Beth Tikvah Services Usher Guidelines, June 2003

 

The purpose of this program is to ensure that the synagogue is properly prepared for services and that this workload is shared in an appropriate and equitable manner. And most importantly, that it feels like a warm, friendly place. Remember, the Ushers are the first people most people see when they come to our synagogue.

 

The Usher list is composed of members of the Board and other members who both have a key to the door and know how to operate the alarm system. The guidelines follow. Please read these instructions carefully well before your scheduled usher date.

 

  1. Check early in the year when your date to usher is and who the Kiddush helpers are. Make early contact with them (at least 2 -3 weeks before service). If you do not have a key to the building, borrow one from another board member. If you don’t know how to use the alarm system, get instructions from the ritual chairperson or president. 
  2. If the service is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or other big event, check with whomever is planning the event, such as the B/B Mitzvah family or the ritual chairperson for any special instructions. 

A) Touch base with the Kiddush helpers.  Make sure they have also contacted the B/B Mitzvah family for special instructions about Kiddush setup. 

B) Make sure the Kiddush helpers know it is their responsibility to do the chair set up. In most cases they will not have a key to the building and you will need to arrange to let them into the building on Friday afternoon and help if necessary.  We can set up chairs in the community room when the JCC after-school program is finished, 5:00pm in winter and 6:00 in fall and spring.

C) Judge if there is a sufficient number of chairs. There are ~75 in the front room. The usual pattern of chairs in the back room has been modified to 10 chairs on the left and 10 on the right with a center aisle.  Make sure that there is a clear path between the sets of chairs and the path to the bima (prayer platform, pulpit).

  1. For events which use the community room (Bar/Bar Mitzvahs, High Holidays, Purim, etc) the amplifier, speakers and microphone must be set up—usually the night before. The usher is responsible for finding someone capable of doing this.  The ritual chairperson has a list of trained people.
  2. Arrive about 1/2 hour prior to service start (maybe earlier for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah). You may need to unlock door and turn off alarm. Go through the JCC and make sure that all doors to classrooms and offices are locked, including the conference room, parent lounge and kids lounge.  If it is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and the family requests a room be left open for young guests, it is ok to keep the kids lounge or the conference room open, but it must be checked afterwards and cleaned up if necessary.
  3. The lobby, closet, and sanctuary area should be neat, clean and presentable.  The lobby closet door should be closed and the door to the side storage room left unlocked.
  4. Make sure the Torah is in the ark.  If not, get it from the Rabbi's office (in the large rubbermade container) and put it in the ark. (The Rabbi will unlock his office when he arrives.)

7.   Find the yarmulke basket and put it out on the table in the sanctuary. 

8.   If it is a morning service, or Kol Nidre (start of Yom Kippur), put out Tallesim     (prayer shawls). They are in the Yarmulke closet next to the bookshelf in the chapel.

  1. Retrieve the kiddush cup, the challah cover and the challah plate, the washing basin and cup, and the washing towel from the ritual cabinet in the lobby and put them where you can get to them. Fill the washing cup with water; Kiddush cup with Grape Juice (Kosher).
  2. If it is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, retrieve the congregational gift from the Rabbi’s office.  They are stored in the cabinet and labeled with the child’s name. There are always 2 gifts. Put them on the bookshelf in the chapel for the person making the announcements,
  3. If something needs to be refrigerated, there is a refrigerator in the big storage room off the entranceway on your right when entering the building. Do not use the refrigerator in the JCC kitchen.
  4. Meet and greet the worshippers. Hand out siddurim (prayer books)(and Etz Chaim Chumash if there is a Torah reading) and offer the current page number. Alternately, you can hand out the Etz Chaim Chumashim just before we start the Torah reading so that the congregation doesn’t have to hold them during the first part of the service.  You may want to ask for some helpers to walk around offering the Chumashim to people who want one.
  5. Make sure all men take a kippah (yamulke, skull cap).  Let anyone who wants to a tallis (prayer shawl) as well.
  6. If it is a large service, station someone near the “kids section” (back right when looking from the bimah) to make sure that kids don't get noisy.
  7. During the service, be available to the floor gabbai (member of the ritual committee who notifies people who will be leading a prayer or performing some other ritual function).  If they ask for help, please help them.
  8. Keep an eye out for people who look lost and help them.

17. During the announcements, if extra chairs were put out, ask for help in putting them back.  Ask people to return books either to the table or the bookcase. When we sing Ayn Kelohenu, put the bottle of grape juice and/or wine, and the two challot (loaves of bread) under the bima (or to the side of the bima). 

  1. After the service, make sure the books are put away and the sanctuary, all purpose room and lobby are neat. Be sure chairs and tables are put away.  (The Kiddush families are responsible for bringing chairs back into the storage room.) If any rooms were left unlocked in the JCC please check on them and make sure they are tidy.  Throw away plates and cups if necessary and put away stray toys, kippot, etc. Also please put the torah and silver items back where they belong (Torah in the Rabbi’s office).
  2. After all are gone, make sure the alarm is set and the door locked.
  3. Thanks and have a Shabbat Shalom!