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- Rights and Responsibilities of Membership
WELCOME
We are a self-sustaining, traditional, egalitarian community, within an established synagogue that houses several minyanim. Our members then to be Jewishly-educated, comfortable with Hebrew (services are mostly in Hebrew), and many are liturgically-trained.
Joining M'at means getting involved in the minyan and in the shul. Come visit and see what we're all about. Ask to speak with a membership chair or a member of the "Troika" (the three member leadership committee) at kiddush.
WHO WE ARE
Minyan M'at grew from a group of people who were involved in the havurah movement and in Jewish feminism. Since 1979, the original group has grown into a participatory davening community of over 150 households, in which members are committed to serious engagement with text, tradition, prayer, and one another.
We continue to strive to create a mikdash m'at -- a (small) sacred community and, at the same time, retain many of the characteristics of a small and close-knit group that is chevra, a sense of being an ongoing part of each other’s lives.
Three members serve as a troika for a year or two at a time in order to provide an administrative structure for general operations.
There is no designated rabbi as leader. We rely on our many members who are well-versed in Jewish texts and tradition to offer practical guidance in halachic matters and with life-cycle events.
Members of Minyan M'at participate actively, so that the Minyan functions not only as an institution but also -- far more important -- as a community.
There are many ways to participate in the Minyan:
- Automatic assignment for Kiddush rotation – usually once or twice a year together with several other members
- If you have liturgical skills, you can lead davening, deliver divrei Torah, leyn, chant haftarot and hamesh megilot, and serve as gabbaim. Minyan members are available to help those who wish to acquire these skills.
- Coordinate any of the above assignments
- Teach at the Shavuot Tikkun
- Usher at a simcha or at High Holiday services
- Utilize your dramatic abilities in the Purim spiel (together with the shul)
- Serve on the Troika (the Minyan's three-person administrative committee).
- Work with the larger Ansche Chesed community on social services, i.e. blood drive, coats for the homeless drive, adult education; fundraising, etc.
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We also have a chevra kadisha, provide meals for mourners, and of course, attend shiva minyanim.
E-mail keeps us in touch. Our e-mail list for M’at members is a boon to help us get out news about members, trade our Kiddush assignments, ask for help and in many other ways to function as a community.
RELATIONSHIP WITH ANSCHE CHESED
As all M’at members are also members of the Ansche Chesed, we enjoy the benefits of belonging to a large established community as well as belonging to a participatory chavurah where “getting involved” enables you get to know other minyan members. Many members of the minyan are actively involved in the larger Ansche Chesed community, providing leadership and vision for various aspects of synagogue life and governance. They serve on the shul executive committee, strategic planning committee, fundraising and activity committees, as well as teach classes. We get to enjoy and participate in shul-wide activities, such as the Hanukkah Arts Festival, learning opportunities, morning minyan, family and singles programs and volunteering in the homeless shelter.
Members of the minyan must also be members of Ansche Chesed which has a sliding scale dues structure based on income. Minyan dues are currently $50 per adult in the household and $25 per post bar/bat-mitzvah child living at home. Information about membership in the shul can be obtained by calling the AC office at 212-865-0600.