Friday Evening Services

Our Services are held on Friday Evenings at 6:30 p.m. During the school year, students from the different grade levels of the Religious School help lead services, which are proceeded by a Shabbat Family Dinner, prepared by our famous Men's Club Chefs.

Saturday Morning Services

Every Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel.  When a Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony is scheduled, services are held in the Sanctuary on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Presentations are made to the celebrant on behalf of the Temple, Sisterhood and Men's Club.

Torah Study is held every Saturday at 9:00 a.m., presided by the Rabbi or one of our Temple lay leaders.

TOT Shabbat is held four or five times a year. The purpose of this program is to provide an environment within the warmth of our Temple whereby children from six months through six years old are introduced to services, each other, and to give parents an opportunity to share theses experiences together. Families join the Rabbi and Cantor in a service designed for young children, which includes beginning prayers, songs and stories. There is a pot-luck- lunch and crafts following the service.

High Holy Days

On both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Evening and Day, two sets of Services take place. Families whose youngest child is in grade fourth through eight may attend the early service only, and families whose youngest child is in the ninth grade and above, couples without children, and single members, are encouraged to attend the Late Service. Children's Services for kindergartners through third grade are held concurrently in the Chapel for the early Service only. Afternoon and Memorial Services are held on Yom Kippur Day, followed by a Break the Fast.

Throughout the history of Ohef Sholom Temple, music has occupied a respected and honored place both in worship services and in special presentations: the dedication service of the sanctuary in the early 20th century was celebrated with music; the congregation’s 150th anniversary in 1994 was celebrated by the world premiere of a commissioned work by the renowned composer Richard Danielpour. Indeed, musical excellence has long been associated with Ohef Sholom.

Members of the congregation are actively involved in maintaining our musical traditions. The Temple Quartet and the Adult Choir, conducted by Music Director Charles Woodward, participate at the High Holy Days services and at Shabbat services throughout the year. Yad b’Yad, Ohef Sholom’s youth choir, is directed by Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel and Marilyn Johns, and sings at services during the school year.

Ohef Sholom hosts musical events by musicians of national and international renown. Recent concerts have included performances by conductor JoAnn Falletta and the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Arts Festival, pianist André-Michel Schub, clarinetist David Shiffrin, violinist Ani Kavafian, violist Amadi Hummings, the Miami String Quartet, the Feldman Chamber Music Society and Young Audiences of Virginia.