Tot Shabbat

This page describes Beth El's unique Tot Shabbat program; consider it also an invitation to attend. There are no fees involved, and the program is open to both Beth El members and non-members.

A Tot Shabbat starts at 10:15 a.m. and lasts until about noon. Although that sounds like a long time, "time flies when you're having fun," and there's plenty to do:

• A short, informal, child-centered Shabbat service. The service is an extremely abridged version of a Shabbat morning service. The children gain some familiarity with the basic structure of a Jewish prayer service, and some of the key highlights of the liturgy like the Shema. There's lots of singing of simple songs. We also include some very simplified Israeli folk dancing. The entire service takes something like twenty minutes.

• Two or more arts and craft projects on a Jewish theme, such as an upcoming Jewish Holiday or Shabbat. The children have made challah covers, Shabbat candlesticks, Hanukah menorahs, Passover seder plates, and lots of other things.

• A really special time during the Tot Shabbats is when the children go into the "adult" Shabbat morning service for a storytelling by Rabbi Kraus. The kids join the Rabbi on the bimah, sit around him in a circle, and the Rabbi tells them --- and all the adults in attendance --- a Jewish children's story. The story takes the place of the Rabbi's normal Shabbat morning sermon / D'var Torah. After the story, it's time to put the Torah scroll the adults were read from earlier while the kids were doing arts and crafts away. The kids march in the procession with the Torah scroll around the sanctuary, and then leave the adult service for their next activity.

• The Tot Shabbat ends with a snack typically of bagels and cream cheese. We have a brief Shabbat morning kiddish before digging in.