Kabbalat Shabbat

I have been living in Israel for about 2 years and I may have finally found what I was looking for.

No, not the best falafel in the country or the best website to stream American TV shows...but I found an amazing Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Friday Night Service).

Almost 2 years ago I heard that on the beach in Tel Aviv there is a nice service but I never found it or heard any more details about it. Last week I was talking to a friend who actually knew about the service I was searching for. She said that it actually takes place on the port during the summer months and in a building off of Rothschild during the winter but this week it was taking place in a building in the new train station area in Tel Aviv. The area was recently remodeled with shops and restaurants and is a great meeting place in TLV.

I was in. I couldn't wait to find out what this service was actually about. We showed up a bit late but of course in Isreali time we were on time. The hall was packed with families, elderly people and young professional alike, maybe close to 300 individuals in total. People were wearing jeans, skirts, sneakers and boots, some chose to wear a kippah while others didn't. There was barely a seat in the house. In the front of the room there were 10-12 musicians already playing and singing when we arrived. The music and spirit in the room were beautiful. Many of the songs and tunes I love were played and they even included some Israeli songs. I cannot explain the level of participation, energy and community that existed among this group. It was perfect.

I loved how everyone felt comfortable, everyone was accepted, people could sit where they wanted and with whom they wanted and everyone feel a part of something bigger, something "Jewish" but not something  "religious" that scares away many from Judaism. Israel is a place where one can easily lose their need for a Jewish community and a spiritual environment, it can be a difficult place to find the perfect mix for but after I long search I think I have found it.

Shabbat Shalom!

(The community is called Beit Tefila, as I searched for it on the internet I came across a video which someone made from the week I was there, click the link to see it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UKiWS-K8oU&feature=share )