Ohev Shalom is a fully egalitarian, progressive Conservative synagogue and our services mix the traditional liturgy with English readings and explanations. We pride ourselves on the family-friendly, informal and inclusive nature of our prayer services, but ask that participants and attendees adhere to a certain code of conduct when in the sanctuary.
Kippot are required for men, and encouraged for women, in our sanctuary. Jews going up to the bimah to participate in a ritual must wear both a kippah and tallit, and non-Jews must wear a kippah. We strongly encourage Jewish men and women to wear kippot or appropriate head coverings whenever they are in the building.
Dress appropriately. Please show the proper respect for the sanctity of our prayer services by dressing yourselves and your children appropriately.
Turn off all cell phones before entering the synagogue building on Shabbat and holidays. In the spirit of observing the Sabbath and holidays, please do not use cell phones or other electronic devices in the building on these days. If you are a physician on-call, please use the “vibrate mode,” and respond to calls outside the building.
Hold your conversations to a minimum when in the sanctuary. We are there to pray, and chatter distracts our ability to focus. It is particularly important that we refrain from talking during the heart of our prayer services – the prayers before and after the Shema, the private and public recitations of the Shacharit and Musaf Amidah, the Torah and haftarah readings and the d’var Torah.
Do not enter or leave the sanctuary during a d’var Torah, sermon or when the Aron Kodesh is open. Traffic flow during a d’var Torah can be distracting to whoever is addressing the congregation from the pulpit. Moreover, we want to maintain proper respect for the torah scrolls and the heightened sanctity of the moments when the ark is open. If you need to enter or leave for an emergency, please be as respectful as possible.
Enjoy the company of your children in services but be respectful of the community. We welcome children of all ages in our sanctuary, but please use your best discretion as to when it might be appropriate to remove your children from services. On Shabbat and High Holidays, we offer babysitting, Tot Shabbat and Junior Congregation to serve the special needs of our youngest congregants.
Feel free to bring outside reading material to enhance your worship experience. Whether it be a favorite book of reflections or a Jewish children’s book, we welcome your additional materials in the sanctuary as you create your own spiritual composition. Please be reminded that writing in the synagogue and sanctuary is not permitted on Shabbat.
