Daily Minyan | Shabbat Services | Youth Services | Participate
Daily minyan is held at Congregation Agudas Achim according to the schedule below. If you have a special occasion or are reciting Kaddish, it is suggested that you inform the synagogue office (735-8400) ahead of time. Daily minyan is held in the small chapel with stained glass windows.
Daily Minyan Schedule:
- Sunday: 9:00 a.m. (services are held in the sanctuary when religious school is in session)
- Monday: 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 7:15 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 7:15 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 7:00 a.m. (followed by breakfast) and 6:00 p.m.
- Friday: 7:00 a.m. (followed by breakfast and spirited learning)
Exceptions: Morning minyan starts at 7:00 a.m. instead of 7:15 a.m. if Rosh Chodesh or another Jewish holiday falls on Tuesday or Wednesday. Festival services are held at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. When a public holiday falls during the week, morning minyan starts at 9:00 a.m.
At 6:00 p.m. services we daven mincha (the afternoon service) in the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter we daven ma’ariv (the evening service.) Please call the synagogue office to confirm which service is being held on a particular day.
Dress attire for daily minyan is Austin casual, unless it is a festival. Services are participatory, especially on days with a Torah service. Morning minyan is typically 30-45 minutes; evening minyan is typically about 20 minutes.
Learn the weekday Shacharit and Ma’ariv services from our Online Learning page.
Shabbat Services Schedule
Friday Evening:
- Services are held in the chapel at 7:00 p.m. each week during daylight savings time, and at 6:00 p.m. each week during standard time.
- Following services and a small oneg.
- Once a quarter there is a 7:00 p.m. “Pray and Stay Late” service and oneg sponsored by Hazak.
Saturday Morning:
- 8:30 a.m. – P’seukei d’Zimrah – psalms and meditation in the chapel
- 8:45 a.m. – Shabbat Limmud – weekly Torah Study in the chapel. “Limmud” means study; Shabbat Limmud explores Judaism’s traditions, celebrations, and observances as they apply to the weekly Torah portion. Rabbi Blumofe leads everyone in an informal, thought provoking and stimulating discussion. No knowledge of Hebrew is required and everyone is welcome.
- 9:45 a.m. – Shacharit, Torah service, and Musaf are held in the sanctuary. See information below about other services for families of all ages.
- Approximately 12:15 – Following services everyone is invited to a Kiddush luncheon in our social hall. Come sing with us afterwards and learn Birkat haMazon, the grace after meals or “bensching”.
Other Shabbat Morning Services (followed by community luncheon in the Social Hall):
Tot Shabbat in the History Room at 11:15 a.m. the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month with Rabbi Swedroe – includes singing, dancing, praying, and playing. 
Shalom Minyan is an age-appropriate, fun Shabbat experience for K-6th graders, utilizing a variety of activities and teaching modalities.
10:50 a.m. – Nosh!
11 a.m. – Shabbat Experience
12 p.m. – Join sanctuary service to help lead concluding prayers
- Grades K-3 in room 145 –A fun and exciting Shabbat morning! We will do fun activities based on the Torah Portion, sing prayers and songs together in ways that connect them to our lives, and enjoy sharing Shabbat morning with each other.
- Grades 4-6 in the Chapel – Each week will make a new prayer and the weekly portion relevant to our lives today! Reviewing the themes of the Shabbat morning service over the course of the year through games, activities and discussions will add new meaning to our tradition. Torah study, discussions and theatrical interpretation help the text come to life.
*Please call Jane Weiss at 512-735-8404 to request an aliyah for any simcha or life cycle event. You may also wish to review the blessings recited before and after a Torah reading.
Participating in the Shabbat Experience
Shabbat is a sacred time for the Jewish people, a respite from the demands, deadlines and distractions of a busy week. The period from Friday evening to Saturday night has been described as a sanctuary in time. It offers us a chance to reconnect with family and friends and rejuvenate ourselves spiritually.
This is especially true inside the synagogue, our sacred space, where we gather as a community to pray, deepen our relationships with one another and connect with God.
Cell Phones and Electronics
We ask that you respect the holiness of this day and space by refraining from using any electronics, including mobile devices and cameras, within the building during and after services. Cell phone conversations may be taken outside the building.
Dress
Congregation Agudas Achim has no formal dress code. Our community is strengthened by members whose preferences range from casual to formal. We welcome guests from different traditions and upbringings. To honor our sacred space, we ask that all boys and men cover their heads by wearing kippot. Everyone must cover their head when leading prayers, taking out the Torah or speaking in front of the community.
Families and children
The energy at Agudas Achim is built, in part, on the spirit and passions of our youngest members. We invite all children and families to join us for services — and to bring that liveliness with them.
Children who are not attending services or any of our youth programs are invited to the quiet room at the rear of the sanctuary. Parents should always know where their children are in order to ensure their safety.
Learn Shabbat Services & Torah Trope
Rabbi Neil Blumofe has made available recordings which may be played online or downloaded to your computer. Learn the Shabbat torah trope or the Shabbat services, including Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Havdallah, and Saturday evening, from our Online Learning Page.
Deep Dive into Prayer
The “Deep Dive into Prayer” is an opportunity for those learning the Shabbat morning service and desiring a deeper understanding of its structure and meaning to meet with Rabbi Gail Swedroe monthly at 9:40- 10:15AM in the CAA Chapel. People of all levels are welcome.
Shabbat Kiddush or Flower Sponsorships
What better way to honor or remember a loved one than with a Shabbat Kiddush luncheon or flower sponsorship? You can provide flowers for our Sanctuary for as little as $150. You can also sponsor, or co-sponsor, a Kiddush luncheon. For more information, please visit our Catering & Events page by clicking here.