WELCOME TO DC MINYAN!
DC Minyan is a traditional egalitarian Jewish community located in Dupont Circle, in the heart of our nation’s capital. We seek to create an environment that will welcome, enrich, and challenge people of all ages, from all backgrounds, and with all levels of familiarity with Jewish texts and ritual. Our hope is that this young community will provide an inviting space for the members of the DC community to share their ideas, their aspirations, and their prayers. As a lay-led community, the Minyan derives its strength and its warmth from you.
On this website, you can find information about our events, how to get more involved, and more! To get more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions, please email info@dcminyan.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
VOLUNTEERING
As part of our continuing effort to maintain a strong and vibrant lay led community, we encourage our members to sign up to volunteer this coming year in some capacity, including volunteering to host new members and other hospitality guests, greeting on Shabbat, planning or volunteering at one of our events during the year, davening, leyning, or setting up/cleaning up Kiddush.
We truly appreciate everyone’s participation in this effort!
Please sign up today to volunteer to greet on Shabbat; set up/clean up Kiddush or host a hospitality guest.
weekly ANNOUNCEMENTS
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES & LUNCH AND LEARN - 10/21
Please join us on October 21st for Shabbat morning services starting at 9:15 a.m. at the Edlavitch DCJCC, followed by a lunch and learn with Rabbi Micha’el Rosenberg focused on the DC Minyan Ten and Ten policy. See below for additional information and sign up before Wednesday October 18th.
Kiddush this week is in honor of Jesse Rabinowitz and Becca Tanen on the occasion of their aufruf. Sponsored with much love by Bonnie and Marc Rabinowitz and Suzette and Mark Tanen.
FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICES - 10/27
Please join us next week for Friday evening services at 7:00 p.m. at the Edlavitch DCJCC.
DC MINYAN TEN AND TEN COMMUNITY LUNCH - 10/21
In December of last year, DC Minyan convened a committee and began a process exploring our policy of counting both 10 men and 10 women for a minyan. As part of the committee’s halachic research, all members read and discussed the newly released book by Rabbis Ethan Tucker and Micha’el Rosenberg, Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law.
As a minyan that equally values halacha, egalitarianism, and Jewish learning, we invite you to participate in our first communal discussion about our 10 and 10 policy. Please join us on Saturday, October 21st after services in the DCJCC gym for a community lunch with Rabbi Micha’el Rosenberg (one of the authors of Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law). Rabbi Rosenberg will present sources and halachic arguments addressing the question of whether ten people of any gender can count toward a minyan. Register here to join us at this session! Babysitting for this event will close at 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 8th.
This session will guide the ongoing effort to examine our current policy. As a result, we encourage all community members to attend this event to deepen their understanding and participate in the discussion around this important issue. DC Minyan owns a limited number of copies of Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law. If you are interested in reading the book, please contact tenandten@dcminyan.org.
MUSICAL HAVDALAH PROGRAM WITH THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON YOUNG LEADERSHIP - 11/4
Join DC Minyan, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Young Leadership, and Imagine Israel for a celebratory Havdalah program on Saturday, November 4from 8-10 p.m. It will be an evening of music, spirituality and community, featuring an inspiring musical Havdalah in a beautiful downtown location, as well as kosher hors d’oeuvres and drinks. This event costs $10, and features Rabbi Esteban Gottfried, co-Founder and Director of Beit Tefilah Israeli. Rabbi Gottfried is internationally recognized for his Kabbalat Shabbat gatherings at the port of Tel Aviv. He will speak following Havdalah about the meaning of Havdalah, creative spirituality, and religious pluralism in Israel. Register here for this exciting event.
WEEKLY BROWN BAG PARSHA DISCUSSION - 10/20
Join us this Friday for our weekly brown bag lunch and learn. If the weather is good, we will meet at Farragut Square. If the weather is bad, we will meet at International Food Court at 18th and I Streets, NW.
As always, we'll provide the texts and start a conversation about the themes, characters, messages and ideas of that week's parasha. No experience or Hebrew knowledge necessary. For more information, email Jeremy Kadden at lunchandlearn@dcminyan.org.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
DC Minyan's 5778 Membership Drive is almost concluded! If you or someone you know is interested in joining DC Minyan, please visit our membership page or contact Alana Chill at membership@dcminyan.org for more information. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!
You should have received an email from our treasurer with instructions on how to pay your membership dues. If you did not receive that email, please contact Aaron Malinoff at finance@dcminyan.org.
MAZAL TOV
Mazel Tov and thank you to Aaron Malinoff and Lilah Pomerance, our Chatan Torah and Kallat Bereshit, for their outstanding service and many contributions to DC Minyan. Click here to make a donation in their honor.
Mazal Tov to Becca Tanen and Jesse Rabinowitz on their aufruf and upcoming wedding!
Mazal Tov to Shari Feirman and Adam Stern on their wedding last weekend!
THANK YOU
Thank you to Jael Goldstein and Ilana Lasday for leading us in ruach filled Hakafot on Simchat Torah.
Thank you to Debbie Kobrin and Akiva Fishman for organizing kiddush and lunch over Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah. Also, thank you to the countless members of the community who helped set up, maintain, and clean up kiddush throughout the holidays.
Thank you to our Gabbai committee, Rebecca Gerr, Ben Solomon-Schwartz, Yael Nagar, Elliot Meiteles, Tamara Litwin, and Lara Chausow, for coordinating our daveners and leyners for High Holidays, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah. Yasher Koach!
BARUCH DAYAN HAEMET
DC Minyan extends our condolences to Shira Margol on the passing of her grandfather, Harry Wayne.