Who is the Minyan's Rabbi?
The Minyan's Rabbi is the rabbi of Temple Beth Am. No individual rabbi officiates at services. We do, however, have plenty of rabbis lurking. They're like movie stars at Junior's; just pretend they're like normal people and they won't bother you.

When do Services Begin?
Services start with Mishnah study at 9:25 each Shabbat and Brachot Hashachar at 9:45. Services begin 15 minutes early any day that Hallel is said, and occasionally will begin earlier. We announce any deviation from normal times at least one week in advance.

Who leads Services?
You lead services. We depend on our members to lead study sessions, read Torah, lead prayers and the like. It is one of the three cornerstones of the Minyan -- pay, come and serve.

What's the pay and come thing?
See "Who can join the Minyan" below.

When do Services End?
Who knows?

Who can join the Minyan?
The Minyan follows the rule of "pay, come and serve." Members must pay -- they must be members in good standing of Temple Beth Am. Members must come -- we expect members to attend services at the Minyan regularly, typically twice or more each month. And Members must serve - they must "give back" to the Minyan, by leading davening, giving divrei Torah, reading Torah or Haftorah, serving as gabbai, writing Minyan FAQs, and helping to arrange the many things that are required to keep the Minyan working.

Smachot at the Library Minyan
Many people ask if they can celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah, ufruf, baby naming or other celebration at the Library Minyan. We are always happy to share a simcha, and please let us know so that we can reserve an aliyah. As noted below, we are always willing to share a kiddush. However, if you want to celebrate a bar/bat mitzvah, you must be a member of the Minyan, and you must coordinate the bar/bat mitzvah with the Cantor’s office of Beth Am. If you want to celebrate by leading part of the service, please contact us. If you have a family member or friend whom you would like to honor by leading a portion of the service, definitely contact us -- it's important that they and you feel comfortable by knowing the Minyan customs.

Many questions have arisen about this standard. As noted above, we want to celebrate with all of Kahal Yisrael, and it is never a problem to recognize a simcha with an aliyah or another honor (ark opening, etc.). However, Minyan services have a particular style and content, and the reason for limiting smachot to members is out of respecet for the Minyan as a whole. There are few things that we enjoy more than seeing our children become bnei mitzvah and enter into our community, or to celebrate the weddings and births of our friends. The Minyan is not, however, a "rent-a-shul", and we have had some unfortunate experiences where neither the celebrants nor the regular Minyan members were able to experience the type of kavannah that we strive for.

Finally, while it seems a bit trite, it is a long-established and honored tradition in the Minyan to invite the kahal to a kiddush -- it doesn't have to be extravagant (although a little herring is nice), but kiddush is the time when we all finish the conversations we began in shul, and it helps support the concept of the Minyan as a community.

I don't know anybody, and everyone seems to know everyone else -- how come the Minyan is so unfriendly?
We hope the Minyan isn't unfriendly -- we want you to introduce yourself, and let us get to know you, so you can answer this question to the next person who comes around. Talk to the person next to you in shul (that's the true sign of a member!), ask questions, ask the gabbaim how you can participate, and pretty soon you'll be one of the best known members of the Minyan. If you would like hospitality for a Shabbat meal, please let us know and we will be delighted to make arrangements.

I would like to participate, but I don't know how -- what can the Minyan do to help?
The Minyan is part of Temple Beth Am, and as such each member of the Minyan (and just about everyone else) has access to the many learning opportunities at Temple Beth Am. I personally can recommend the classes led by Hazan Jeremy Lipton, who is a gifted teacher and Hazan, and who has taught many of us how to read Torah and Haftorah, how to daven various parts of the service, read Megilot, etc. For information, click on this link to Temple Beth Am's Web Page.

What's all this I hear about a Minyan Dress Code?
If you've heard it, it's not from me . . . although I do have an opinion on the subject (big surprise!). I will, however, content myself with this statement from Rabbi Joel Rembaum, the Senior Rabbi and Mara D'atra (Halakhic authority) of the Minyan: