Baruch HaShem

A Messianic Synagogue

Shabbat Services 10:40am

6304 Belt Line Rd, Dallas TX 75254

Visitor’s Guide

Shalom! 

On behalf of the Greeting Team, the Rabbanim, the Z’Kanim (Elders), the Shamashim (Deacons) and the entire kehilah (congregation) at Baruch HaShem, we want to welcome you to our synagogue! 

We are here to introduce you to Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah,  to explain the Messianic Jewish lifestyle and to worship with you just as Yeshua (Jesus) did in the first century…Jew and Gentile together…One in Messiah. 

Our Shabbat (Sabbath) services begin at 10:40 a.m. every Saturday morning. We also have children’s classes, a nursery and adult Shabbat classes starting at 9:30.  Dress is business casual. We look forward to meeting with you and answering any and all of your questions. 

We are also happy to provide a short overview of our service and review some of the Messianic terms and customs before every Shabbat service. If you, or one of your synagogue or church groups, would like to participate in one of these sessions, please call our office at 972-386-0121 to set up a specific visiting time and date that we may greet and meet with you.  Please let us know how many of you are coming and we will see to it that you have reserved seats for the service. (The exception may be during the High Holy Days. Seating during those times may be extremely tight.) 

We also provide a bagel nosh (snack) for those of you that might need a little boost before service. Just a reminder… eat a big breakfast before you come…our services last until about 1:00-1:15 p.m. 

Blessings in the Name of our Messiah, Yeshua! 

 

Order of Service

V’SHAMRU / SHABBAT SHALOM – Sabbath Greeting:
            “And the children of Israel shall keep the Shabbat….” (Exodus 31:16)

PSALM READING : Pesukei Zimrat

LITURGY:

  • MA TOVU – The Blessing of Balaam:
    • “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your dwelling places, Israel!” (Numbers 24:5)
  • SHEMA
    • “Hear, O Israel! The L-RD is our G-D, the L-RD is ONE.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) “Blessed is His Name, Whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.”
    • V’Ahavta: “And you shall love….” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Leviticus 19:18b)
  • AMIDAH: Adonai S’fatai Tiftach – Call to Worship:
    • “Eternal L-RD, open my lips and my mouth will declare Your glory.” (Psalm 51:15)

WORSHIP

LITURGY: (Continued):

  • AMIDAH – Standing Prayer
    • Avot – Blessing the G-D of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
    • Remaining six blessings
  • VAYEHI BINSOA HAARON – Removal of the Torah from the Ark
    • “When the Ark would travel, Moses would say, ‘Arise, O L-RD, and let Your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate You flee from Your Presence.’ From Zion will go forth Your Torah, and the Word of the L-RD from Jerusalem.” (Numbers 10:35; Isaiah 2:3)
    • “Blessed is He, who in His holiness did entrust His Torah to His people, Israel.”
  • SHEMA
    • “Hear, O Israel! The L-RD is our G-D, the L-RD is ONE.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
    • Echad Eloheinu: “Our G-D is One, Our L-RD is Great, His Name is Holy.”
    • Gadlu La-Adonai: “Declare the greatness of the L-RD with me, and let us exalt His Name together.” Psalm 34:3
    • Yeshua Hu HaMashiach: “Yeshua, He is the Messiah. He is Master of everything.”

TORAH WALK*

TORAH READING IN HEBREW (canted)

LITURGY (Continued):

  • V’ZOT HATORAH – Congregational Response to Torah Reading
    • “This is the Torah that Moses placed before the Children of Israel, given by G-D, through Moses’ hand….” (Deuteronomy 4:44; Isaiah 42:21)
  • ETZ CHAYIM – Returning the Torah to the Ark
    • “And when it rested, he would say, Arise, O L-RD, return to Your resting place, You and the Ark of Your might. Let Your priests be robed in righteousness, and Your faithful sing with joy. Forsake not thy servant, David; reject not your anointed.” (Numbers 10:36; 9:23; Psalm 132:8-10)
    • “I have given you good teaching; forsake not My Torah. It is a Tree of Life to those who hold it fast. Everyone who upholds it is happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.” (Proverbs 4:2; 3:17-18)
    • “Turn us to You, O L-RD, and we shall return. Renew our days as of old.”(Lamentations 5:21)

KADDISH (mourner’s prayer expressing praise for G-D)

RABBI’S MESSAGE

KIDDUSH (blessing over the wine)

MOTZI (blessing over the bread)

AARONIC BENEDICTION (Numbers 6:22-27)

 

*Torah Walk—During the Jewish worship service, the Torah scroll is removed from the Ark and carried in a procession among the congregation. It is placed on the Bema and the Scripture passage for the day is read.

During this procession, it is common for the people to touch and even kiss the Torah scroll out of reverence for the Word of G-D. King David declared that G-D’s law (Torah) was more precious than pure gold and sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10).  The psalmist also exclaims, “Oh, how I love your law (Torah)! I meditate on it all day long,” Psalm 119:97.

 

Special Notes

The Holy Name for G-D – G-D appeared to Moses at the burning bush and revealed His holy name, I AM [YHWH] (Exodus 3:14).  The Holy name for G-D is not uttered in the Jewish community.

Adonai – “L-RD”. When reading the Tanakh in Hebrew, it is common to utter “Adonai” when the Hebrew text reads “YHWH.”

HaShem – “the Name”. Refers to “YHWH”, the Holy name of G-D. His name was protected by Israel’s priesthood which is no longer active today.

These names are commonly used in Jewish and Messianic synagogues. It is tradition to remove the vowels when we write L-RD or G-D out of reverence for His name.

Alternate Terms for “Cross”—In the Messianic Community, it is common to use the words “tree” or “execution stake” in place of the word “cross.” Centuries of persecution under the symbol of the cross by those who called themselves “Christians” have caused the symbol and the word “cross” to be reprehensible to the Jewish Community. The term “tree” in the Jewish New Testament is used by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:13, where he quotes Deuteronomy 21:22-23, saying, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”  

 

 

Glossary of Terms

Adonai—Literally “my L-RD”

Aliyah—The process of going up to the Bema (front platform) and reading from the Torah; this term is also used for immigration to Israel.

Aaronic Benediction—Priestly blessing [Bir’kat Cohanim] (Numbers 6:24-26)

Ark—Cabinet in front of the synagogue where the Torah scrolls are stored. This symbolizes the Ark of the Covenant in which were stored the Ten Commandments that

G-D gave to Moses (Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 10:3-5).

Baruch HaShem—Bless the Name (of G-D)

Bema—The raised platform from which the Parashah is read

Brit Hadashah—New Covenant, New Testament

Chaverah—Fellowship

Drash—A mini-explanation on the weekly Torah portion given before the reading

Haftarah—Weekly reading from the prophets

Kaddish—The Kaddish is an ancient prayer of praise that expresses a longing for the establishment of G-D’s kingdom on earth. The words of the Kaddish stress the greatness and sovereignty of G-D even in the most trying of life’s circumstances—the death of a family member. Kaddish is also said on the anniversary of the loved one’s death (yahrzeit).

Kehilah—Congregation

Kippah—Head covering (yarmulke)

Mashiach—Messiah (“Christ” in Greek)

Mezuzah—A piece of parchment inscribed with the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:9). It is rolled up, inserted in a case, and attached to the doorpost of our houses to remind Israel of the commandments He gave through Moses. Yeshua quotes from the Torah in Matthew 22:37-40.

Parashah—Weekly Torah portion that is read over a year

Shabbat Shalom—Peaceful Sabbath (greeting)

Shema—The central affirmation of Judaism (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Tallit—Men’s prayer shawl worn as a reminder to observe all G-D’s Torah. (Numbers 15:37-41)

Tanakh – The Old Testament; also called the Hebrew Bible. Tanakh is a Hebrew acronym for Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim [the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings]. Yeshua referred to the Tanakh in Luke 24:44.

Torah – The first five books of the Bible, also known as the Five Books of Moses and the Pentateuch. Torah means instruction.

Torah Walk – The procession of the Torah is common in all synagogues. Yeshua became the living Word and dwelt among us.

Tzedakah Box – Literally “righteousness”; commonly used to signify charity. The boxes at each exit are used for depositing tithes and offerings in obedience to G-D’s Word commanding tithing. We view Yeshua performing an act of righteousness in Matthew 22:21 and 23:23.

Yahrzeit – The anniversary of the death of a loved one

Yeshua – Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus.

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