Qabbalat Shabbat & Erev Simchat Torah: An Immersive Torah Experience

Celebrate the Annual Reading of the Torah!

Unique to Temple Israel of Boston, join our clergy, congregation, and roving Torah-Cam in this immersive, full-bodied experience of Torah. 

Peer into the Torah scrolls close up, catch sight of your favorite stories, and even your own Torah portion! 

With five Torah scrolls unrolled to form an enormous interactive worship space, congregants are encouraged to move freely around the room, noticing close up the mystical crowns atop the Hebrew letters, the rare spaces that divide one book from another, and the famous words and prayers they've known their whole life but have never seen in person.

Chanted verses, stories, and experiences of Torah are woven into the Qabbalat Shabbat service with Yikzkor, with Shabbat Mishpachah included – all while our amazing roving Torah-Cam focuses, close up, on the Torah verses that highlight the evening, broadcasting on our large gallery wall and to our congregants at home all the magic inside the Torah.

Afterwards, enjoy dessert and dancing with the Torah to the music of the Boston-based klezmer band, Shirim!

5:00 p.m., Consecration (onsite)

Kindergarten students and all new Temple Israel students (kindergarten and older) join us for our special Consecration ceremony. The annual tradition of consecration connects us with the joy and meaning of Simchat Torah to honor the start of this wonderful, important chapter of our children's Jewish education.

5:00 p.m., Food and Celebration for All Ages (onsite)

6:00 p.m., Qabbalat Shabbat & Simchat Torah Service and Torah-Cam, with time for Yizkor (in mixed presence, onsite and online)

7:15 p.m., Dancing and Dessert (onsite)

See full details about celebrating the High Holy Days with Temple Israel of Boston, from S'lichot through Simchat Torah.

Questions? Call 617-566-3960 or email info@tisrael.org.