Is Bircat Shalom the same as Birkat Shalom?

Yes. It is one congregation in West Boca Raton, written a few different ways: Birkat Shalom, Birchat Shalom, Bircas Shalom, Birkas Shalom, Birkath Shalom, Congregation Birkat Shalom and Congregation Bircat Shalom. Our legal name is Sephardic Minyan WBR, Inc. and we are at 10300A Courtside Ln, Boca Raton, FL 33428.

Is Bircat Ha Shana the same as Birkat HaShana?

Yes — the same annual membership, spelled differently. Also written Birkat HaShana, Birkat Ha'Shana, Birkat Hashanah, Birchat HaShanah or Bircas Hashana. It means "the blessing of the year": your family's names are read and blessed every time the sefer Torah is opened, all year long.

Why do you spell prayers differently from my siddur?

Sephardic Hebrew pronounces the letter tav without a hard 's' sound and the letter het in the throat, so Sephardic transliteration writes Shaharit, Minha, Habdala and Petihah where Ashkenazi transliteration writes Shacharit, Mincha, Havdalah and Pesicha. Both refer to exactly the same prayers.

What is the difference between Arbit and Maariv?

None — they are two names for the evening prayer. Sephardim generally say Arbit; Ashkenazim say Maariv. Our daily minyan times page lists the time for each service.

What nusah do you daven?

Sephardic and Edot HaMizrach nusah — also written nusach or Edot Hamizrah — with Moroccan, Syrian, Iraqi and Egyptian melodies. Prayers are in Hebrew; announcements and the derasha are in English.

Words you will hear

A glossary of our service

מילון

Sephardim transliterate Hebrew differently from what many siddurim and websites use. If you searched for aliyah, mincha, havdalah or Birkat Shalom and landed here — you are in the right place. Same prayers, different spelling.

Our name

Congregation Bircat Shalom — the Sephardic minyan of West Boca Raton. Also written Birkat Shalom, Birchat Shalom, Bircas Shalom, Birkas Shalom or Birkath Shalom. Our membership, Bircat Ha Shana, is also written Birkat HaShana, Birkat Ha'Shana, Birkat Hashanah, Birchat HaShanah. See what membership includes.

The services

Sephardic congregations name the daily prayers a little differently from what you may have heard elsewhere. Both names mean the same service.

Shaharitשחרית: also written Shacharit · Shachris · morning serviceThe morning prayer. Weekdays at the shul and 8:30 AM on Shabbat, followed by the Torah reading and kiddush.
Minhaמנחה: also written Mincha · Minchah · afternoon serviceThe afternoon prayer, said before sunset. On Friday it runs straight into Kabbalat Shabbat at candle lighting.
Arbitערבית: also written Arvit · Maariv · Ma'ariv · evening serviceThe evening prayer. Sephardim call it Arbit; you will hear Maariv used for the same service.
Musafמוסף: also written Mussaf · Moussaf · Moussafim · additional serviceThe additional prayer on Shabbat, festivals and the High Holy Days, said after the Torah reading.
Neilaנעילה: also written Neilah · Ne'ilah · closing serviceThe final prayer of Yom Kippur as the gates close, ending with the shofar and the break-fast.
Kol Nidreכל נדרי: also written Kol Nidrei · Kal Nidre · Yom Kippur eveThe service that opens Yom Kippur, sung before sunset as the fast begins.
Habdalaהבדלה: also written Havdala · Havdalah · HabdalahThe blessing over wine, spices and flame that ends Shabbat. Our weekly Shabbat times page lists the time for Boca Raton.

Honors at the Torah

These are the honors offered during the service and available to pre-book before the holidays. The spelling on the sheet may not match the spelling you know.

Aliyaעלייה: also written Aliyah · Aliyot · Aliyos · going up to the TorahBeing called up to the reading of the sefer Torah. Seven are given on Shabbat morning, plus maftir.
Petihahפתיחה: also written Peticha · Pesicha · Petiha · Petihat Ha Hechal · opening the arkOpening the hechal — the ark — before the Torah is taken out. Petihat Ha Parnassa is the opening dedicated to livelihood.
Hagbahaהגבהה: also written Hagbah · Hagba · lifting the TorahLifting the open sefer Torah for the congregation to see after the reading.
Gelilaגלילה: also written Gelilah · Glila · Golel · dressing the TorahRolling, tying and dressing the sefer Torah after hagbaha.
Maftirמפטיר: also written Maftir Yona · Maftir Yonah · final aliyaThe closing aliya, followed by the haftara. On Yom Kippur afternoon it is the book of Yona.
Haftaraהפטרה: also written Haftarah · Haftorah · prophetic readingThe reading from the Prophets that follows the Torah reading.
Hashkavaהשכבה: also written Hashkaba · Hashkabah · memorial prayerThe Sephardic memorial prayer said for someone who has passed. Ashkenazim say Yizkor or the El Male Rahamim.
Hazanחזן: also written Chazan · Chazzan · Hazzan · cantorThe one who leads the prayers. Our High Holy Day hazanim are listed on each venue page.
Tebahתיבה: also written Teba · Bimah · Bima · reading tableThe table at the center of the room where the Torah is read.
Sefer Torahספר תורה: also written Sefer Tora · Torah scroll · Big TorahThe handwritten Torah scroll. Bircat Ha Shana members have their names read and blessed each time it is opened.

In the room

A few words a first-time guest will hear before the service is over.

Mehitzaמחיצה: also written Mechitza · Mechitzah · separate seatingThe divider between the men's and women's sections. Ours keeps a clear view of the tebah from both sides.
Kiddushקידוש: also written Kidush · QiddushThe blessing over wine, and the food and company that follow the Shabbat service.
Derashaדרשה: also written Drasha · Drosho · sermonThe short talk given during or after the service, in English.
Minyanמנין: also written Minyanim · quorum · daily prayer groupThe quorum of ten men needed for a full service — and the name we use for the daily prayer group itself.
Nusahנוסח: also written Nusach · Nussach · rite · Edot HaMizrach · Edot HamizrahThe order and melody of the prayers. We follow the Sephardic and Edot HaMizrach nusah, with Moroccan, Syrian, Iraqi and Egyptian melodies.

The holidays

Holiday names as they are commonly written, searched and pronounced.

Yom Kippurיום כיפור: also written Yom Kipur · Yom Kippour · Kippur · Day of AtonementThe fast day we host at Embassy Suites Boca Raton off Yamato Road, with hotel rooms so families stay on site for the whole fast.
Rosh Hashanahראש השנה: also written Rosh Hashana · Rosh Hashonah · Roch Hachana · Jewish New YearTwo days of services at the Rotunda on the Boca Raton JCC campus. No tickets needed.
Sukkotסוכות: also written Succot · Sukkos · Succos · Feast of TabernaclesEight days in the sukkah, with lulav and etrog available through the shul.
Pesahפסח: also written Pesach · Passover · PessahPassover — seders, kosher-for-Pesah shopping nearby, and the Moroccan Maimouna after.
Simhat Torahשמחת תורה: also written Simchat Torah · Simchas Torah · Shemini Atzeret · Shmini AtzeresThe close of Sukkot — hakafot with every Sefer Torah, and an aliyah for every man present.
Hanukkahחנוכה: also written Chanukah · Hanukah · Chanuka · Festival of LightsEight nights of lights, the full Hallel each morning, and bimuelos in honey.
Tu BiShvatט״ו בשבט: also written Tu B'Shvat · Tu Bishevat · New Year for TreesThe new year for trees, kept with the Sephardic seder of the fruits.
Purimפורים: also written Purim Katan · Fast of Esther · Ta'anit Esther · Taanis EstherMegillat Esther read night and morning, mishloah manot, matanot la'evyonim and the se'uda.
Lag BaOmerל״ג בעומר: also written Lag B'Omer · Lag Ba'omer · Lag BaOmer hillulaThe thirty-third day of the Omer and the Hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai. Sephardim keep the Omer customs until the 34th day.
Shavuotשבועות: also written Shavuos · Shavu'ot · Feast of Weeks · PentecostThe giving of the Torah — Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the Azharot and the Ketubah le-Shavuot.
Tisha B'Avתשעה באב: also written Tisha BAv · Tish'a B'Av · Ninth of Av · Nine Days · Three WeeksThe fast of the ninth of Av, with Eikha and the kinot. Sephardic mourning customs begin the week the fast falls.
Shabbatשבת: also written Shabbos · Shabat · SabbathFriday evening through Saturday night. Candle lighting and habdala times for Boca Raton are posted weekly.
Selihotסליחות: also written Selichot · Slichot · SlihotThe penitential prayers said before dawn through the month of Elul in the Sephardic custom.

Where to go next

New here? Read what to expect on a first visit or how a Sephardic service sounds. For times, see this week’s Shabbat times for Boca Raton and the daily minyan schedule. Eating out? Our kosher guide to Boca Raton lists restaurants, markets and bakeries.

Spelling and wording — questions we get

Is Bircat Shalom the same as Birkat Shalom?: Yes. It is one congregation in West Boca Raton, written a few different ways: Birkat Shalom, Birchat Shalom, Bircas Shalom, Birkas Shalom, Birkath Shalom, Congregation Birkat Shalom and Congregation Bircat Shalom. Our legal name is Sephardic Minyan WBR, Inc. and we are at 10300A Courtside Ln, Boca Raton, FL 33428.
Is Bircat Ha Shana the same as Birkat HaShana?: Yes — the same annual membership, spelled differently. Also written Birkat HaShana, Birkat Ha'Shana, Birkat Hashanah, Birchat HaShanah or Bircas Hashana. It means "the blessing of the year": your family's names are read and blessed every time the sefer Torah is opened, all year long.
Why do you spell prayers differently from my siddur?: Sephardic Hebrew pronounces the letter tav without a hard 's' sound and the letter het in the throat, so Sephardic transliteration writes Shaharit, Minha, Habdala and Petihah where Ashkenazi transliteration writes Shacharit, Mincha, Havdalah and Pesicha. Both refer to exactly the same prayers.
What is the difference between Arbit and Maariv?: None — they are two names for the evening prayer. Sephardim generally say Arbit; Ashkenazim say Maariv. Our daily minyan times page lists the time for each service.
What nusah do you daven?: Sephardic and Edot HaMizrach nusah — also written nusach or Edot Hamizrah — with Moroccan, Syrian, Iraqi and Egyptian melodies. Prayers are in Hebrew; announcements and the derasha are in English.

Stay in touch

Shabbat times and shul news, by email

Candle lighting, holiday schedules and announcements from Congregation Bircat Shalom. A few emails a month — never your details to anyone else.