Directions to Congregation Shaarei Tefillah

Congregation Shaarei Tefillah is located at 35 Morseland Avenue in Newton Centre, Masshachusetts. Morseland Avenue is the first street on the north side of Commonwealth Avenue just west of Center Street. Center Street is located at Exit 17 off of the East Bound Mass Pike (I-90). West Bound travelers on the Mass Pike (I-90) should also exit at Exit 17, but will need to follow the traffic pattern up Washington Street and then to the left to swing around the Newton Sheraton complex over the crossover bridge. Center Street will then be the immediate, first right. For more information click here for Mapquest.

For Newcomers to an Orthodox Synagogue Visiting on Shabbat

I. What to Wear
Men: most wear a jacket and tie to services; some wear suits. Many boys will dress like their fathers or wear dress shirts and nice trousers. All, including visitors and children old enough to do so, are expected to cover their heads, usually with a kippah/yarmulke. You are welcome to wear your own, but there will also be plenty available before you enter the synagogue itself. The custom in our synagogue is for married Jewish men to wear a tallit (prayer shawl) at morning services. This is not a requirement except for participants in the service.

Women and girls: are expected to wear dresses or skirts with sleeved tops. The general level of "dressiness" lies between casual and evening clothes, pretty much excluding those two extremes. Married women wear hats. There will be lace doilies available outside the sanctuary for those who prefer.

Orthodox Jews do not use money, write, or use electrical devices on the Sabbath. Therefore, we do not bring pens and pencils, wallets, cell phones or palm pilots to synagogue and women do not carry purses. Books and quiet non-electronic toys are appropriate for children who are not yet ready to participate in the service. There are various youth groups that will take place at the conclusion of the Torah reading that your children are welcome to join if they feel comfortable

II. Getting There
Orthodox Jews do not drive on the Sabbath, but rather walk to services whatever the weather. Please respect this. If you too would prefer not to drive, we would be happy to try to set up Shabbat Hospitality for you and your family. If you do drive, please park in the carriage lane on Commonwealth Avenue and please respect all City Parking Ordinances, including parking in the right direction of traffic and not parking within 5 feet of a driveway.

Our synagogue is a converted house. The synagogue proper is upstairs, entered from the back of the building. However, the coatroom is downstairs. Either take the handicapped ramp down in the front, or go around to the parking lot in the back and enter there. After hanging up your coat, please come upstairs. At the top of the stairs, please take a siddur (prayer book) and a chumash (Bible). Be sure to take books that include the English translations unless your Hebrew is fluent.

Men and women sit separately in Orthodox synagogues. In our synagogue, men sit to the left and women to the right.

III. The Service Itself
Services begin at 9AM and will last at least 2 1/2 hours. The men's side will begin to fill up by 9:30, the women's side a bit later.

The service is conducted entirely in Hebrew and very few pages will be formally announced. For most parts of the service, the member of the congregation leading the prayers will read out loud only the beginning and end of each section. Please do not hesitate to someone sitting near you for help finding your place. The order of the service is as follows (page numbers refer to the blue prayer book with English translations edited by Philip Birnbaum). Please feel free to bring with you a print out of this guide:

1. Preliminary Prayers (pp.16-48), about 10 minutes, mostly recited privately.
   
2. Verses of Song (pp. 300-336), about 15 minutes, mostly Psalms, but concluding with Exodus 15, the Song at the Sea (followed by an extended blessing praising God).
   
3. The Shema and its Blessings, about 15 minutes, beginning with the Barekhu (a call to worship), p. 336 bottom, then blessings celebrating God as Creator (pp. 338-344 top) and Revealer of Torah (p. 344), then the silent recitation of the biblical passages of the Shema itself (pp. 344 bottom-346), and a blessing celebrating God as Redeemer (pp. 348-350).
   
4. The Amidah (pp. 350-360), about fifteen minutes, the central covenantal act of worship, consisting of seven blessings on the Sabbath. The congregation will stand, facing east, and recite this silently. Then the prayer leader will repeat it, including the kedushah (Holy, Holy, Holy..., p. 352).
   
5. Reading of the Torah: The Torah reading itself may be found in the Hertz Pentateuch. Our Rabbi usually introduces the reading and announces the page number. The Shabbat Torah reading will be divided into at least seven different aliyot, sections for which members of the congregation are called up to recite the Torah blessings. At a Bar Mitzvah or an Auf Ruf, after the celebrant completes his own aliyah (which will be the last and a repetition of the last three verses of the weekly portion), his new status will be celebrated by the singing of "Siman Tov U-Mazal Tov" (Congratulations!) and by pelting him with candy (which children will collect and consume). The Torah reading is matched by the prophetic reading, whose page numbers too will be announced by either the Rabbi or the Gabbai (ritual officer). After the Torah is returned to the ark, the Shabbat Sermon is usually delivered.
   
6. The Musaf (Additional) Service (pp. 392-406). This second Amidah corresponds to the additional Sabbath offering in the Jerusalem Temple. It too will be first recited silently by the congregation, standing and facing east, and then repeated by the prayer leader.
   
7. Concluding Prayers (pp. 408-424), usually led by a child, followed by announcements.
   
8. Kiddush. Please join us in the social hall downstairs for food and mingling!