Shalom and Welcome to our Shul
Imagine, coming together in prayer in an atmosphere of total inclusion and acceptance, where you are welcome, in fact encouraged, to ask questions, and where you are implored to be as nonjudgmental of your neighbor as he or she is of you. This is the atmosphere that has been created in this small, unassuming building in Chattanooga we call home.
Shabbat Service
On Shabbat, services are traditional. They are led by our Rabbi, Rabbi Shaul Perlstein and chanted by members of our community. Services are primarily conducted in Hebrew. The truth is that only each individual among us knows how he or she best communicates with G‑d. At Chabad the language you use or the pace you set for youself are not of paramount importance. Our prayer books are written in both Hebrew and English, and the page numbers are announced continuously so you may always catch up if you prefer to meditate at a slower speed. Please connect with the day and with G‑d and with your own soul in whatever personal manner suits you best.
The tunes may be old, new, or familiar ones. They are sung by those of us who know the words and by those of us who can only hum along, with all the gusto befitting the joy of Shabbat.
D'var Torah
Each week, Rabbi Perlstein enlightens us by expounding upon the meaning of the Torah section of the week. Guiding us on a weekly journey from ancient times to the present, by opening our eyes not merely to the words in the holy book, but the unspoken allegories the words reflect. Shabbat after Shabbat, Rabbi P. synthesizes the Torah stories and directives, and relates their messages so that we may grow from them as we incorporate them into our contemporary hectic lifestyles. Remarkably, his message manages to be universal and personal simultaneously, and touches each of us, regardless of the mile marker on our individual spiritual highways.
Kiddush
Please join us for our weekly Kiddush immediately following the service. The Kosher Kiddush is sponsored on a volunteer basis by members of our Minyan who may have a Shimcha to celebrate, a milestone to mark, or a family member they wish to honor. Often the Kiddush is prepared simply to honor the Shabbat. Rosie's delicious and widely praised cooking is enjoyed, while we all sit around relacing in the Shabbat tempo, and the warmth of Companionship that emanates from this community.
Each week another member of our community volunteers to kickstart the conversation with some personal thoughts on the weekly Torah portion.
Sunday Minyan
There is no better way to start the week than coming together to lay Tefillin and pray. 8:30 Sunday morning we gather for the morning service. Minyan or not it is a joy and pleasure to come together to kickstart the week with a dose of spirituality and focus. Feel free to hang around for some coffee and Kabbalah with the class that follows Shacharit.