We are excited about your interest in Beit Chayim! We hope this page will help you feel more comfortable visiting us.
Please fill out the connection card so we can contact you with any questions you may have!
What to Expect
If this is your first time attending a Messianic Jewish Synagogue, you may have some questions about what to expect. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join in any and all Beit Chayim services and functions. We hope to see you soon!
Shabbat Services
Shabbat services are held Saturday mornings at 10:30 AM in our Sanctuary. Because many of our congregants like to arrive early to fellowship and pray, our doors are open by 9:30 AM.
Parking: The parking lot behind our building is owned by Syracuse University student apartments. We are not permitted to park there and will be towed if we do. There is, however, free on-street parking on Saturdays. If parking is an issue and you would like to pull up to the side of our building, our elder is able to park your car for you.
Dress: We encourage people to come to synagogue in whatever makes them comfortable! For some, this may be more dressed up, and for others more casual. Our only request is that everyone dress modestly!
How long is the Service?: Our Shabbat services usually run from about 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, from start to finish. This includes times of praise and worship, testimony, liturgy, and the Rabbi’s message. On the first Saturday of the month, we have an oneg (lunch meal) provided immediately after the service. This is a time of fellowship with each other and is optional! For more information on onegs, visit our Ministries page.
Children: We believe that families should worship together! Because of this, we encourage our children to participate in the first half of our service. We have a Shabbat School ministry for children ages 5-12 during the second half of service. We also have a nursery on standby for children ages 4 and under. If you would like your child to be taken to the nursery at any time during the service, we ask that you escort them to the nursery across from the sanctuary and a member of our nursery staff will meet you there.
What is the Service like?: Our service consists of traditional Jewish liturgy in Hebrew first, then in English. There is a Torah service where the Torah is marched around the Sanctuary, blessed, and read from. After being read, there will be a short teaching on the passage that is read from the Torah. We also have times of modern praise and worship music by many messianic and Christian artists. The Rabbi’s message at the end of the service, followed by a blessing over those in attendance in person and online.
How do I follow the Service?: We have our entire service on slides projected at the front of the Sanctuary. All of our liturgies (in Hebrew, Transliterated Hebrew, and English) as well as lyrics to our music, announcements, and slides accompanying Rabbi’s message will be on the screen for everyone to follow!
High Holidays
High Holiday services are held usually on the eve of the holiday, with an occasional service on the morning of that holiday in our Sanctuary. We decide our services based on the needs of our congregants. We open our doors about an hour before the service is set to begin.
If you ever have a question about when a High Holiday service is, visit our Events page to see a calendar of all upcoming events at Beit Chayim.
Parking: The parking lot behind our building is owned by Syracuse University student apartments. We are not permitted to park there and will be towed if we do. We will always start our High Holiday services after 6:00 PM, so on-street parking is free. If parking is an issue and you would like to pull up to the side of our building, our elder is able to park your car for you.
Dress: High Holiday services tend to be a more dressy occasion. While there are some traditions that are optional (Wearing white on Yom Kippur), we request that everyone dress modestly and avoid wearing casual clothes such as flip-flops or crocs, shorts, jeans, T-shirts, etc.
How long is the Service?: Our High Holiday services tend to run for about 2 hours. While each service is different depending on the holiday, this usually includes times of worship, liturgy, and the Rabbi’s message. After some Holidays, we have some sort of meal after the service that is optional!
For more information on onegs, visit our Ministries page.
Children: Children are usually a part of High Holiday services. However, if you would like childcare during a High Holiday service, it can be provided upon request.
What is the Service like?: A High Holiday service consists of traditional Jewish liturgy in Hebrew first, then in English. Depending on the Holiday, there are times of modern praise or worship music by many messianic and Christian artists. Some holidays are more solemn and are considered to be times of worship, prayer, and reflection. The Rabbi’s message at the end of the service, followed by a blessing over those in attendance in person and online.
How do I follow the Service?: We have our entire service on slides projected at the front of the Sanctuary. All of our liturgies (in Hebrew, Transliterated Hebrew, and English) as well as lyrics to our music, and slides accompanying Rabbi’s message will be on the screen for everyone to follow!
Prayer
Prayer services are held Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM in our Sanctuary. Because many of our congregants like to arrive early to fellowship and pray, our doors are open by 6:00 PM.
Parking: The parking lot behind our building is owned by Syracuse University student apartments. We are not permitted to park there and will be towed if we do. There is, however, free on-street parking after 6:00 PM during the week. If parking is an issue and you would like to pull up to the side of our building, our elder is able to park your car for you.
Dress: We encourage people to come to Prayer services in whatever makes them comfortable! For some, this may be more dressed up, and for others more casual. Our only request is that everyone dress modestly!
How long is the Service?: Our Prayer services run about an hour, from start to finish. This includes times of worship, prayer for our community, and reading from the Bible. There will be a time to receive prayer from our prayer team at the end of the service. For more information on the prayer ministry, visit our Ministries page.
Children: We currently do not offer child care during Prayer services. However, if you would like childcare during Prayer services, it can be provided upon request.
What is the Service like?: Our Prayer services are a time for our congregants to get together to pray for our community and receive prayer. Throughout this service, there is music to silently pray and worship to, open-mic prayer time where you can pray or read an encouraging word from the bible, and time to receive prayer from our prayer team.
How do I follow the Service?: We have our entire service on slides projected at the front of the Sanctuary. All lyrics to our music and slides announcing different prayer times will be on the screen for everyone to follow!
Torah Study
Torah Study is not a service but a time to come together and discuss each week’s Torah Parsha. Because our Prayer service is immediately before Torah Study, our doors are open by 6:00 PM. However, it is not required that you go to both. There is a Zoom link for those who would like to participate virtually. If you are interested in online participation, email social@shalomsyracuse.org!
Parking: The parking lot behind our building is owned by Syracuse University student apartments. We are not permitted to park there and will be towed if we do. There is, however, free on-street parking after 6:00 PM during the week. If parking is an issue and you would like to pull up to the side of our building, our elder is able to park your car for you.
Dress: We encourage people to come to Torah Study in whatever makes them comfortable! For some, this may be more dressed up, and for others more casual. Our only request is that everyone dress modestly!
How long is the Torah Study?: Our Torah Study runs about an hour, from start to finish. This includes discussion and a small amount of teaching on the Parsha from the Rabbi. Sometimes it can run longer depending on the discussion, however, we try to be mindful of everyone’s time and you are welcome to leave if it starts to run too late.
For more information on Torah Study, visit our Ministries page.
Children: We currently do not offer child care during Torah Study. However, if you would like childcare during Prayer services, it can be provided upon request.
What is Torah Study like?: Our Torah Study is a time for our congregants to get together to discuss the weekly Torah Parsha. Our Rabbi teaches about the Parsha for that corresponding week with chances to discuss and reflect.
How do I follow the Torah Study?: All you need for Torah Study is your bible and a notebook. Most like to read the weekly Parsha before Torah Study but this is not a requirement if you are visiting for the first time.
If you would like to see what this week’s Parsha is, visit our Announcements page.
Service Etiquette
Singing and Praying: We encourage everyone to join in with Hebrew and English songs and prayers as much, or as little, as you feel comfortable.
Standing and Bowing: We stand and sit a lot during the service. There will be clear cues for you to rise during specific portions of the Service. You are not obligated to stand during these times, especially if you are medically unable to do so. You may notice people bowing as an act of reverence before the Lord at different times during certain prayers. If this is unfamiliar to you, do not feel obligated to bow. This is a personal choice of those worshipping!
Dancing: We try to incorporate Israeli-style dancing, as well as Davidic dancing, as a worship expression during praise and worship music. You are welcome to participate in dancing if you would like! Someone will help guide you through the steps or if you would like to do your own dancing, that is welcome as well! We always encourage people to praise the Lord in their own unique way.
Commonly used Hebrew Words and Phrases
“Shabbat Shalom!” – Greeting, Translates to “Sabbath Peace” or “Have a peaceful Sabbath!”
“Baruch Ha-ba” – Used when speaking about God, translates to “Blessed is he who comes”
“Mazel Tov!” – Congratulatory phrase, translates to “Good Luck!”
“L’Chayim!” – Congratulatory phrase, can be said as a “cheers” when drinking from a glass, means “To Life”
“Chag Sameach!” – Greeting, translates to “Happy Holidays!”
Gentile – Not a Hebrew word, a person who is not Jewish
Yeshua – Jesus
Brit Hadashah – New Testament
Shabbat – Sabbath (Sundown Friday to Sundown Saturday)
Challah – Traditional braided bread enjoyed on Shabbat
Shalom – Peace, Hello, Goodbye
Bimah – Raised platform at the front of the Sanctuary and/or the table on which the Torah is read
Parsha – Weekly reading from the Torah read in an annual cycle
Haftarah – Weekly reading from the Biblical Prophets that coincides with the Torah portion
Torah – First five books of the Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy)
Ruach HaKodesh – Holy Spirit/Spirit of God
Tanakh – Jewish Bible
Mishpocha – Family
Adonai – God
Talmidim – Disciples
Rabbi – Jewish spiritual leader, Teacher
Rebbitzen – Rabbi’s wife
Zakeyn – Elder