Chagim
Regular Services
Services
Daily Services are held every morning for Shacharit and every evening for Minchah and Maariv.
Morning Services are held on a generally fixed schedule:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - 6:45am
Saturday - 9:00am
Sunday - 8:30am
The times are sometimes set earlier to accommodate additional prayers (monthly on Rosh Chodesh for the Torah reading and Mussaf, or during Elul [the month preceding Rosh Hashanah] for S'lichot) or moved to 8:30 AM on weekday secular holidays, such as Thanksgiving when people generally don't have work.
Minchah and Maariv Services are davened together, are generally set by the time of sunset, and stay the same for each week. Contact the office for specific times. In the winter months, when Eastern Standard Time is observed, a late Maariv service is held at 7:50pm Monday through Thursday (excluding holidays) to accommodate those persons saying Kaddish or who need a late evening service.
Youth Services
The Hebrew Institute has an active youth program, led by professional Youth Directors under the guidance of the Rabbi and a volunteer Youth Committee. Regular events include Junior Congregation on Shabbat morning for pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah children, and a weekday evening Torah class for teenagers. Children of all age groups frequently assist in services in the Main Sanctuary. Special youth programs and outings are held once or twice a month, linked where appropriate to seasonal Holidays.
Shabbat Services
Sabbath/Friday Evening or Minchah Services start at the New York City candle lighting time. (Check with the office to verify the exact time each week.)
Saturday Morning or Shacharit Services start at 9:00am promptly. There is generally a Gemorah class held at 8:15am preceding Shacharit.
Saturday Afternoon or Minchah Services are set according to sundown and planned programming and Sheudah Shelesh't which may be scheduled between Minchah and Maariv.
Womens' Tefillah Services
The Women of our congregation want to have a strong personal involvement in prayer. Throughout the year a schedule of Women's Tefillah Services are scheduled for both Morning Shacharit and Evening Minchah/Maariv services, generally on Saturdays. Many of the young women celebrating their Bat Mitzvah utilize these Women Tefillah services to have an experience parallel to that of the young men reaching Bar Mitzvah. This is truly with keeping within centrist orthodoxy and having women fully participate in leading Tefillah, reading from the Torah and Haftorah portions, and giving D'vrah Torah (speeches on the weekly portion).
Women's Tefillah Services are also scheduled for focused celebration of Holidays. During Simchas Torah, the initial Hakafot (parading and dancing with the Torah Scrolls) are done jointly with both men and women present in the Main Sancutary and Social Hall. The Women Tefillah group then holds its own final Hakafot and Torah reading in our Chapel with every women being called to the Torah.
