Consecration

What time does the ceremony begin?

We will be honoring each new student from the Religious School in a special Consecration ceremony on Friday evening, October 17th at 6:30 pm.

Students will meet with Geoff and Cantor Glikin in the chapel at 5:45 pm to practice a special song and prayer that all students will lead together during the service.

After you drop your child(ren) off in the chapel, you are invited to come into the Social Hall during this time for a "parents only" program that will include a "pre-oneg" of wine, cheese and appetizers for the evening so we are able to prepare the students for the service and give them proper instructions.  There will be plenty of time to take pictures before and after the actual service.

When you enter the sanctuary, we suggest that you sit in the first four rows on the "ark side" of the sanctuary to get a front row seat for the evenings' service and festivities.  The students will proceed into the sanctuary and onto the bimah at the beginning of the service for their presentation.  We will then present the students with a certificate and a miniature Torah to acknowledge this important milestone.

What does this ceremony and ritual mark?

This ceremony marks the children's formal entry into Religious School and the beginning of their Jewish Education at Congregation Solel.  Rabbinic literature teaches us the importance of making learning sweet.  In the days of the shtetl of Eastern Europe the teacher often put honey on the page of a Hebrew book for the child to taste-so the child would always think of learning as "sweet." 

Who is this program for?

The Consecration ceremony is for all Kindergarten and new students currently in Religious School who have not been consecrated.  We look forward to your child's participation in services on this special evening.

What else is going on during the evening?

This consecration ceremony is part of the synagogue celebration of Simchat Torah and is a most fitting time for our children to begin their regular study of Judaism.  We will be singing and dancing with the Torah as we conclude the annual reading and begin reading the Torah anew.  The service will conclude at approximately 7:15 pm.  The evening will continue in the social hall with a festive Oneg.  We invite you to join with us and other Solel families by donating food for the Oneg or making a monetary contribution.