First, welcome! We’re excited to meet you.
Location and Parking: Congregation Agudas Achim is located at 901 North Main Street in Attleboro, Massachusetts. We are conveniently located off Exit 7 (old Exit 5) of Route 95. Ample parking is available. Unfortunately, our building is not fully accessible. If you plan to visit and are concerned about accessibility, please call the office before your visit, and we will figure out the best way to accommodate you!
Timing: Friday evening Shabbat services begin at 7:30 pm. Friday evening services are filled with music, meditation, and prayer. The leader may offer a short d’var (talk) about the Torah portion, a poem, or a piece of liturgy. Friday evening services run about an hour to an hour and a half and are followed by a community oneg (a light dessert) in the social hall where members and friends have an opportunity to catch up.
Saturday Shabbat morning services start at 10:00 am, with the first 50 minutes or so being musical liturgy from the prayer book and from the heart. The Torah service typically starts at around 10:45 am. Often the Saturday morning service includes community learning or a Torah discussion with the rabbi. Things wrap up between 11:45 and 12:15, and all Saturday morning services are also followed by a community oneg in the social hall.
Use of Electronics: We ask that you refrain from using technology during Shabbat. You can either set your phone to silent mode or, even better, leave it in the car. In addition, photography is not allowed in the sanctuary during services. Discreet photography may be allowed on the premises after services.
Ritual Items: Upon entering, a service host will offer you a prayer book (on Friday nights) or a prayer book and a copy of the Torah (on Saturday morning). Both books are in English and Hebrew, and they contain many interesting commentaries; we encourage you to follow along. During services in our sanctuary, all—regardless of religious identity, faith, or gender—are encouraged to cover their heads with a kippah/yarmulke or other covering. Wearing a kippah is a sign of honor and respect, but not a statement about the wearer’s faith or identity. On Saturdays, post-b-mitzvah Jews are welcome to wear a tallit, or prayer shawl, which is expected for those with a Torah honor on the bimah.
Dress and Behavior: Congregation Agudas Achim is a rather informal community; we do ask attendees to act and dress respectfully. A wide range of attire, from casual to semi-formal, will fit right in. We ask everyone in and near the sanctuary to be conscious of others, and to keep noises and side-conversations to a minimum; you may come and go as you must, but please do so quietly. There is no applause during services, though beaming of love and appreciation is always welcome.
Participation: Please follow along, learn, enjoy, and join in, as much as you feel comfortable.
All family members are welcome at Congregation Agudas Achim and at our services at all times. Our congregation is committed to accepting and appreciating families with both Jewish and non-Jewish members.
We have put together a list of the most commonly asked questions (with answers) about the participation of interfaith families in our community. In addition, our rabbi, educators, or a member of the ritual committee or Board of Trustees is happy to meet with you to answer any specific questions or concerns you may have.
The best way to answer this is with a quote from the Reconstructing Judaism website: “Reconstructionists hold diverse ideas about God, but we share an emphasis on Godliness—those hopes, beliefs, and values within us that impel us to work for a better world, that give us strength and solace in times of need, that challenge us to grow, and that deepen our joy in moments of celebration. Recognizing that all descriptions of God are metaphor, our prayer books offer images of God that go far beyond “king of the universe.”
How much it costs to be a member seems to be a well-kept secret among synagogues. We’re not shy about sharing our dues structure, with one caveat. Inability to pay what’s asked is not a reason for not joining us. We recognize, especially when times are hard, not everyone is in a position to be able to pay the requested amount. We ask that during this time, you pay what you can (after all, the rabbi still needs to get paid and the snow still needs to be shoveled). We hope that when you are able to pay again, you do so generously. Our financial secretary is ready and willing to work with anyone who requests it.
The brass tacks: Congregation Agudas Achim uses a two-part “fair share” system of dues. Dues consist of a fixed amount ($500/year), which is the same for all families, plus a variable portion determined by each family's gross income. The variable portion starts at an additional $100 per family and tops out at an additional $4,500 per family. In addition, each family is assessed a $180 annual fee for the building fund.
We, of course, hope that everyone will give according to their ability. We're a small congregation, and we rely on dues and school fees to meet our financial obligations. However, as noted above, inability to pay should not keep you from joining us.
We use Kol HaNeshamah, a prayer book published by the Reconstructionist press. It contains many translations, transliterations, explanations, and commentary. Service leaders often offer their own interpretations or understandings of prayers to bring relevance to our modern lives. We use a variety of melodies from many sources: Reform camp melodies, Hasidic chants, and traditional “nusach.”
Conversion is a very personal choice. Congregation Agudas Achim has welcomed many Jews by choice over the years. Some have already converted by the time they found us; others were just beginning their journey. We encourage you to attend our services and talk to the rabbi. Everyone’s journey to Judaism is personal and special, and we would be honored to help you find your way through it.
