FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...

AND ALL OF OUR TERRIFIC ANSWERS!

BAR AND BAT MITZVAH

What is the appropriate attire to wear to a Bar/Bat Mitzvah?  Please dress modestly and a notch or two above casual.  We ask that all men to wear a kippah or yarmulkeh, and Jewish men must wear a tallit or prayer shawl.  We ecnourage women to wear a head covering during services and all women who ascend the bimah must wear a head covering.  We encourage women to wear tallit as well.

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Do we have to be congregants for our children to attend Religious school?  If your child is in kindergarten or first grade you do not have to be a member of Midway. Once you child reaches second grade you must sign membership forms and join Midway Jewish Center.

KIDDUSH

We are having a Kiddush on Shabbat morning. Why must everything be brought into the synagogue on Friday?  Shabbat begins on Friday at sundown and ends Saturday with the appearence of three stars in the sky. We do not carry anything into or out of the synagogue during Shabbat. You may pick up any items that you leave behind at the conclusion of Shabbat.

If we decide to have a Kiddush at Midway why must we use only caterers listed on the catering panel?     All the caterers on our panel have been thoroughly check for their kashrut. We may only bring kosher food into the synagogue and Midway keeps a strict tab on which caterers receive approval. 

RELIGIOUS SERVICES

We have a toddler.  Can we bring him to services?  Absolutely!  We are a kid-friendly congregation and love having kids in the service.  The First Firday of each month, throughout the year, we have Tot Shabbat for preschoolers at 7:00 PM and an Early Family service at 7:30 PM.  We only ask that should your child be upset or begin to cry, to clam him/her down outside the sanctuary, and then to rejoin us as soon as possible.

Do you count women in the minyan?  We are a fully-egalitarian synagogue which means that women are counted in the minyan, are called to the Torah, read from the Torah, lead services, and if they so choose, don tallit and tefillin.

I don't read Hebrew.  Will I be able to follow a Conservative service?  Of course you will!  Although there is much Hebrew, we announce pages often, the translation of the service is always in front of you, you'll enjoy Rabbi Rank's informal style of speaking and the easy-going spirit that characterizes a Midway service.  We also feature the Singing Siddur, a transliterated prayer book that will allow you to join in the Hebrew singing as the prayers are written out in English letters.

Do you have morning and evening minyanim?  Everyday--see the service schedule for exact times.

YAHRZEIT

When does Midway turn the light on next to the memorial plaque?  The memorial light is lit on the Friday before the yahrzeit.