Visiting our shul

Questions people ask us

Do I need to be a member or buy a ticket to come?

No. You can walk in to any Shabbat or weekday service without a membership, a ticket or a reservation. The only services we ask you to book in advance are Yom Kippur at the hotel, because rooms and seating are limited.

Is there a Sephardic synagogue in Boca Raton?

Yes — Congregation Bircat Shalom is a Sephardic Orthodox congregation in West Boca Raton, davening in Sephardic nusach with the melodies of Morocco, Syria, Iraq and Egypt. Prayers are in Hebrew; announcements and the derasha are in English, and you will hear French, Spanish and Hebrew in the room.

What time should I arrive on Shabbat morning?

Shaharit begins at 8:30 AM. If it is your first time, arriving around 9:00 AM puts you in the room well before the Torah reading at roughly 9:45 AM, and kiddush follows the service.

What should I wear?

Men wear a kippa — there are spares at the door — and most wear a jacket or a collared shirt. Women dress modestly, typically a skirt or dress covering the knees with sleeves. Nobody will comment on what you are wearing; come as you are able.

Where do I park?

There is free parking at the synagogue at 10300A Courtside Ln, Boca Raton, FL 33428. On the High Holy Days, when we move to larger venues, parking is free on site at both the Rotunda on the Boca Raton JCC campus and at Embassy Suites.

Is there separate seating for men and women?

Yes. As an Orthodox congregation we have a mehitza, with a women's section that has a clear view of the bimah and the Sefer Torah.

Can I bring my children?

Please do. Children daven alongside their parents, and on the High Holy Days a supervised children's program runs with snacks and meals included.

I don't read Hebrew well. Will I be lost?

You will be fine. Siddurim with English translation are available, someone will find you a seat and show you the page, and nobody is expected to keep up on a first visit.

Can I say kaddish or arrange a hashkava for a parent?

Yes. Speak to a gabbai before the service and we will make sure you are given kaddish, an aliya where appropriate, or a hashkava. You can also arrange it in advance from the contact page.

Why are the prayer names spelled differently here?

We use Sephardic transliteration, so you will see Shaharit, Minha, Arbit, Habdala, Petihah and aliya where you may be used to Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv, Havdalah, Pesicha and aliyah. They are the same prayers and the same honors — our glossary lists every term with its other spellings.

Is Bircat Shalom the same shul as Birkat Shalom?

Yes. Congregation Bircat Shalom is also written Birkat Shalom, Birchat Shalom, Bircas Shalom or Birkas Shalom, and our legal name is Sephardic Minyan WBR, Inc. There is one Sephardic minyan on Courtside Lane in West Boca Raton and this is it.

Coming for the High Holy Days

Rosh Hashanah is held at the Rotunda on the Boca Raton JCC campus, and Yom Kippur at Embassy Suites Boca Raton off Yamato Road, where families stay on site for the whole fast. Both are open to guests — see the High Holy Days page for schedules, or reserve a room or a seat.

Not sure what a word means? Our glossary of Sephardic prayer and honor terms explains each one — and lists the Ashkenazi and English spellings alongside it. Still unsure about something? The contact page has call and email links for our gabbaim — ask us anything before you come.