Services

The UVJC holds services on Shabbat and Jewish holidays at the Roth Center for Jewish Life in Hanover, NH.

Shabbat services are offered in a hybrid format, both in-person and online, using the Zoom platform. People who attend in-person are required to wear masks. We strongly encourage attendees to be fully vaccinated against COVID, to protect themselves and to protect others.

Refer to the Weekly Update for information about Friday night services.

Information about the services, and links to sign in are posted on the Home Page in the Weekly Update section and the Services section. If you would like to borrow a Siddur (prayer book) so that you may participate from home, please contact Chris DePierro at the office (603-646-0460).

Consistent with our diverse membership, we offer a mix of traditional and Reform services, as well as services geared to Hebrew School students and their families and young “tots.” All services are fully egalitarian.

See the calendar for a list of this week’s services.

Would you like to learn some of the liturgy that is sung or chanted during the service?

Our religious school director, Melissa Herman has put together some resources for those who are preparing for bar and bat mitzvah, which are helpful for adults as well!

Kabbalat Shabbat

Kabbalat Shabbat services are generally held at 6:00 pm, both in person and via Zoom. Check with the Weekly Update  for more information. When College is in session, services are followed by Shabbat dinner at 7:00 pm, provided at no charge for both students and community members. Both the services and the dinner are open to all.

In addition to the weekly service at the Roth Center, the Rabbi leads monthly services at Eastman (generally the first weekend of each month). For more information about the Eastman service contact Sue Berg by email at jarsberg@comcast.net.

The Eastman service uses the Mishkan T’Filah (Reform Siddur) and here is a link to Debbe Friedman’s V’ahavta, which is sung at the Eastman service.

Shabbat Morning

The UVJC offers a number of different services formats on Saturday mornings, all beginning at 10:00 am. They are currently offered online, through the Zoom platform. (See Home Page and Weekly Update for info):

Traditional: Unless otherwise noted on the calendar, Shabbat morning services follow a traditional format and last about two hours. The service, led by Rabbi Mark and community members, is mostly in Hebrew and includes a lot of singing and a Torah discussion. Musaf is not generally chanted. If you would like to read Torah or Haftorah or lead a portion of the services, contact Rabbi Mark (rabbi@uvjc.org).

Reform. About once a month, Saturday morning services will follow a Reform format, with guitar and a mix of Hebrew and English. The service lasts about 80 minutes.

Contemplative. Our Contemplative Shabbat services feature meditation, prayer, chant, poetry, and Torah study. The Contemplative service offers a slow pace and an opportunity to explore Jewish spirituality.

All School/Community Shabbat: Held several times during the school year, this format is a mix of student-led prayers and prayers and interactive discussion designed to appeal to Hebrew school students, their families and the broader community. The service lasts about 80 minutes.

Lunch and Learn: The UVJC periodically invites speakers to address the community over Shabbat lunch.   See the Lunch and Learn schedule for upcoming dates. These are listed in the Weekly Update and are currently held using the Zoom platform.

Tot Shabbat: Periodic Tot Shabbat services – generally the same day as our All/School Community Shabbat services – are celebrated by our youngest members with their families on Saturday morning at 10:30 A.M. Tot services are held in the lounge, directly adjacent to the library. Tot Shabbat services are designed for young children, up to and including children in kindergarten.

Saturday Morning Kiddush: During normal times, immediately after services, there is always a delightful Kiddush prepared by members of the community on a rotating calendar. We look forward to when we can convene again, in person, at the Roth Center.

Sponsoring Kiddush is a wonderful way of honoring a yahrzeit, a baby naming, a birthday, an Anniversary or birth of a grandchild! For more information about hosting a Kiddush or reserving a date, contact Yoni Neirman by email at Yoni.Stevens.Neirman@Hitchcock.org.

Havdalah

The UVJC periodically holds brief, musical Havdalah services. Consult the calendar for upcoming dates.

Holidays

In addition to Shabbat, the UVJC holds services on Jewish holidays. Consult the calendar for dates and times.

If you are unable to attend one of our services and would like to have a prayer for healing recited on behalf of someone who is ill, please contact Rabbi at rabbi@uvjc.org.

For a general question or to provide feedback on the UVJC services, contact the UVJC’s Ruach Committee by email at jefflubell@yahoo.com. To schedule an appointment with the Rabbi, contact him at rabbi@uvjc.org.