Bluegrass Weekend!

It’s a special Bluegrass Weekend!

Join us at TBE on Friday and Saturday, February 10 & 11, 2023 for Bluegrass Shabbat! We’re loading up with delicious vittles, banjos and fiddles featuring our artist-in-residence, musician and Jewish educator Matthew Check! He returns to TBE with his original bluegrass melodies and arrangements of Shabbat favorites. Read more about Matthew here and watch videos of him perform here. 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

5:30 p.m. Special Congregational Dinner
Bluegrass Shabbat begins with extra special congregational dinner planned you won’t want to miss! Southern Fried Chicken, Smoked BBQ Brisket Po Boys, Vegetarian Chili, and Chicken Tenders… with LOTS of fixins! It’s an extra-special Erev Shabbat dinner and we’ve got extra-special early bird pricing until January 31! Just $10/adult and kids under 18 are free! Click to register.

7 p.m. Erev Shabbat Service: Bluegrass on the Bima
There’s a twang in our Tefilah as we pluck through our prayers when we bring back Bluegrass on the Bima! Our Shabbat artist in residence Matt Check returns to TBE with his original bluegrass melodies and arrangements of Shabbat favorites. Learn more about Matt here and watch his performance here. We’re breaking out banjo, guitar, fiddle, and mandolin for a relaxing, refreshing, sweet “high and lonesome” harmony-infused Erev Shabbat service.

7:30 p.m. Friday Night Live
Children in grades K-7 are invited to go to the Oneg room for fun, games and Ping Pong. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

9:15 a.m. Torah Study with Matthew Check
Our regular Shabbat session will feature a special “Zemer Torah,” a song about the week’s Torah portion, written and performed by Matthew Check especially for Temple Beth-El!  Join us after services for a bagel kiddush! Register so we order enough!

10:30 a.m. Shabbat ShabBanjo morning service
Following Torah study, Matthew Check joins our morning service, adding Banjo to Barchu and much more music! Everyone is invited to join afterwards for a bagel kiddush! Register so we order enough!

6:15-7:30 p.m. Bluegrass Pajama Havdalah

Families with children up to age 6 are invited to join us as we bid farewell to Shabbat with food, music and fun! 

Cantor Adam and Rabbi Stoller will be joined by our friend “Banjo Matt” for a bluegrass-flavored song session, followed by bagels, tuna, egg salad, and cream cheese…and make-your-own sundaes for dessert! 

This event is free thanks to a generous gift from Doug & Debbie Bernstein and family, but we ask you to register in advance so we can shop ahead!

Click here to register!

Questions? Need more info? Contact Joy Allen at  or call 516-487-0900.

8:00 p.m. New Member and Producer’s Circle Reception
Calling all new members, Board members and the Cantor’s Producers’ Circle! You’re invited to a special evening of wine, dessert, music and mingling as Matthew Check performs his original songs. Click here to register.