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At Beth Yeshua we love the power of song to engage our hearts during our times of prayer and worship. We have several musicians who meet weekly to practice together and if you would like to know more about joining them contact our worship leader by clicking here.

Congregational dance is an integral part of our worship experience, representing a millennia-long heritage of Biblical and historical sacred dance. It is an expression of joy in our redemption and worship of our Redeemer. As a form of communication with our Creator, it is prayer in motion.

Beth Yeshua offers classes for learning the vocabulary of dance steps and specific choreography, including instruction in both traditional Israeli folk and Messianic praise and worship dances. Classes are Mondays, 7:00- 8:30 pm at Beth Yeshua. They are taught by level, and offered on a four-week rotational basis. For more information click here.

Based on Israeli folk dance traditions, congregational dance movements are simple and sufficiently repetitive to enable broad participation. All are invited to join the dance during service, requiring only a heart for God, basic recognition of the steps involved, and a feel for the flow of the dance. Dances vary in difficulty, so please observe at least one cycle of the dance if you are not familiar with it before joining in. Keep fellow dancers in your peripheral vision –following someone next to you, not across from you (which is just so confusing!) –and be prepared to watch the leader for changes. All participants should be mindful of their attire, conduct, and attitude to enhance the joy of worship both individually and corporately, and to help all maintain a proper focus on the Lord.

For more information contact Carol Lerner here.

Our Torah Service is one of the primary elements of our Shabbat morning synagogue services. Traditional Torah services have become quite elaborate over the millennia. At Beth Yeshua, the Torah service is simplified, but nonetheless important to our services, as a reflection of how we endeavor to keep God’s living word, Yeshua, central in our lives.

A typical Torah service at Beth Yeshua begins with a blessing and Torah processional, when the Torah is carried throughout the sanctuary for congregants to honor God’s word. We stand and face the Torah as it proceeds, and children are invited to rejoice in the Torah by joining the procession. As the scroll passes by, congregants honor it by touching it, either with a siddur, a Bible, or with their tzitzit, and bringing these to their lips.

During a typical Shabbat service, the Torah portion (parasha) is read in its entirety by seven or eight individuals called to make aliyah (to go up) to the bimah, and each recites the blessings before and after his reading. At Beth Yeshua, one person reads part of the week’s parasha and another person chants the blessings for the reading. After this, while the Torah scroll is open, we often present our prayers to God as a congregation.

As the open Torah scroll is lifted high revealing at least three columns, we sing the Hagbah blessing, then the scroll is dressed. Portions from the B’rit Chadashah (New Covenant) and/or the Haftorah (other books of the Older Testament.), selected specifically to accompany the parasha, are read. At the end of the Torah service the congregation stands as the scroll is returned to the ark.

To take part in the Torah service is a privilege and honor. Any one above Bar Mitzvah age may be honored to carry the Torah or to read from the Brit Chadashah. In order to read from the Torah or Haftorah, however, or to chant the blessings, requires Hebrew instruction. Click here for class information. Those who believe they are called to serve as a Torah service leader should contact Harry Case, who oversees the Torah service ministry.

We believe that prayer is perhaps the most significant activity we engage in as a community. If you would like to learn more about prayer, or are curious about the different ways we engage in prayer, please contact our Prayer Leader, Robert Emmert by clicking here.