We have a wonderful Tot Shabbat program at our Synagogue. It starts at 6:15 pm for 30 minutes. We start with Bim Bam & Hiney Mah Tov. Then, we sing a great song for the children and their parents called "The Sanctuary Manners". I've attached the lyrics to this e-mail. It's to the tune of "Adon Olam". It's the version that echoes. It's a smash hit at our synagogue. When you sing it, you have to pause before you sing the last verse. When you read it you'll know why.
We also use the "Gates of Wonder" prayerbook. We do Barchu & Sh'ma. The Rabbi tells a story and then we march with the Torah. We have about 100 stuffed Torahs and we try to give one to each child. Then, they return the Torahs to the Ark and the children sit on the steps. They sing 3 or 4 short songs with me. The Rabbi gives his benedition from the bima while the children are still there and then the service is over. It's short, sweet and to the point. We get rave reviews everytime we do it.
See the lyrics below.
TUNE: Adon Olam
LYRICS: Rabbi Richard Agler,
SANCTUARY MANNERS Cantor Stephanie Shore & Linda Harris
Congregation B?nai Isreal ? Boca Raton, FL
© 1997
CHORUS: Don't jump around, stay in your seat,
Listen to Rabbi when he speaks
Books off the floor, keep pages neat,
That's how we like to act inside the sanctuary.
Sing with the Cantor songs we've learned,
We pray to G-d, study Torah, Mitzvot we've learned.
Moms and Dads, pray with us too,
So all together we'll learn how to be a Jew.
CHORUS:
Boys wear Kipot, jackets and ties
And all the girls who come to shul are dressed real nice.
We've combed our hair, and shined our shoes,
And all our Sabbath prayers, help us to be good Jews.
CHORUS:
Turn off your phone so it won?t ring,
And join together as we pray and as we sing.
We don?t applaud while we?re in Shul,
And taking pictures as we pray is NOT real cool.
CHORUS:
Susan
"Singin' With Susan"
Susan Shane-Linder
Preschool & Religious School Music Director
Congregation B'nai Israel
Boca Raton, Florida