Worship at Rockdale is engaging and interactive. Our services are filled with joyful music, as well as space to reflect, understand, and learn. We experiment and discover contemporary modes of worship while being mindful of our classical Reform history.
ACCESSIBILITY
For service guests with special needs, Rockdale Temple offers handicapped parking, wheelchair accessible entrances, large print prayer books, and hearing devices.
Shabbat Services
"More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel."
-Ahad HaAm
Our Shabbat services take many forms. We pray from the most recent prayer book of the Reform Movement, Mishkan T'filah. We invite the congregation to worship together with our service leaders for both Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday night) and Shabbat morning (Saturday morning).
Each Friday night we gather for a nosh beginning at 5:45 p.m., followed by Shabbat evening services at 6:15 p.m. We set aside one Friday night a month to celebrate with a special Rock Shabbat service, filling the chapel with song and story. Another Friday each month is also set aside for our Shir Shalom volunteer choir, under the direction of Mary Southworth, as they sing with our organ and congregation. Every Friday night uplifts us with sermon and prayer, as our rabbis and song leaders engage us in the Torah.
Each Saturday morning we gather for Torah study at 9:30 a.m., followed by Shabbat morning services at 10:30 a.m. Torah Study is an opportunity to engage with our texts and traditions, as congregants share their thoughts and ideas. Some Saturday mornings, services are led by B'nei Mitzvah celebrants in the chapel. Otherwise, we celebrate with an intimate and inspiring Service In-the-Round in the Board Room.
FORT Shabbat
Families with young children are encouraged to come and experience a Shabbat service with FoRT, Families of Rockdale Temple. FoRT Shabbat services vary between Friday nights, Saturday mornings, and Saturday evenings (Havdalah). These experiences are filled with laughter, stories, and song led by Rabbi Kahan. Click here for more information about FoRT.
Yahrzeit
The Yahrzeit list is read at Friday evening and Saturday morning services. The names of those recently laid to rest along with those who died in seasons past are read. Please call the Temple office to have a name added to the list of those we remember.
Rockdale also provides the option to enroll your loved one in Perpetual Memory, which ensures that your loved one will be included in the Rockdale Temple Book of Remembrance (the calligraphed book outside the chapel), Rockdale Temple's Roll of Remembrance (the memorial book distributed during Yom Kippur Yizkor services), and the recitation of the Yahrzeit on the anniversary of their death. Once enrolled in Perpetual Memory, your loved one's name will be read every year automatically, and the Temple office will send you a card reminding you of the upcoming observance. For more information about Perpetual Memory, please call Karen Martin or Paige Barker at 513.891.9900.
