Festivals and Holidays
All Temple Beth Torah members—empty nesters, singles, and families of any shape and size, including those with little ones and school age children—are encouraged to join us for services any time. We recommend the entire congregation attend as much as possible but realize this is sometimes very difficult for families with young children. As a result, some of these families are reluctant to come to services. At TBT, we believe attending services is one of the most basic and best ways to strengthen our community while learning and passing down our traditions. For this reason, we’ve designed some of our favorite services to be more family friendly. Often these Family Services have an earlier start time and are shorter, or there is a potluck dinner or other event scheduled before Shabbat officially begins. These services are more convenient for our young members, while still being inviting to the rest of the Congregation. There are other services that celebrate a specific event or spiritual value, which are not adjusted for young families, that still include participation from Religious School students and classes. On these occasions they may lead you in song or a reading.
Many services, including our special Family Services are worshipped concurrently with another holiday or event of significance.
High Holidays
Temple Beth Torah provides inspirational and music-filled High Holiday Services using the Mishkan Hanefesh machzor (prayer book). Our inclusive community brings together congregants, guests, and all who wish to observe the holiest days of the Jewish year at our synagogue in Chantilly, Virginia. Families are encouraged to attend any and all services together. Self-directed activities are available for children (or adults) in need of a break during the service.
Festivals
Sukkot
At TBT, we celebrate the fall harvest on Sukkot through activities in our religious school and at Shabbat services. During the eight-day holiday, we build a sukkah, which is a dwelling with three walls and symbolizes the huts that farmers slept in during the busiest times of the harvest. Since TBT does not have outdoor space, we build our sukkah in our sanctuary and decorate it to create a special feeling inside our walls. During religious school, our children learn to shake the lulov and etrog in all directions and we incorporate this tradition into our Shabbat service as well.
Pesach and Community Seder
Since 2000, the Sisterhood has hosted our annual Festive Community Seder on the second night of Pesach (Passover). Open to TBT members and guests, as well as local community members, we use our custom TBT Haggadah to retell the story of Passover through participatory readings and rituals. At this large event, we serve a traditional Passover meal, sing songs, eat homemade macaroons, search for the afikomen, and visit with friends.
Shavout and Confirmation
TBT celebrates the festival of Shavuot in a Shabbat service held in conjunction with our Confirmation ceremony. This moving service, commemorating the giving of the Torah at Sinai, concludes our 10th graders’ religious school experience as they confirm their commitment to Torah.
Holidays
Simchat Torah and Consecration
At TBT we celebrate Simchat Torah by singing and dancing with the Torah. Consecration marks the beginning of students’ Jewish education. This is its own joyous event, but here at TBT we celebrate it concurrently with Simchat Torah.
Chanukah
TBT celebrates Chanukah throughout the eight days in our Shabbat service and religious school. We hold a special Chanukah Shabbat service, preceded by a congregational potluck complete with latkes, and filled with songs from our choir. During Religious School we hold an annual Chanukah party where students create art projects, play games, and enjoy sufganiyot (donuts) provided by the Sisterhood.
Purim
One of our biggest celebrations of the year is Purim. In our religious school, students complete art projects, such as creating festive masks, and celebrate the holiday in costumes while watching a Purim schpiel presented by our teachers and madrichim. After the schpiel, the Brotherhood hosts our annual Purim Carnival where all can play games and earn prizes. We end the religious school celebration with the Sisterhood Purim Café for lunch and hamentaschen. For adults, we hold an annual adults-only table reading of a Purim schpiel with a fun theme while enjoying snacks, beverages, and the joy and hilarity of the holiday.