the 8:45 experiment

[marc hirschfeld]

I want to ask everyone on this list to come to the 8:45 minyan at shomrei this week. The reason: to see if we as a group can be happy in a place that we dont particularly like as individuals but maybe as a group we will be happy. I already have committments from a bunch of people (i think around 15 people but i am not 100% sure). I spoke to rabbi lopianski and he likes the idea, I also spoke to the assistant Rabbi of Shomrei who also likes the idea. One of the ideas that i had was for everyone to come early and take over a section of the minyan but Rabbi lopianski frowned on that idea and thought that a better unifying concept should be no talking during davening or put a little extra cavanh into the tefilah. I think we should do both. I dont know what the result of the experiment will bring but i would like to offer everyone to come over to my house to discuss what we like and what we dont like (baalei tefilah, bal koreh, time of the minyan, too much talking, too little davening) and we can also discuss solutions. Maybe there will be no solution but who cares we have nothing to lose I know that many of you are unhappy so lets just do something about it. If you don't want to come to the minyan and/or are upset about the concept please call me at 917 952 6948. also please feel free to pass this email along to anyone that you think might be interested.

[Jacob S. Frenkel]

What you are trying to accomplish is what I sought to accomplish when I agreed, a number of years ago, to be Gabbai Rishon at the 845 minyan. I woud be happy to share my experiences if you will find them helpful.

Jacob Frenkel (sent from a PDA)

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[marc hirschfeld]

First off, thank you to everyone that came to the 8:45 minyan today, i know how hard it was for each of you and i know many of you did it just for me, so i thank you. As for the people that were unable to make it, I missed you and hopefully we can try the experiment again in the near future with more input from other members. That being said I think that there were successes and disappointments this weekend. First on the success side, we had close to 15 people that showed up and davened in all corners of the main shul. Eitan Katz davened a very nice shachris and the baal koreah was excellent. The mishebarachs were not so long and the gabbai offered pesichah to sam and shishi to Matt (matt refused and passed the card to me). The members of the shul did not appear to feel threatened by our group and seemed interested in getting to know us. The guy next to yaakov cohen asked him if he just moved into the community. the gabbai came over to me and asked what he could do to accomodate. Rabbi rosenbaum called some of the members after shabbos to thank them for coming. I believe there is a genuine desire on shomrai's part to accomodate our needs.

 

On the dissapointment side, I think the key problem was that the members of the group did not feel any connection to any of the other members and reverted back to their old aversions of shomrai. one person who was in attendance expressed shock that so and so was there from our group because it was very hard to figure out who was a part of the group. I guess it is easier for the regular members of the 845 minyan to see who is not a regular member than for us to come and try to figure out who is part of the group and who isnt. the baal musaf dragged on a little bit but he did daven a beautiful kedushah, the announcements were excrutiating and the portion of the davening after shemonah esrei dragged on. Pesukai dezimrah wasnt particularly special. the space in between the benches is too short and it is impossible to sit comfortably especially for the guys that sat in the front row on the left side, there were some women singing loudly and the half dead crowd of regulars only seemed to perk up at me chamocha right before shachris shemoneh esrai and when they took out the torah.

 

I didnt feel it was terrible and i believe that the above problems can each be addressed. Is there potential? absolutely! if we got 15 people to come in two days notice we can probably get another 15-20 for the next time. Please feel free to call me with any concerns or ideas about these emails 917 952 6948