TeleTefila.com

Online Shabbat Morning Services and a variety of social events

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About us

TeleTefila.com exists to serve the davening and social needs of all those who have been closed out of their synagogues by the Coronavirus pandemic. We use ZOOM to hold Shacharit services every Shabbat morning, Havdalah at the close of Shabbat, Kaffeeklatsch every Wednesday evening. We celebrate the Jewish festivals and some secular holidays together, and organize virtual shiva minyanim when needed. We also schmooze up a storm, have online "picnics" and play Whist together. And it's all done via ZOOM.

A group of friends from the West Side Minyan and Minyan Rimonim, both of which are affiliates of Congregation Ansche Chesed, founded TeleTefila shortly after Purim, 2020, when it became clear we could no longer meet in person. Since then, our merry band has expanded to include new friends from Massachusetts to Delaware.

What is our practice? At Shabbat and Festival services are slightly abridged and we read Torah following the Triennial cycle. Since we don't have a Torah scroll, we read from a chumash without aliyot or Torah blessings. We chant Haftarah every week. To see which services we hold, scroll down to our Calendar. For more details about what we do at Shacharit, you can see our Order of Service. If you don't want to operate your computer on Shabbat or a Festival, you can log in to our services on the evening before.

Our schedule for the next few weeks is posted below, with links to the login information.

If you have questions, drop a note to info@TeleTefila.com. We'd love to hear from you.

Times and texts for this Shabbat and/or Festival

These times, for New York, NY, come from HebCal.com and are provided as a convenience. They are updated every sunday evening.

TeleTefila does not observe everything on the HebCal list. See our Calendar below for details.

Torah: We read Torah according to the triennial cycle. In 5783 (2022–2023), we're in the first year of the cycle.

Haftarah: We read the conventional Haftarah every week. If the Sephardic Haftarah is significantly shorter, we read that.

Havdalah: We follow the AppleBank calendar (which has the Haskamah of Rav Applebank) for the correct time to make Havdalah. The Rav's Havdalah calculations — which are reflected in our Calendar — vary from Hebcal by only a couple minutes.

Instructions: If you click on the name of the parsha, you'll get the chapter and verse for this week's readings on the HebCal website. You'll also see "Pocket Torah," audio recordings of every Torah verse, according to the notation of A.W. Binder and Lawrence Avery. From HebCal, you can click and get the actual Hebrew and English texts of the readings, curtesy of the Sefaria.org website.

Calendar — Fall 2023

We're now in the year 5784, the second year of the triennial Torah reading cycle.

You are invited to every service and activity on this Calendar!

Sat, Sep 23

RIMONIM HYBRID SERVICE
Everyone is invited!

rimonim logo

Shabbat Haazinu
Shabbat Shuva

 10:00 am SHARP  — P'sukei D'zimra & Shacharit: Martin

Shamash: Jeremy G

Torah (Deuteronomy) — Full k'ria:

Gabbai: TBA 

Haftarah for Ashkenazim (Shabbat Shuva with Ha'azinu): Hosea 14:2-10; Joel 2:15-27 · 22 p’sukim - Shalom
DT: Tamara
Musaf: Larry K

About Rimonim hybrid services, including a guide for leading davening: http://minyanrimonim.org/rimonim-davening-guide.html

If attending in person:

  • You MUST leave your coats in the AC coatroom on the first floor.
  • Please wear a mask except while leading davening, leining, or giving a DT.
  • Feel free to move the chairs for social distancing.
  • There will be a screen at the front of the room so you can see those participating remotely.
  • At this time, we are not having a Rimonim kiddush after the service.

If attending on ZOOM:

  • Login information for Shabbat and Festival morning services can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.
  • Page numbers: People who attend remotely use at least four different siddurim (prayer books). We do not announce page numbers because it would be a tircha d'tzibbur (burden on the congregation). Instead, we have charts with the page numbers for various services posted at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#order . Please prepare ahead of time by printing out the chart or marking your siddur with bookmarks or Post-Its®.
  • Preparing for services: See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#preparing.
  • Muting: For most of the service, please mute yourself. Further explanation can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#muting
  • Kiddush: After services, remote participants take a 10-minute break to grab some food. Then we make Kiddush and Motzi together. If your custom is to wash before a meal, please do so before Kiddush. After Motzi, we have an extended schmooze. On occasion, we have a discussion in place of schmoozing.

TELETEFILA

Havdalah icon

 7:34 pm  — Havdalah on ZOOM: led by Iris
Followed by schmoozing!

Havdalah begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

Login information for Havdalah can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#havdalah.

[Words for Miriam haN'viah: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/miriam-ha-nviah-1 ]

[Deb Kayman chants Havdalah as her father, Harold Kahen, used to.]

Sun, Sep 24

West Side Minyan
Hybrid service

Now with improved audio!

west side minyan logo

 6:30 pm  — Yom Kippur Kol Nidre

Details to follow.

Mon, Sep 25

West Side Minyan
Hybrid service

Now with improved audio!

west side minyan logo

 9:30 am  — Morning Service

 4:45 pm  — Mincha, followed by N'ila

Details to follow.

Wed, Sep 27
7:15 pm

Kaffeeklatsch icon

Kaffeklatsch

Join us for our weekly schmoozefest! See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#kaffee for login info.

Sat, Sep 30

TELETEFILA

TeleTefila logo

Shabbat
Sukkot I

 9:40 am  — P'sukei D'zimra (Verses of Song): Led by TBA

End BEFORE haEil b'taatzumot

In P'sukei D'zimra, we relax and open ourselves to our spiritual side. It's like a prequel to the formal service that follows. Depending on who’s leading, P'sukei D'zimra may consist of Psalms, kavanot, or meditation.

Login is the same as for the Shabbat morning service. See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.

Page numbers can be found here.

 10:00 am  — Shacharit: TBA

Begin at haEil b'taatzumot

Yom Tov Amida with additions for Shabbat and insertions for Sukkot

Hallel malei

Torah (2 "scrolls") — Full k'ria:

  • No Aliya Chatima because we do the full reading

Haftarah for Sukkot I: Zechariah 14:1-21 · 21 p’sukim - TBA
   Conclude with Yom Tov b'racha with insertions for Shabbat and Sukkot
DT: TBA
Musaf: TBA
   Yom Tov Amida with additions for Shabbat and insertions for Sukkot
Hoshanot (no lulav)
Psalm: TBA
Psalm 27 for the Season of Repentance

Shacharit begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

  • Login information for Shabbat and Festival morning services can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.
  • Page numbers: People who attend our services use at least four different siddurim (prayer books). We do not announce page numbers because it would be a tircha d'tzibbur (burden on the congregation). Instead, we have a charts with the page numbers for various services posted at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#order . Please prepare ahead of time by printing out the chart or marking your siddur with bookmarks or Post-Its®.
  • Preparing for services: See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#preparing.
  • Muting: For most of the service, please mute yourself. Further explanation can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#muting
  • Kiddush: After services, we take a 10-minute break to grab some food. Then we make Kiddush and Motzi together. If your custom is to wash before a meal, please do so before Kiddush. After Motzi, we have an extended schmooze. On occasion, we have a discussion in place of schmoozing.

TELETEFILA

Havdalah icon

 xx:xx pm  — Havdalah: led by TBA
Followed by schmoozing!

Havdalah begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

Login information for Havdalah can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#havdalah.

[Words for Miriam haN'viah: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/miriam-ha-nviah-1 ]

[Deb Kayman chants Havdalah as her father, Harold Kahen, used to.]

Sun, Oct 1

Sukkot II

No TeleTefila. We'll supply online options later.

Wed, Oct 4
7:15 pm

Kaffeeklatsch icon

Kaffeklatsch

Join us for our weekly schmoozefest! See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#kaffee for login info.

Fri, Oct 6
7:00 pm

Erev Sh'mini Atzeret Dinner on the AC roof.

Details to follow.

Sat, Oct 7

TELETEFILA

TeleTefila logo

Shabbat
Sh'mini Atzeret

 9:40 am  — P'sukei D'zimra (Verses of Song): Led by TBA

End BEFORE haEil b'taatzumot

In P'sukei D'zimra, we relax and open ourselves to our spiritual side. It's like a prequel to the formal service that follows. Depending on who’s leading, P'sukei D'zimra may consist of Psalms, kavanot, or meditation.

Login is the same as for the Shabbat morning service. See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.

Page numbers can be found here.

 10:00 am  — Shacharit: TBA

Begin at haEil b'taatzumot

Yom Tov Amida with additions for Shabbat and insertions for Sh'mini Atzeret

Hallel malei

Megilat Kohelet (Book of Ecclesiates)
   Nos's Kohelet song

Torah (2 "scrolls") — Full k'ria:

  • No Aliya Chatima because we do the full reading

Haftarah for Sh'mini Atzeret: I Kings 8:54-66 · 13 p’sukim : TBA
   Conclude with Yom Tov b'racha with insertions for Shabbat and Sh'mini Atzeret
NO DT
YIZKOR
Musaf: TBA
   Yom Tov Amida. Begin with Geshem. Include additions for Shabbat and insertions for Sh'mini Atzeret
Psalm: TBA
Psalm 27 for the Season of Repentance: TBA

Shacharit begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

  • Login information for Shabbat and Festival morning services can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.
  • Page numbers: People who attend our services use at least four different siddurim (prayer books). We do not announce page numbers because it would be a tircha d'tzibbur (burden on the congregation). Instead, we have a charts with the page numbers for various services posted at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#order . Please prepare ahead of time by printing out the chart or marking your siddur with bookmarks or Post-Its®.
  • Preparing for services: See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#preparing.
  • Muting: For most of the service, please mute yourself. Further explanation can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#muting
  • Kiddush: After services, we take a 10-minute break to grab some food. Then we make Kiddush and Motzi together. If your custom is to wash before a meal, please do so before Kiddush. After Motzi, we have an extended schmooze. On occasion, we have a discussion in place of schmoozing.

TELETEFILA

Havdalah icon

 xx:xx pm  — Havdalah: led by TBA
Followed by schmoozing!

Havdalah begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

Login information for Havdalah can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#havdalah.

[Words for Miriam haN'viah: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/miriam-ha-nviah-1 ]

[Deb Kayman chants Havdalah as her father, Harold Kahen, used to.]

SIMCHAT TORAH EVENING

No TeleTefila. We'll supply online options later.

Sun, Oct 8

Simchat Torah Day

No TeleTefila. We'll supply online options later.

Mon, Oct 9 Columbus Day observed
Wed, Oct 11
7:15 pm

Kaffeeklatsch icon

Kaffeklatsch

Join us for our weekly schmoozefest! See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#kaffee for login info.

Sat, Oct 14

WEST SIDE MINYAN HYBRID SERVICE
Everyone is invited!

west side minyan logo

Shabbat B'reishit
Shabbat Machar Chodesh (WSM does not read Haftara)
Shabbat M'var'chim haChodesh

 9:40 am  — P'sukei D'zimra (Verses of Song): Led by TBA

In P'sukei D'zimra, we relax and open ourselves to our spiritual side. It's like a prequel to the formal service that follows. Depending on who’s leading, P'sukei D'zimra may consist of Psalms, kavanot, or meditation.

Login is the same as for the Shabbat morning service. See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.

 10:00 am SHARP!  — Shacharit: TBA

Shamash: TBA

Torah (Genesis) — Triennial reading

Gabbai: selected by the first on-site leiner  

NO Haftarah at WSM hybrid services
DT: TBA
Birkat hachodesh: "Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan yihyeh b'yom rishon uvyom sheini — Saturday night, Sunday and Monday
Musaf: TBA

About WSM hybrid services, including a guide for leading davening: http://www.westsideminyan.org/wsm-davening-guide.html

If attending in person:

  • You MUST leave your coats in the AC coatroom on the first floor.
  • Please wear a mask except while leading davening, leining, or giving a DT.
  • Feel free to move the chairs for social distancing.
  • There will be a screen at the front of the room so you can see those participating remotely.
  • At this time, we are not having a WSM kiddush after the service.

If attending on ZOOM:

  • Login information for Shabbat and Festival morning services can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.
  • Page numbers: People who attend remotely use at least four different siddurim (prayer books). We do not announce page numbers because it would be a tircha d'tzibbur (burden on the congregation). Instead, we have charts with the page numbers for various services posted at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#order . Please prepare ahead of time by printing out the chart or marking your siddur with bookmarks or Post-Its®.
  • Preparing for services: See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#preparing.
  • Muting: For most of the service, please mute yourself. Further explanation can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#muting
  • Kiddush: After services, remote participants take a 10-minute break to grab some food. Then we make Kiddush and Motzi together. If your custom is to wash before a meal, please do so before Kiddush. After Motzi, we have an extended schmooze. On occasion, we have a discussion in place of schmoozing.

TELETEFILA

Havdalah icon

 00:00 pm  — Havdalah on ZOOM: led by TBA
Followed by schmoozing!

Havdalah begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

Login information for Havdalah can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#havdalah.

[Words for Miriam haN'viah: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/miriam-ha-nviah-1 ]

[Deb Kayman chants Havdalah as her father, Harold Kahen, used to.]

Wed, Oct 18
7:15 pm

Kaffeeklatsch icon

Kaffeklatsch

Join us for our weekly schmoozefest! See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#kaffee for login info.

Sat, Oct 21

RIMONIM HYBRID SERVICE
Everyone is invited!

rimonim logo

Shabbat No-ach

 10:00 am SHARP  — P'sukei D'zimra & Shacharit: TBA

Shamash: TBA

Torah (Genesis) — Full k'ria:

Gabbai: TBA 

Haftarah for Ashkenazim: Isaiah 54:1-55:5 · 22 p’sukim: TBA
DT: TBA
Musaf: TBA

About Rimonim hybrid services, including a guide for leading davening: http://minyanrimonim.org/rimonim-davening-guide.html

If attending in person:

  • You MUST leave your coats in the AC coatroom on the first floor.
  • Please wear a mask except while leading davening, leining, or giving a DT.
  • Feel free to move the chairs for social distancing.
  • There will be a screen at the front of the room so you can see those participating remotely.
  • At this time, we are not having a Rimonim kiddush after the service.

If attending on ZOOM:

  • Login information for Shabbat and Festival morning services can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.
  • Page numbers: People who attend remotely use at least four different siddurim (prayer books). We do not announce page numbers because it would be a tircha d'tzibbur (burden on the congregation). Instead, we have charts with the page numbers for various services posted at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#order . Please prepare ahead of time by printing out the chart or marking your siddur with bookmarks or Post-Its®.
  • Preparing for services: See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#preparing.
  • Muting: For most of the service, please mute yourself. Further explanation can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#muting
  • Kiddush: After services, remote participants take a 10-minute break to grab some food. Then we make Kiddush and Motzi together. If your custom is to wash before a meal, please do so before Kiddush. After Motzi, we have an extended schmooze. On occasion, we have a discussion in place of schmoozing.

TELETEFILA

Havdalah icon

 xx:xx pm  —Havdalah: led by TBA
Followed by Kiddush L'vanah!
Followed by schmoozing!

Havdalah begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

Login information for Havdalah/Kiddush L'vanah can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#havdalah.

[Words for Miriam haN'viah: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/miriam-ha-nviah-1 ]

[Deb Kayman chants Havdalah as her father, Harold Kahen, used to.]

moon

KIDDUSH L'VANAH — following Havdalah

We welcome the first sliver of moon after Rosh Chodesh, with a Psalm, a blessing, and some singing. And we do it outdoors, in front of each of our apartment buildings. Take your cell phones and tablets out with you, so you can share the experience with the rest of the TeleTefila chevra!

Kiddush L'vana will be led by TBA

Kiddush L'vanah liturgy. We have two versions to choose from:

[We use the same ZOOM session as for Havdalah, above.]

Wed, Oct 25
7:15 pm

Kaffeeklatsch icon

Kaffeklatsch

Join us for our weekly schmoozefest! See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#kaffee for login info.

Sat, Oct 28

TELETEFILA

TeleTefila logo

Shabbat Lech L'cha

 9:40 am  — P'sukei D'zimra (Verses of Song): Led by TBA

In P'sukei D'zimra, we relax and open ourselves to our spiritual side. It's like a prequel to the formal service that follows. Depending on who’s leading, P'sukei D'zimra may consist of Psalms, kavanot, or meditation.

Login is the same as for the Shabbat morning service. See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.

Page numbers can be found here.

 10:00 am  — Shacharit: TBA

Torah (Genesis) —Triennial reading:  

  • Aliya Chatima: 17:24-27 · 4 p’sukim - TBA

Haftarah Isaiah 40:27-41:16 · 21 p’sukim: TBA
DT: TBA
Musaf: TBA
Psalm: TBA

Shacharit begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

  • Login information for Shabbat and Festival morning services can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.
  • Page numbers: People who attend our services use at least four different siddurim (prayer books). We do not announce page numbers because it would be a tircha d'tzibbur (burden on the congregation). Instead, we have a charts with the page numbers for various services posted at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#order . Please prepare ahead of time by printing out the chart or marking your siddur with bookmarks or Post-Its®.
  • Preparing for services: See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#preparing.
  • Muting: For most of the service, please mute yourself. Further explanation can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#muting
  • Kiddush: After services, we take a 10-minute break to grab some food. Then we make Kiddush and Motzi together. If your custom is to wash before a meal, please do so before Kiddush. After Motzi, we have an extended schmooze. On occasion, we have a discussion in place of schmoozing.

TELETEFILA

Havdalah icon

 xx:xx pm  — Havdalah: led by TBA
Followed by schmoozing!

Havdalah begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

Login information for Havdalah can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#havdalah.

[Words for Miriam haN'viah: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/miriam-ha-nviah-1 ]

[Deb Kayman chants Havdalah as her father, Harold Kahen, used to.]

Wed, Nov 1
7:15 pm

Kaffeeklatsch icon

Kaffeklatsch

Join us for our weekly schmoozefest! See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#kaffee for login info.

Sat, Nov 4

TELETEFILA

TeleTefila logo

Shabbat Vayeira

 9:40 am  — P'sukei D'zimra (Verses of Song): Led by TBA

In P'sukei D'zimra, we relax and open ourselves to our spiritual side. It's like a prequel to the formal service that follows. Depending on who’s leading, P'sukei D'zimra may consist of Psalms, kavanot, or meditation.

Login is the same as for the Shabbat morning service. See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.

Page numbers can be found here.

 10:00 am  — Shacharit: TBA

Torah (Genesis) —Triennial reading:  

  • Aliya Chatima 22:20-24 · 5 p’sukim - TBA

Haftarah for Sephardim: II Kings 4:1-23 · 23 p’sukim: TBA
DT: TBA
Musaf: TBA
Psalm: TBA

Shacharit begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

  • Login information for Shabbat and Festival morning services can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#connecting.
  • Page numbers: People who attend our services use at least four different siddurim (prayer books). We do not announce page numbers because it would be a tircha d'tzibbur (burden on the congregation). Instead, we have a charts with the page numbers for various services posted at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#order . Please prepare ahead of time by printing out the chart or marking your siddur with bookmarks or Post-Its®.
  • Preparing for services: See http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#preparing.
  • Muting: For most of the service, please mute yourself. Further explanation can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#muting
  • Kiddush: After services, we take a 10-minute break to grab some food. Then we make Kiddush and Motzi together. If your custom is to wash before a meal, please do so before Kiddush. After Motzi, we have an extended schmooze. On occasion, we have a discussion in place of schmoozing.

TELETEFILA

Havdalah icon

 xx:xx pm  — Havdalah: led by TBA
Followed by schmoozing!

Havdalah begins promptly, 10 minutes after the posted starting time.

Login information for Havdalah can be found at http://www.teletefila.com/login.html#havdalah.

[Words for Miriam haN'viah: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/miriam-ha-nviah-1 ]

[Deb Kayman chants Havdalah as her father, Harold Kahen, used to.]

Sun, Nov 5
7:00 pm

Book Club

Reading: The Custom of the Country, by Edith Wharton.

More information