the reading of Eicha and during the day with a community Mincha service. We also participate in the community-wide Selichot service.
Temple Topics will have specific minyan times for each festival.
What guidelines should you observe during the service?
Beth El Temple is Fragrance Free
We are happy you will be attending our special event at Beth el Temple. Inclusiveness is one of our core values at Beth El. We do everything we can to make our synagogue open and welcoming to all. In response to an increasing number of people who have mild to severe sensitivity to fragrances, we ask you to avoid wearing products with fragrances.
Thu, September 18 2025
25 Elul 5785
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 23 , 2025Rosh Hashanah Day One - Festival Morning Services
Tuesday, Sep 23rd 8:30a to 12:45p
On Rosh Hashanah Day One, you have the choice of 2 services, plus additional options for families with young children! Click in for details. -
Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 23 , 2025Tashlich
Tuesday, Sep 23rd 5:00p to 5:30p
Participate in the traditional "casting out of our sins" ceremony at the Berlinsky home (25 Huntington Drive), featuring a brief family-friendly service. -
Thursday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2025Yom Kippur Festival Services
Thursday, Oct 2nd 8:30a to 1:30p
On Yom Kippur, you have the choice of 2 services, plus additional options for families with young children! Click in for details. -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 5 , 2025
Sunday, Oct 5th 9:30a to 12:00p
The 8th annual Tour de Shuls CT will be held on Sunday, October 5th, 2025. We took a break and now we are back in action in 2025. This year’s tour will have 2 bike routes, the 25 mile route will be starting and finishing at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford CT and a 10 mile bike route (5K Run/Walk) will start and finish at Temple Sinai in Newington, CT. More than simply a bike ride, Tour de Shuls is a community event to support Camp Ramah’s Tikvah and Camp Eisner’s Chazak programs. These programs serve Jewish children with physical and cognitive disabilities. Participating in the Tour enables these campers to experience the joys and camaraderie of Jewish summer camp – swimming, soccer, arts & crafts, singing around the campfire, and celebrating Shabbat, by providing scholarships to defray the costs of attending camp. Ride with us individually, as a family or with a group of friends. All levels of riders are welcome. Registration is $54 for adults. For teens and children ages 18 and under, the registration fee is $36. The fee is capped at $126 per family. The registration fee will be waived for any individual who raises and collects at least $180 in contributions. -
Monday ,
OctOctober 6 , 2025Shababa
Monday, Oct 6th 5:30p to 6:00p
Shababa is a fun, engaging “service” for our youngest generation. All children ~8 and under (and their siblings, parents, and grandparents) are welcome to experience the joy of Shabbat with dancing, singing, stories, prayers and children's dinner. RSVP today! Sponsorship opportunities are available – for just $50 you can celebrate a child’s birthday by sponsoring a Shababa. To sponsor a dinner, please contact Dr. Eliyahu Krigel (ekrigel@bethelwh.org or 860-233-9696).
Contact Us
Beth El Temple
2626 Albany Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
Office Hours:
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Monday-Thursday: 8:30am - 4pm
Friday: 8:30am - 2:30pm
SULAM Beth El Educational Program:
Upcoming Events
-
Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 23 , 2025Rosh Hashanah Day One - Festival Morning Services
Tuesday, Sep 23rd 8:30a to 12:45p
On Rosh Hashanah Day One, you have the choice of 2 services, plus additional options for families with young children! Click in for details. -
Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 23 , 2025Tashlich
Tuesday, Sep 23rd 5:00p to 5:30p
Participate in the traditional "casting out of our sins" ceremony at the Berlinsky home (25 Huntington Drive), featuring a brief family-friendly service. -
Thursday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2025Yom Kippur Festival Services
Thursday, Oct 2nd 8:30a to 1:30p
On Yom Kippur, you have the choice of 2 services, plus additional options for families with young children! Click in for details. -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 5 , 2025
Sunday, Oct 5th 9:30a to 12:00p
The 8th annual Tour de Shuls CT will be held on Sunday, October 5th, 2025. We took a break and now we are back in action in 2025. This year’s tour will have 2 bike routes, the 25 mile route will be starting and finishing at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford CT and a 10 mile bike route (5K Run/Walk) will start and finish at Temple Sinai in Newington, CT. More than simply a bike ride, Tour de Shuls is a community event to support Camp Ramah’s Tikvah and Camp Eisner’s Chazak programs. These programs serve Jewish children with physical and cognitive disabilities. Participating in the Tour enables these campers to experience the joys and camaraderie of Jewish summer camp – swimming, soccer, arts & crafts, singing around the campfire, and celebrating Shabbat, by providing scholarships to defray the costs of attending camp. Ride with us individually, as a family or with a group of friends. All levels of riders are welcome. Registration is $54 for adults. For teens and children ages 18 and under, the registration fee is $36. The fee is capped at $126 per family. The registration fee will be waived for any individual who raises and collects at least $180 in contributions.
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