Services and Celebrations
The Nassau Synagogue and Jewish Community Center’s proud heritage as a Jewish farmers’ shul focuses us on finding a balance between tradition and adaptation that best meets the needs of our local community. We are independent of denominational organizations. Currently, our approach to religious observance can be described as:
Egalitarian – Jewish women and men participate equally.
Traditional – Our ritual and halakhic (Jewish normative) adherence evolves from the ancient and living chain of tradition.
Ashkenazi – Grounded in Central/Eastern European Jewish customs, norms, and tunes.
Relevant – Ritual adaptations, and our cultural and educational offerings, increase inclusion, understanding, connection, and joy.
Liturgy
Our liturgy is mostly chanted and sung in Hebrew, with English readings interspersed. Our prayerbooks are published by the Conservative Movement and include contemporary translations, interesting marginal notes, related readings, and transliterations for prayers and blessings that are commonly chanted aloud.
Service Schedule
Except on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, our services are volunteer led. We maintain a calendar of services offered each month. Please see the calendar for dates and times. As more worship leaders join our roster, we will increase the number of Shabbat and holiday services we conduct.
Remote Participation
All services are available remotely as well, through a Zoom link included in our weekly announcements. To receive the weekly announcements, please sign up here.
Shabbat Morning Services begin at 10 AM. Torah study or chanting begins about 11:15 AM. At about 12:15 PM, we sit down to enjoy a nicely prepared, kosher, dairy kiddush lunch.
Torah Study and Chanting
A special Nassau Shul tradition is to study the week’s Torah portion together around a table. We rely primarily on two English translations with commentary, referencing the Hebrew as needed. After each aliyah (section) is read aloud, someone – anyone – poses a question, and discussion flows from there.
Twice a year — for Parshat Lech Lecha and Parshat Yitro — Torah is traditionally chanted by a cadre of volunteer readers. It has also been a long-standing tradition for volunteers to chant Torah and Haftarah on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Shabbat Evening Services begin at 6 PM with Kabbalat Shabbat, designed to move us from the bustle of the week into the restful spirit of the Sabbath. Most often, we offer a full, kosher Shabbat dinner after services, with pre-registration and a small fee to mitigate catering costs. (Vegan and GF options available on request.)
If you are at Shabbat evening services but did not pre-register for dinner, please approach the service leader. We will gladly set another place at the table whenever possible.
High Holidays
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur come in the autumn month of Tishrei. The Nassau Synagogue is blessed with the ritual leadership of the congregation’s dear friends Derek Fields and Rebecca Glass. Derek leads services and discussions. Rebecca and a cadre of Torah and Haftarah readers, shofar blowers, ushers, and service leaders participate actively. Worshippers also participate actively, through discussion and by taking part in honors – opportunities to do an English reading, open and close the ark, recite blessings, etc.
On Rosh Hashanah, we share traditional holiday treats at kiddush immediately following services. After kiddush on the first day, some congregants walk together along the adjacent rail trail for Tashlikh, when we (metaphorically) cast our sins into the creek.
Yom Kippur evening services begin with Kol Nidrei (All Vows), a medieval legalistic declaration reminding us of times when Jews were forced to falsely vow loyalty to another faith. Some years, the Nassau Shul is blessed to hear an instrumental rendition of the haunting melody before rising to incant the words invoking Divine forgiveness for breaking vows we cannot keep.
The Yizkor service — also recited on the festivals of Sukkot, Shavuot and Pesach — invites mourners to offer their departed loved ones wishes for peace in the afterlife and to extend their impact in this world with a promise to give tzedakah (charitable gifts) in their memory. At the Nassau Shul, we read aloud the names on the shul’s memorial plaques, calling congregational ancestors back into the sanctuary with us.
Break Fast
After the final service of Yom Kippur (Neilah), and a quick weekday Ma’ariv, tables are unfolded and set for a kosher Break Fast, with large baskets of bagels, trays of smoked fish, fixings, baked goods, and fruits that our members have prepared in advance. The Nassau Shul congregational family breaks the Yom Kippur fast together with joy, laughter, gastronomical delights, and gratitude. Everyone is invited to partake.
Click here for this year’s High Holiday service schedule
Celebrating Year-Round Holidays and Festivals
You can find each year’s holiday and festival offerings on our calendar and print out the Service Schedule to post on your fridge. Rest assured, services will be joyful, participatory, and followed by an abundant meal of traditional kosher foods.
Norms and Expectations During Services
The Nassau Shul wholeheartedly welcomes newcomers to our services and celebrations. To understand our customs and expectations, please read one or both of these brief PDFs:
Minhagei Hamakom (our customs)