ETIQUETTE OF THE SYNAGOGUE

At Ohev Shalom, we pride ourselves on the family-friendly, informal nature of our prayer services. Still, we have rules of etiquette we ask participants in our services to follow:

· KIPPOT ARE REQUIRED FOR MEN, AND ARE ENCOURAGED FOR WOMEN, IN OUR SANCTUARY. Jews going up to the bimah (pulpit) to participate in a ritual must wear both a kippah (head covering) and tallit (prayer shawl). Non-Jews going up to the bimah for non-ritual functions must wear a kippah. We strongly encourage both Jewish men and women to wear kippot or appropriate head coverings whenever they are in the building -- our sacred space as a community.

· DRESS APPROPRIATELY. Shabbat is the sacred center of our week as Jews. Please show the proper respect for this sanctity and the sanctity of our prayer services by, as best you can, dressing yourselves and your children with this in mind.

· TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS BEFORE ENTERING THE SYNAGOGUE BUILDING ON SHABBAT AND HOLIDAYS. If you are a physician on-call, please use the vibrate mode. Moreover, in the spirit of shemirat Shabbat (observing the Sabbath), unless it is an emergency, please do not place cell phone calls or use other electronic devices in the building on these sacred days.

· HOLD YOUR CONVERSATIONS TO A MINIMUM. We are here to pray, and chatter distracts our kavana - our focus - on prayer. 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 (HOLY ARK) IS OPEN. Traffic flow during a d'var torah can be distracting to the rabbi, bar/bat mitzvah student, or whoever is teaching the community that day. Moreover, we want to maintain proper respect for the sifrei torah (torah scrolls) and the heightened sanctity of those moments when the ark is open. We, of course, recognize the immediate needs, at times, of parents with young children.

· ENJOY THE COMPANY OF YOUR CHILDREN IN SERVICES. Please use your best discretion as to when it is appropriate to remove your children from services. We welcome the sounds and songs of infants, toddlers, and young ones in our services, but there are times, of course, when the needs of the community necessitate removing your children from the sanctuary. To serve the special needs of children, on Shabbat Ohev offers babysitting, Tot Shabbat, and Junior Congregation.

· BRING OUTSIDE READING MATERIALS TO ENHANCE YOUR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE. Whether it be a favorite book of reflections, the siddur commentary books ( Ohr Chadash) that we store at the entrance to the sanctuary, children's books (ideally on Jewish subjects!), or any other reading materials, please utilize them during services. Our service is an outline from which you can make your own spiritual composition. Please be reminded that writing is not permitted in the synagogue on Shabbat.

· COME OFTEN. JEWISH PRAYER IS A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE. Help us by coming often and participating frequently. Our community depends on you.

· HIGH HOLIDAYS/YOM TOV. The rules above apply also to Yom Tov (other sacred days): High Holidays, Days 1 and 2 of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Days 1, 2, 7 and 8 of Passover, and Shavuot.

Thank you for your cooperation, and welcome again to our synagogue. The Ritual Committee and Board of Congregation Ohev Shalom, 10/03