Re: Women's Tefilah Groups

Masaltiel@aol.com
Tue, 12 Nov 1996 11:21:49 -0500

In a message dated 96-11-11 19:46:36 EST, Adam Szpiro wrote:
<<There are multiple dimensions to the religious significance of the
standard communal prayer service. Among these are the opportunities to
join in a Minyan and to say prayers such as Kaddish, etc. Perhaps equally
important, however, are such less tangible qualities as intensified
kavvanah, praying together with coreligionists (regardless of quantity or
gender), and creating a sense of human community. The latter values are
all too often neglected in male minyanim, as the former halakhic categories
take priority. But women's tefilah groups afford a unique opportunity to
emphasize the more human qualities of communal prayer.>>

Various shuls and organizations around Los Angeles have regular women's
gathering. For example, there are between 50 and 80 women every Shabbos
for a shiur [class] offered through the Yeshiva of Los Angeles. There are
between 40 and 60 women monthly for a Rosh Chodesh gathering of two shiurim
(one on halacha, one on hashkafa [philosophy]) and then singing -- and
sometimes dancing -- through Aish HaTorah. Many women gather weekly at the
home of one of the Yeshiva rebbetzins for tehillim [Psalms]. And there are
multiple other such gatherings. I dare say that all of the above go far,
and even much farther in promoting "a sense of human community" than
davening together.

As for "davening together with coreligionists (regardless of quantity or
gender)," what happened to regular minyonim? To make it truly independent
of gender, IMHO it seems like the traditional minyonim goes further than
all one-gender minyon.