All Kiddushim and breakfasts prepared by the Lev Eisha catering committee are dairy kosher as follows: All prepared and packaged items have a hechsher or are approved by Rabbi August. (We accept hechshers from all rabbinic authorities.) We only use our own dishes and implements, or disposable. We wash our dishes with our own detergent and sponges, and store them separately. Potlucks: During announced potlucks, all congregants are invited to bring dairy and parve items to share, so long as they are mindful of the ingredients. That is, they are directed to make sure that there is no hidden meat product, such as gelatin or broth, in any product they use. Any congregant who has qualms about the level of kashrut at a potluck is encouraged to choose carefully, and/or to bring her own meal.
There are various historical origins for why Jews cover their heads, but the modern interpretation is to show humility before God, or to remember that there is always One above us. Some Orthodox Jews have a tradition (as did all Europeans in the past) that a married woman should cover her hair as part of her modesty of dress. People in general stopped wearing hats in the 1960's and '70's, and few Jews who are not Orthodox cover their heads all the time, although many Conservative and Reform do so while attending services and during holidays and ritual observances. The women of Lev Eisha come from all kinds of different backgrounds and traditions, and many do not cover their heads for services. At Lev Eisha we follow the Conservative guidelines of Adat Shalom, which do not require women to cover their heads, but offer kippot and lace mantillettes in the entry hall for those who wish to do so.
Women may, but are not required to, wear a tallit. If you go up for an aliyah it is customary to wear a tallit, but the woman next to you will likely share hers if you’re not wearing one. Tallitot are worn during the daytime, so that the fringes, the tzitziot, may be seen (by natural light). There is a rack of tallitot in the entry hall which may be borrowed during services.
Please do not wear a tallit into the restroom. Place it on your seat, or hang it from the pegs provided by the center restroom doors (in the middle of the hall, rather than by the front door).
No. Traditionally a woman is considered to be a Bat Mitzvah when she celebrates her twelfth birthday. Women have read the Torah amongst themselves for thousands of years, and only recently have we adopted the egalitarian service where women have Bat Mitzvahs, and wear a tallit and kippah.
Lev Eisha is a service by women for women. It is not meant to become a co-ed alternative Shabbat service, but to be a place where women lead and where women share their lives. However, if you would like to invite a man to share Lev Eisha with you, we will make him welcome.
Children are a blessing to the whole community. They are our future and it's never too soon to introduce them to the joy of the Shabbat service. In a women's service we are especially keen not to exclude women with babies and tots. While we do ask that people whose children are fussing or rambunctious take them outside so they won't disrupt the service, we expect that little ones aren't always absolutely quiet. If a child's murmurings are bothering you, please move to a quieter part of the room.
Shabbat is not a time for commercial endeavors, promotions, etc., and our flyer policy reflects that. Rather than making ad hoc decisions about which flyers are appropriate, the Board has made a policy that we will only display flyers pertaining to Lev Eisha, Adat Shalom, or the general interests of Israel. Besides being a way to treat everyone fairly, this policy coincides well with the policies of Adat Shalom, and also makes set-up and clean-up easier for our Hospitality committee and custodians.
Lev Eisha is open to all, regardless of their levels of ritual knowledge and practice. All congregants are encouraged to be mindful of the Sabbath, and to respect the sensibilities of others.
Telephones should be turned off or silenced, and congregants are asked to go outside if they must use their telephones.
If congregants choose to write, discretely, or wish to leave donations or letters in our correspondence box, they may do so. They are asked not to ask others at the service to write or handle money on Shabbat, lest they make them feel uncomfortable, as levels of practice vary.