About

About Us

We are an independent, traditional, egalitarian minyan.

What is Traditional Egalitarian?

We are combining the best of both worlds! Men and women sit, participate, and daven together. The service is conducted in Hebrew using the traditional liturgy. And, we love to sing. Our service includes some traditional and many original tunes that infuse the space with kavanah (spiritual lifting up).

Sam Asher leads the service with his unique musical style developed over more than 20 years as a Chazzan. Infectious and engaging, we invite you to jump in and sing out.

Our Take on Shabbat prayer and learning:

We daven until the Torah service, then we break for a shared meal to sweeten our tongues and shared Torah study to sweeten our souls. After study and a meal, we conclude with Musaf.

The meals are a shared effort and joy of the whole community. When you plan to come, just check out our website by Wednesday and sign up for a dish to share.

Shabbat services are generally held the first and third Friday evenings at 6:30pm and the second and fourth Saturday mornings at 10am. Some variations occur around holidays, so check the calendar tab for specifics. Shabbat services are held at Temple Beth Am. All are welcome.

Please note:

    • Temple Beth Am is in the Temple Brith Kodesh building at 2131 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14618. Enter via the first door near the one-way driveway entrance of the building (north side, rightmost door). The sanctuary is on the first floor, to the left of the entrance.
    • Temple Beth Am maintains a certified Kosher kitchen, as well as a community room which is not certified. We will not use the kitchen for pot luck lunches. Our pot luck lunches will be held in the community room, next to the sanctuary.
    • In order to avoid triggering allergic reactions, please refrain from (a) wearing perfumes, and (b) bringing strawberries for pot-luck.

Sunday Torah Leyning class: Join us on Sundays to learn to read from the Torah or to brush up your skills.

We study Torah together starting in October 2012 twice per month. Please see the announcements and calendar tabs for details with location and times. All are welcome at any time, no prior Torah study experience needed.

We have a big tent, please join us.