Rise Of Independent Minyans Influencing American Judaism

Orthodox Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, first vice president of the Rabbinical Council of America, said he was "thrilled with the energy and the interest." But he added the groups' search for relevance in ancient tradition has led to violations of it, such as with women's role in prayer. Rabbis, he said, have always been crucial in maintaining tradition.

Rise of independent groups influencing Judaism

By JAY LINDSAY (AP)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — They gather blocks from Harvard Square to greet the Sabbath with communal prayer, their eyes winced closed, hands clapping as they sing in fervent Hebrew. The group worships in the Jewish Orthodox tradition, but it's not traditional.

A woman leads the prayers, generally forbidden among mainstream Orthodox. The genders are separated by a white curtain, called a "mechitzah," but it's translucent so the sexes can see each other as they sway and sing. No rabbi leads or synagogue sanctions this service at the Minyan Tehillah, which is run by a software engineer and nurse practitioner.

The group is an "independent minyan," and dozens of these unaffiliated Jewish worship communities have sprung up in the past decade, mixing elements of the mainstream denominations while answering to none of them. Its prayers in Hebrew, with participation of everyone present, is a hallmark of the movement, and a reaction to mainstream alternatives where such prayer is not available, or limited to a designated soloist.

Anna Schachter of Cambridge said the minyan's dual commitment to traditional worship and egalitarianism was energizing.

"Everyone in this room, I feel I'm sort of bonded to them with this mission, this struggle, of 'How do you live a traditional life and a modern life at the same time?'" said Schachter, 29, a public health researcher. "If there was a synagogue that had this kind of style, I would go to it."

Ten years ago, the United States had two independent minyanim, plural of minyan. Today, there at least 70 involving about 20,000 people, said Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, who wrote a book on the independent minyanim, "Empowered Judaism."

"There is a mass of young people, taking hold of their Jewish identity, and willing to put in the volunteer time and effort to build a community that expresses their values," Kaunfer said. "That's extremely hopeful and significant."

The number involved is a small percentage of the estimated 5.2 million Jews in the U.S. But Jonathan Sarna, a professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University, said the movement is driven by the most devout and educated Jews, and its ideas on worship, prayer and what defines a community will inevitably cross into mainstream practice.

"What happens in American Judaism over and over is that the margins influence the mainstream," Sarna said. "I don't expect many of the independent minyanim themselves will be long lasting. But I think we will look back and say that they had long-lasting influence."

In Jewish law, a minyan is a quorum of at least 10 people (10 men in the Orthodox tradition) that is required to read the Torah or say certain prayers. But a minyan is commonly defined as any community that comes together to pray.

The independent minyanim have formed primarily in urban areas, including New York, as far south as Atlanta, and west to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Sarna said with the middle of the country largely untapped, the movement will grow.

Meg Lederman, a member of a minyan in Brookline, said a major draw of the worship is as a link to her Jewish past.

"It's nice to be in a room where you're filling up the whole room with meaningful words," she said. "It's both the connection to the people in the room and really a connection to Jews across time and space."

The growth of independent minyanim is similar to the grassroots "havurah" movement in the 1960s and 1970s, which organized outside the synagogue with heavy emphasisis on lively prayer and including women. But Kaunfer said a key difference is that the havurah movement wanted to replace Jewish institutions, while independent minyanim aim merely at gaps that have appeared in Jewish life.

Many members are in their 20s and 30s, either single or with very young children, and part of a demographic that has developed as people postpone marriage and children, Kaunfer said. Jews in this group tend to be urban, mobile and unsatisfied by typical synagogue offerings, which are generally aimed at older adults or parents with school-aged kids, he said.

Group members are often highly educated in Jewish tradition — 40 percent are graduates of Jewish day schools. They seek the deep spiritual connection found in traditional prayer that the Orthodox practice, Kaunfer said, but they also want women to be more involved in worship, as in the Conservative and Reform denominations. So they've decided to lead their own services.

Some independent minyanim meet in synagogues, and members are active in them. But the decentralized movement has grown largely without the denominations, whose leaders say they welcome such committed groups of young people, an elusive demographic.

"These are exactly the kind of people we want and need in the community because they're going to be the leaders of the future," said Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. "The fact that they don't always find a place in the synagogue is something that obviously is troubling to me."

Orthodox Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, first vice president of the Rabbinical Council of America, said he was "thrilled with the energy and the interest." But he added the groups' search for relevance in ancient tradition has led to violations of it, such as with women's role in prayer. Rabbis, he said, have always been crucial in maintaining tradition.

"We are troubled with the change in tradition," Goldin said. "We believe there are ways to find relevance and meaning without these radical changes."

Their self-governing nature means independent minyanim differ in style and emphasis. For instance, Lisa Colten, co-founder of a minyan in Charlottesville, Va., said her minyan's service, held in a friend's living room, stresses interaction between parents and young children that she wasn't finding at the local synagogue she attends.

Colten, 35, said the group isn't interested in changing tradition, just in sharing a kind of worship they realized they could create themselves.

"We don't feel like we're captive to the choices that are handed to us," she said. "That's very different than previous generations."

For various Modern Orthodox halakhic views on allowable roles for women in prayer services, see Rabbi Dr. Daniel Sperber's Women and Men in Communal Prayer: Halakhic Perspectives (KTAV / JOFA).

Comments

[Alan]

Eventually even if it takes a couple of centuries, even Orthodoxy will be egalitarian in the United States. It's hard to continue to say to a young woman that she should not have a desire to read Torah or lead tefilah in a minyan when her motivations are to contribute to the spirit and running of the community. The younger generation in their 20's and 30's want to create a new path while still remaining within a Halachic framework. It will be very interesting to watch what will come out of their desires to integrate the various sides of themselves--their love of tradition and their being modern.

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

Eventually even if it takes a couple of centuries, even Orthodoxy will be egalitarian in the United States.

Hopefully it will take much less time for Ultra-orthodox to have make it unacceptable to have sex with children.

[Jason]

I grew up Orthodox and although I don't necessarily define myself as Orthodox today, and don't buy into some of what Orthodoxy stands for today, I still affiliate with an Orthodox shul and community because that is the tradition in which I find myself most comfortable. I am not, however, satisfied there.

I now have two young children, both girls. I find it very difficult to think about telling my girls they cannot participate in shul life, or that they can never sit with me in shul when they get older. So I find myself, for the first time in my life, considering finding a more egalitarian alternative. I want my girls to love Judaism and being Jewish, but I'm not sure I can sell that to them in the Orthodox context, because looking out at the landscape of Orthodoxy, I have a difficult time feeling it myself.

These minyanim sound great. Does anyone know if a directory exists, or how to find one in my area?

[IH]

Rabbi Goldin has precisely missed the point. These independent minyanim have flourished in large part because committed halachic Jews are grappling with the issue of women in innovative ways and have given up on the established rabbinate for leadership.

As the old line goes ~"badges? we don't need no stinkin' badges"~.

Tying it in with the controversy in Israel, the Israeli rabbinate is even more clueless about this (as, sadly, are the Israeli public).

Am Yisrael Chai!

[Garnel Ironheart]

These ideas spring up like new grass in the spring and then wither and die away by the fall.
For these folks it's all about the fun parts of Judaism, like singing and swaying communally. The obligations generally get short shrift and any prohibitions that get in the way of feeling good about oneself get dumped too.
Eventually they'll become another havurah group and disappear into the ether

[rabbidw]

That is what the people said about the early chassidic movement. Remember the Vilna Gaon put them in Cherem. If they keep shabbos and Kashrus they are OK in my book. They can come to my shul anytime.

[IH]

Actually, "Garnel Ironheart", many of the havurah groups became established shuls in time. Which will happen with many of the independent minyanim in time as well.

And, of course, many established shuls have died during this same period of time.

I have a memory exercise project of Upper West Side shtieblach in the '70s, for example, of which almost none survive.

[Aharon Varady]

Having spent the past year learning at Yeshivat Hadar, the first halakhic and egalitarian yeshiva outside of Israel, I can attest to the spirit of openness and respect that pervades such a holy space. This was the best learning and davvening I've experienced consistently in my life, learning from excellent teachers both men and women. Learning Torah and growing in emotional and creative intelligence should be informed but never bounded by our gender identity.

[the Shtetl Hustler]

The list is here:
http://www.havurah.org/havurah-directory

I visited some of them, they are a lot of fun and you can feel the spirituality.

They run by 20's something rich kids from the east cost. They all went to Hebrew day school so they are fluent in Hebrew. If you do not know Hebrew it will be difficult to follow the service.

Most of them seem to graduate ivy league schools, so if you went to State and you are not very rich you might not feel like fitting in

[A E ANDERSON]

In college, I taught Hebrew classes at a nearby Conservative temple. The first day of classes, some of the girls sported yarmulkas, which looked pretty weird to my Orthodox-trained eyes. When we discussed women wearing kippot, I toed the official, egalitarian line about how women are equal, etc. Then, lowering my voice, I added: "Of course, in Israel, they'd laugh at you if they saw you, a girl, wearing a kippah." Problem solved. Vanity and pride trump feminism.

[Yochanan Lavie]

I support a more traditional but inclusive Judaism. However, there is a tipping point where men feel irrelevant. How can women be treated fairly, yet still keep men feeling invested in religion? I don't the answer.

[harold]

Influencing American Judaism

I just don't see it. It is cute, quaint, and different for sure. A rabbi replaced by a software engineer and nurse practitioner with services being held in a friend's living room.

I see no mention of chulent, kugel or kishka so you won’t find me there.

A video of the services would be quite entertaining.

[Shlomo]

Didn't this movement start in Israel ala Shirah Chadashah minyon as out outgrowth of Carlebach minyanim

[ML]

If they keep shabbos and Kashrus they are OK in my book. They can come to my shul anytime.

Posted by: rabbidw | July 28, 2010 at 06:30 PM

Otherwise they aren't welcome to your shul? Well in that case, thanks but no thanks.

And if "keeping kosher" means only buying products with that bogus OU mark, then again, thanks but no thanks.

[Heart of Stone]

Rabbi DW, just as a point of fact, Rabbi Elijah of Vilna didn't ban Hasidism because he was resistant to change...intellectually, he was, in many ways very cutting edge. Etkes and other historians have clearly established that he placed the ban in response to ( evidently true) reports of aberrant behaviors practiced by the nascent Hasidic movement. Hasidic leaders subsequently cleaned house, but the damage was done...love the new minyanim - they are real, speak to real needs and have real participation - long time coming...

[harold]

The list is here:
http://www.havurah.org/havurah-directory

The one (and only one) in Brooklyn meets on the second and fourth Shabbat mornings and third Friday night of every month. "Influencing American Judaism" - give me a break!

[Neo-Conservaguy]

I just don't see it. It is cute, quaint, and different for sure. A rabbi replaced by a software engineer and nurse practitioner with services being held in a friend's living room.

That's more chavurah style; my impression is that most groups have a more formal space.

I see no mention of chulent, kugel or kishka so you won’t find me there.

Why compete with the local Chabad rabbi? :-)

A video of the services would be quite entertaining.

Depending upon the group, you might be disappointed if you are expecting radically different worship. For the "style" I prefer, it's "normal" Orthodox/traditional prayer with separate seating and men counting for minyan and leading most services. What's different happens when women receive alliot and lein, and also lead Pesukei Dezimra or Torah services. In general, there is a lot of energy from committed communal prayer facilitated by some good singing. The genders tend to dress distinctively, although I've seen an occasional kippah and tallit on the woman's side.

[al Farabi]

"Rabbis, he said, have always been crucial in maintaining tradition."
A more accurate statement would have been that rabbis are the biggest evil that have ever afflicted the jewish people and without them, we would have undoubtedly been better off in every respect......

[Jeff]

Harold, if you were capable of seeing beyond two feet in front of your face... oh, wait, never mind.

@Alan: Eventually even if it takes a couple of centuries, even Orthodoxy will be egalitarian in the United States.

Alan, Orthodoxy doesn't have a couple of centuries. It doesn't have a couple of generations. It's very nearly gone.

@Garnel: For these folks it's all about the fun parts of Judaism, like singing and swaying communally. The obligations generally get short shrift and any prohibitions that get in the way of feeling good about oneself get dumped too.

Garnel, sometimes you have some genuine insights, and at other times, you're just retarded. I've found it impossible to predict.

[seguro]

yeshivat hadar is not an orthodox institution--all the faculty are JTS or lefter....

[steven in uk]

I agree with the point made my Yochanan. I belong to a
masorti community, which is egalitarian, however only a minority of women, members take the opportunities given, by attending, alas struggles each week, to have a minyan.

While. this community is out of my way, would however make the effort, if I felt needed, however I say, " if these women are really interested anything other then political correctness, why are they not going?.

[Neo-Conservaguy]

yeshivat hadar is not an orthodox institution--all the faculty are JTS or lefter..

It's more complex than can be described with a one-liner. They are certainly egalitarian and worship with mixed seating. They seem very dedicated to what might be described as "real Conservative Judaism" with recognition and observance of mitsvot. Rabbi Ethan Tucker is a scholar to be contended with, despite his tilt over to the dark side of egalitarianism. Check out the faculty list - there are several people with rabbinic ordination from Orthodox rabbis or institutions:

http://www.mechonhadar.org/faculty

[Yonah]

Yochanan,

At a shul I recently attended, there was an outcry that women were having too many aliyot. Every man and even most women agreed that most of the aliyot were going to women. When we checked, it was found that women were always less than half, except for twice when it was exactly half and half. However, perception won out and women were restricted to two aliyot - at the end of the keria, just to make it clear where people stand.

Similarly, Jay Ingram in his book Talk Talk Talk cites studies showing that when people play tapes of men and women speaking for equal lengths of time, they will consistantly judge that the woman talked more.

In short, the way that men feel is a real phenomenon, based largely on false impressions (although there are a few rather liberal female-dominated kehillot). And I'm afraid there's nothing to do except for men to get over it, and if they want more male representation, to volunteer themselves.

Prohibiting women because some men will choose to take on less responsibility is not the answer.

[Neo-Conservaguy]

In short, the way that men feel is a real phenomenon, based largely on false impressions (although there are a few rather liberal female-dominated kehillot). And I'm afraid there's nothing to do except for men to get over it, and if they want more male representation, to volunteer themselves.

That's certainly "in short", and not compelling in terms of being proof for your contention that there is only one "answer". The "answer" provided by traditional Judaism seems to work for some people just fine. It may well be that different answers are required for different groups.

Prohibiting women because some men will choose to take on less responsibility is not the answer.

It's all in the language, isn't it? You choose to express something as a stricture against women rather than a responsibility for men. I've heard this word play too many times from the radical feminists in my area and reject it completely. The part of the comments you are ignoring in your pro-egalitarian position is the mention that women are not stepping up to replace the men they may or may not be displacing. So, rather than egal shuls having twice the number of people attending minyanim, they in fact have, on the whole, less than before those changes.

I find the more balanced approach taking by many of the indy minyanim to be a better path than the destruction wrought upon the Conservative Movement by the radical Egalitarians three decades ago.