Conservative Egalitarian Minyan Charter
The Brandeis Conservative Egalitarian Minyan
Updated May 3, 2012
Purpose
The egal minyan is a traditional religious community that is fully egalitarian in terms of
participation. All major decisions, including but not limited to changes in the halakhic
and liturgical traditions of the minyan, are made by the members of the minyan.
Meetings
1. All Brandeis students who have attended at least one egal service during the current
academic year are members of the egal minyan
2. All major decisions of the minyan are to be made at an egal minyan meeting. The
quorum for such a meeting is 10 members. Decisions are made by majority rule.
3. The gabbaim must call meetings at least once each semester, and additionally as
needed or requested by members of the minyan. The minyan advisor may also call
minyan meetings.
Traditions
Liturgical Practices
The egal minyan uses the Siddur Sim Shalom. Shlihei Tzibur must follow the text in this
siddur unless changes have been approved by the minyan. Currently acceptable (but not
required) changes are:
1. Imahot - at the beginning of the `amidah: adding Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah in
any order, parallel to the avot. In the final sentence either Poqed, `Ezrat, or Magen Sarah
can be added after Magen Avraham. Changes would be keeping with structure of prayer.
2. Imahot - at all occurrences of the avot: adding mention of the Imahot whenever Avot
are mentioned in a parallel structure, except in quotations.
3. V'ishei Yisra'el - One may add v'ishei yisra'el back into the r'tzei paragraph of the
`amidah.
4. "Na`aseh v'naqriv" / "V'sham na`aseh l'fanekha et qorb'not hovoteinu" - One may
substitute these two phrases for their past tense counterparts in the Musaf Amidah for
Shabbat.
5. Ha`oseh li kol tzorki - One may substitute this line, present tense, for "She`asah li kol
tzorki," a past tense phrase.
6. Rabbi Yishma'el's Thirteen Midot - The Shaliach Tzibur may insert that paragraph
about the 13 ways to interpret Torah instead of those about G'milut Chasadim. Siddur
Sim Shalom chose selections for the study section in P'sukei D'zimra. This would be an
additional selection to chose from during that section. It is all said silently. Addition: To
substitute the traditional Y'hi Ratzon paragraph instead of the one in the Siddur Sim
Shalom. The traditional paragraph includes a wish to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
7. Ki va sus Par'o (At the end of Az Yashir) - One may add the next line from the Torah
(Ex 15:19) after Az Yashir.
8. V`al kol yoshvei tevel/Ba`olam - One may take these phrases out of Shalom Rav and
Sim Shalom. These phrases were added in the Siddur Sim Shalom, and are hard to fit into
traditional melodies. In terms of the theory of prayer that extends from the personal to the
community to the world, these additions upset that theory.
9. Tahanun - The Shaliah Tzibur may recite a Tahanun service from another siddur.
10. Amar Rabi El`azar - One may add this prayer about study between Ein Kelokeinu
and `Aleinu.
11. G'ulah - One may replace the word Go'el in the Avot paragraph of the Amidah with
G'ulah.
12. Morid ha-tal - One may add the words Morid ha-tal into the `amidah during those
parts of the year when one does not say mashiv ha-ruach u'morid ha-gashem.
13. Haverai n'varekh - One may use this phrase in the mezuman to the Birkat ha-Mazon.
14. T'filah L'shalom Hamedinah - The Minyan recites the full T'filah L'shalom
Hamedinah- (Prayer for the State of Israel), rather than the abridged version found in
Siddur Sim Shalom.
The minyan recites all of P'sukei D'Zimra.
The minyan recites one inclusive misheberach for both men and women, rather than two
separate ones.
The minyan recites the Prayer for Our Country (p. 415) in English. All other prayers are
recited in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.
The minyan allows for the recitation of a hatzi `amidah (heuche kedusha) at the
discretion of the gabbaim in consultation with the shaliah tzibur.
The minyan recites An'`im Z'mirot every Shabbat and Festival morning.
Halakhic Practices
The minyan does not count a sefer torah as part of the minyan under any circumstances.
The minyan calls kohen, levi, for the first two `aliyot, but does not differentiate between
men and women for those honors.
The minyan recites the full Torah reading, not triennial.
The gabbai recites mourner's kaddish at every appropriate occasion within the service,
even if no one in the minyan is reciting kaddish.
The minyan does not employ the services of a "shabbos goy."
Ana B’Koach is an acceptable addition to Kabbalat Shabbat
“V’al Kol yoshvei teivel” is an acceptable addition to the last line of the reader’s full kaddish
Gabbai Selection
1. At a minyan meeting, the minyan shall select a nominating committee. This committee
must include current gabbaim and other members of the minyan who are not interested in
becoming gabbaim.
2. The nominating committee shall inform the entire minyan about the selection process
and create a list of everyone interested in becoming gabbai.
3. The committee shall meet with all of the candidates, both individually and
collectively.
4. The committee shall nominate a slate of gabbaim and present that slate to the minyan
at a minyan meeting. The committee shall also specify the length of the term of each
gabbai nominated. This term may not exceed one year.
5. The minyan must approve the slate by a majority vote. Votes shall be cast by secret
ballot.
Gabbai Removal
1. Any member of the minyan may request that a gabbai or the advisor call a meeting for
the purpose of removing a gabbai.
2. If a gabbai or the advisor sees due cause for a vote of removal and feels that the
gabbai in question has received due warning and has had ample time to fix the perceived
problem, that gabbai or advisor shall call a minyan meeting.
3. The gabbai in question and the entire minyan must be notified that a vote to remove
the gabbai in question will be considered at the meeting.
4. During the meeting, the gabbai in question shall have the opportunity to respond to all
relevant accusations. The gabbai in question shall leave the room during the subsequent
discussion and voting.
5. The gabbai in question shall be removed by a two-thirds vote of all members of the
minyan present at the meeting.
Resolutions
The egalitarian minyan shall see to a session during the Fall 2004 Semester that will
address the halachot related to the amendment below and revisit a proposal to amend the
charter at the meeting at the end of said semester.
“Leaders and/or active participants must, for those sections of the service where it
is halachically appropriate, including (but not limited to): Shacharit, Musaf, Mincha,
Aliyot (including Hagba and G’lila) and P’ticha at Shacharit, Maariv on Shabbat, Yom
Tov, and Yamim Noraim, wear a tallit and a formal head covering. T’fillin must be worn
when leading weekday Shacharit.”
→This proposal was not adopted
Updates (12/09/07)
-Status quo regarding Tallit and Tefilin: Women are not obligated to wear a Talit when they lead things. During weekday minyan, women are not obligated to wear tefilin when they lead things. Men are expected to wear tefilin if they lead during the week. Men are expected to wear a talit if they are reading Torah or leading p’sukei, shaharit, musaf, or mincha, but for other parts of the service (e.g. opening the ark, kabalat shabbat, maariv) men do not need to wear a talit. Men are expected to wear kippot when they lead anything; women do not have to wear kippot when they lead things.
-Status quo regarding gabbai selection: The last two semesters, the Gabbai selection process has been more informal than in the past. We are looking to have the gabbai position be something special, and also make sure all the necessary jobs get done. Still, the gabbai selection committee presents a slate of gabbais at a minyan meeting near the end of the semester.
Updates/resolutions (02/02/08)
•The status quo regarding the first two aliyot was affirmed. This is the status quo: If there is a kohen present, s/he gets the first aliyah. If there is also a levi present, the levi gets the second aliyah. If there is [at least one] kohen present but no levi’im, then the kohen who gets the first aliyah also gets the second aliyah. If there is no kohen present—whether there is a levi present or not—the gabbaim have discretion regarding who gets the first two aliyot.
•In the event that a non-kohen gets the first aliyah, the gabbai calls that person up “bim’kom kohen” (in the stead of a kohen).
•If the first/only kohen arrives at minyan close to the beginning of the Torah reading, gabbaim are at their discretion as to whether to wait for the kohen and give him/her the first aliyah or not.
•The minyan has resolved that when Birkat Kohanim (“Duchenin,” “Nesiat Kapaim,” “the Priestly blessing”) is traditionally performed in the Diaspora, if there is/are kohan(im) present, Birkat kohanim is performed as directed by the Siddur Sim Shalom. For the purposes of our minyan, that means sukkot and sh’mini atzeret at musaf and simhat torah at shaharit; Birkat Kohanim is never said on Shabbat, even if there is a holiday coinciding with Shabbat.
•For all aspects of the minyan (aliyot, birkat kohanim), a “kohen” is defined as anyone (regardless of gender) whose father is/was a kohen, and a “levi” is anyone (regardless of gender) whose father is/was a levi.
Updated May 3, 2012
Purpose
The egal minyan is a traditional religious community that is fully egalitarian in terms of
participation. All major decisions, including but not limited to changes in the halakhic
and liturgical traditions of the minyan, are made by the members of the minyan.
Meetings
1. All Brandeis students who have attended at least one egal service during the current
academic year are members of the egal minyan
2. All major decisions of the minyan are to be made at an egal minyan meeting. The
quorum for such a meeting is 10 members. Decisions are made by majority rule.
3. The gabbaim must call meetings at least once each semester, and additionally as
needed or requested by members of the minyan. The minyan advisor may also call
minyan meetings.
Traditions
Liturgical Practices
The egal minyan uses the Siddur Sim Shalom. Shlihei Tzibur must follow the text in this
siddur unless changes have been approved by the minyan. Currently acceptable (but not
required) changes are:
1. Imahot - at the beginning of the `amidah: adding Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah in
any order, parallel to the avot. In the final sentence either Poqed, `Ezrat, or Magen Sarah
can be added after Magen Avraham. Changes would be keeping with structure of prayer.
2. Imahot - at all occurrences of the avot: adding mention of the Imahot whenever Avot
are mentioned in a parallel structure, except in quotations.
3. V'ishei Yisra'el - One may add v'ishei yisra'el back into the r'tzei paragraph of the
`amidah.
4. "Na`aseh v'naqriv" / "V'sham na`aseh l'fanekha et qorb'not hovoteinu" - One may
substitute these two phrases for their past tense counterparts in the Musaf Amidah for
Shabbat.
5. Ha`oseh li kol tzorki - One may substitute this line, present tense, for "She`asah li kol
tzorki," a past tense phrase.
6. Rabbi Yishma'el's Thirteen Midot - The Shaliach Tzibur may insert that paragraph
about the 13 ways to interpret Torah instead of those about G'milut Chasadim. Siddur
Sim Shalom chose selections for the study section in P'sukei D'zimra. This would be an
additional selection to chose from during that section. It is all said silently. Addition: To
substitute the traditional Y'hi Ratzon paragraph instead of the one in the Siddur Sim
Shalom. The traditional paragraph includes a wish to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
7. Ki va sus Par'o (At the end of Az Yashir) - One may add the next line from the Torah
(Ex 15:19) after Az Yashir.
8. V`al kol yoshvei tevel/Ba`olam - One may take these phrases out of Shalom Rav and
Sim Shalom. These phrases were added in the Siddur Sim Shalom, and are hard to fit into
traditional melodies. In terms of the theory of prayer that extends from the personal to the
community to the world, these additions upset that theory.
9. Tahanun - The Shaliah Tzibur may recite a Tahanun service from another siddur.
10. Amar Rabi El`azar - One may add this prayer about study between Ein Kelokeinu
and `Aleinu.
11. G'ulah - One may replace the word Go'el in the Avot paragraph of the Amidah with
G'ulah.
12. Morid ha-tal - One may add the words Morid ha-tal into the `amidah during those
parts of the year when one does not say mashiv ha-ruach u'morid ha-gashem.
13. Haverai n'varekh - One may use this phrase in the mezuman to the Birkat ha-Mazon.
14. T'filah L'shalom Hamedinah - The Minyan recites the full T'filah L'shalom
Hamedinah- (Prayer for the State of Israel), rather than the abridged version found in
Siddur Sim Shalom.
The minyan recites all of P'sukei D'Zimra.
The minyan recites one inclusive misheberach for both men and women, rather than two
separate ones.
The minyan recites the Prayer for Our Country (p. 415) in English. All other prayers are
recited in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.
The minyan allows for the recitation of a hatzi `amidah (heuche kedusha) at the
discretion of the gabbaim in consultation with the shaliah tzibur.
The minyan recites An'`im Z'mirot every Shabbat and Festival morning.
Halakhic Practices
The minyan does not count a sefer torah as part of the minyan under any circumstances.
The minyan calls kohen, levi, for the first two `aliyot, but does not differentiate between
men and women for those honors.
The minyan recites the full Torah reading, not triennial.
The gabbai recites mourner's kaddish at every appropriate occasion within the service,
even if no one in the minyan is reciting kaddish.
The minyan does not employ the services of a "shabbos goy."
Ana B’Koach is an acceptable addition to Kabbalat Shabbat
“V’al Kol yoshvei teivel” is an acceptable addition to the last line of the reader’s full kaddish
Gabbai Selection
1. At a minyan meeting, the minyan shall select a nominating committee. This committee
must include current gabbaim and other members of the minyan who are not interested in
becoming gabbaim.
2. The nominating committee shall inform the entire minyan about the selection process
and create a list of everyone interested in becoming gabbai.
3. The committee shall meet with all of the candidates, both individually and
collectively.
4. The committee shall nominate a slate of gabbaim and present that slate to the minyan
at a minyan meeting. The committee shall also specify the length of the term of each
gabbai nominated. This term may not exceed one year.
5. The minyan must approve the slate by a majority vote. Votes shall be cast by secret
ballot.
Gabbai Removal
1. Any member of the minyan may request that a gabbai or the advisor call a meeting for
the purpose of removing a gabbai.
2. If a gabbai or the advisor sees due cause for a vote of removal and feels that the
gabbai in question has received due warning and has had ample time to fix the perceived
problem, that gabbai or advisor shall call a minyan meeting.
3. The gabbai in question and the entire minyan must be notified that a vote to remove
the gabbai in question will be considered at the meeting.
4. During the meeting, the gabbai in question shall have the opportunity to respond to all
relevant accusations. The gabbai in question shall leave the room during the subsequent
discussion and voting.
5. The gabbai in question shall be removed by a two-thirds vote of all members of the
minyan present at the meeting.
Resolutions
The egalitarian minyan shall see to a session during the Fall 2004 Semester that will
address the halachot related to the amendment below and revisit a proposal to amend the
charter at the meeting at the end of said semester.
“Leaders and/or active participants must, for those sections of the service where it
is halachically appropriate, including (but not limited to): Shacharit, Musaf, Mincha,
Aliyot (including Hagba and G’lila) and P’ticha at Shacharit, Maariv on Shabbat, Yom
Tov, and Yamim Noraim, wear a tallit and a formal head covering. T’fillin must be worn
when leading weekday Shacharit.”
→This proposal was not adopted
Updates (12/09/07)
-Status quo regarding Tallit and Tefilin: Women are not obligated to wear a Talit when they lead things. During weekday minyan, women are not obligated to wear tefilin when they lead things. Men are expected to wear tefilin if they lead during the week. Men are expected to wear a talit if they are reading Torah or leading p’sukei, shaharit, musaf, or mincha, but for other parts of the service (e.g. opening the ark, kabalat shabbat, maariv) men do not need to wear a talit. Men are expected to wear kippot when they lead anything; women do not have to wear kippot when they lead things.
-Status quo regarding gabbai selection: The last two semesters, the Gabbai selection process has been more informal than in the past. We are looking to have the gabbai position be something special, and also make sure all the necessary jobs get done. Still, the gabbai selection committee presents a slate of gabbais at a minyan meeting near the end of the semester.
Updates/resolutions (02/02/08)
•The status quo regarding the first two aliyot was affirmed. This is the status quo: If there is a kohen present, s/he gets the first aliyah. If there is also a levi present, the levi gets the second aliyah. If there is [at least one] kohen present but no levi’im, then the kohen who gets the first aliyah also gets the second aliyah. If there is no kohen present—whether there is a levi present or not—the gabbaim have discretion regarding who gets the first two aliyot.
•In the event that a non-kohen gets the first aliyah, the gabbai calls that person up “bim’kom kohen” (in the stead of a kohen).
•If the first/only kohen arrives at minyan close to the beginning of the Torah reading, gabbaim are at their discretion as to whether to wait for the kohen and give him/her the first aliyah or not.
•The minyan has resolved that when Birkat Kohanim (“Duchenin,” “Nesiat Kapaim,” “the Priestly blessing”) is traditionally performed in the Diaspora, if there is/are kohan(im) present, Birkat kohanim is performed as directed by the Siddur Sim Shalom. For the purposes of our minyan, that means sukkot and sh’mini atzeret at musaf and simhat torah at shaharit; Birkat Kohanim is never said on Shabbat, even if there is a holiday coinciding with Shabbat.
•For all aspects of the minyan (aliyot, birkat kohanim), a “kohen” is defined as anyone (regardless of gender) whose father is/was a kohen, and a “levi” is anyone (regardless of gender) whose father is/was a levi.
