Youth Services (Shabbat Groups)

Shabbat Children & Youth Services
We have a number of Shabbat programs designed especially for our younger members.

Shabbat Groups
Ohr Kodesh provides Shabbat programs to give children a positive Shabbat experience, and to allow parents to participate fully in Shabbat services.

Four groups meet on most Shabbatot during the school year:

Pre-Shul (ages 18 months to 3 years old) - (Room 7)
Mini-Minyan (age 4 through kindergarten) (Room 4)
K’tongregation (1st through 3rd grade) (Room 3)
Junior Congregation (4th through 6th grade) (Room 9)

Shabbat groups start at 10:30 a.m. and last until approximately 11:45 a.m. All groups are run by trained teen or young adult leaders  who conduct an age-appropriate Shabbat service that includes stories, games, and parashah discussions. Shabbat Group resources such as books, songsheets, games, and  provided for teen leaders to use during group time. Snacks are also provided.

Youth Services (Shabbat Groups) also meet on selected holidays such as: Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day of Passover, and the second day of Shavuot.

On holidays and during the summer, the groups are combined into Pre-Shul/Mini-Minyan (Room 4) and K'tongregation/Junior Congregation (Room 3).

The summer dates for Shabbat Groups this summer are June 23, July 7, July 21, August 4, and August 18.

Tot-Shabbat
Each month, we offer a special Tot Shabbat Service and Shabbat Dinner for young children and their families. Beginning at 5:45 pm, this lively service includes singing Shabbat songs, some prayers and an interactive Shabbat story. An optional family-friendly Shabbat dinner follows at approximately 6:30 pm,

Rabbi Fishman, Cantor Gerber, Rabbi Marc Israel, and Joanie Smeltz (director of our Early Childhood Center) lead this fun and meaningful evening.

Upcoming Dates for Tot Shabbat: Stay Tuned for 2012-2013 Tot Shabbat Dates. We had a great time this year praying and singing our way into Shabbat!

Torah Tots (10:45 - 11:30) Led by Rabbi Risa Weinstein, we offer a lively service on the first Shabbat of the month for young children and their parents/guardians. There are songs, interactive prayers, movement, and games. Service starts at 10:45 am and lasts until approximately 11:30 am. 

Upcoming Torah Tots Dates: June 9