I want to invite you to Beth Tzedec to participate in our daily minyan. There are several reasons to participate in minyan. First and foremost three times a day our people have a tried and true approach to prayer. To being in God's presence and to expressing gratitude. In fact every day, every morning in our Tefillah. We recite Mizmor l'Toda, Psalm 100; a Psalm of Thanksgiving. It's an opportunity to cultivate what one of my teachers called an attitude of gratitude. So we come to Shul, we come to minyan in order to pray to experience God's presence and to cultivate that attitude of gratitude Mizmor l'Toda, a Psalm of Thanksgiving.
People also come to minyan because, a community, for two and a half years, We've missed the opportunity to be together. To feel each other's presence. To share our most intimate moments of Celebration and of Sorrow. Minyan is a place for that - especially for those who have suffered a loss or coming to remember a Yahrtzeit or for Yizkor coming to minyan is an opportunity to build community. Our daily breakfast accentuates that opportunity as people stay and schmooze and chat and get to know each other. Where lasting friendships are formed.
We also come to minyan in order to support those that have suffered a loss those who need to recite the sacred words of Kaddish. Our reaffirmation of faith in the face of loss. Kaddish can only be recited in the presence of a minyan; the presence of a community of 10 people in the same Sacred Space together. So come to minyan and help ensure that those who are here to recite Kaddish, either because they're in bereavement or they're observing Yahrtzeit will be able to do so.
Finally, we come to minyan because it's a mitzvah. Our tradition speaks in the language of responsibility and one of the essential responsibilities that a Jewish Community has is to ensure a place of Prayer. For those that need to pray either to uplift their Spirits in Thanksgiving. Or to be reaffirmed at a time of loss. It's incumbent upon all of us to ensure that Beth Tzedec, our house of justice is also a Beit Tefillah; a House of Prayer.
Not just the physical space, though that's beautiful and important, but even more important is the communal space. A minyan of 10 people coming together to express our commitment to Jewish tradition and to Jewish values. And to accentuate and uplift our prayers in Devarim Shebekedusha - those prayers that require 10 people to pray.
So come and join me at Beth Tzedec for our daily minyan every morning and every evening. We look forward to welcoming you.
