Ritual Practices
Ritual Practices
The tefillah practices of Darkhei Noam reflect the minyan's commitment to finding opportunities for all members to play active roles in prayer within the framework of halakha.
Mechitza
Darkhei Noam’s mechitza is designed to create 3 separate domains: a davening space for men, a davening space for women, and a public ritual space in the center, which houses the Torah reading and provides a space for the ba’alai tefillah (the women and men who lead tefillah) to stand while leading davening.
Davening
Women lead the following services:
Kabbalat Shabbat
Pseukei D’Zimra
Torah Service
Yizkor
Hallel (except on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah)
Women always lead the first three services above, while men and women split leading Yizkor and Hallel. Men always lead Shacharit, Musaf, Mincha, and Maariv.
During the High Holidays, women are often paired with men to co-lead services, specifically the expanded piyutim. On Rosh Hashana a man and woman share the shofar blowing.
Younger boys and girls often lead the end of services.
Torah Reading
Men and women fully participate in kriyat haTorah (Torah reading) in the context of a traditional minyan of ten men. We divide the aliyot among various men and women each week. Similarly, men and women both partake in reading megilot.
A man and woman serve together as gabbaim during Torah reading. For the purpose of receiving aliyot, a woman is considered to be a yisrael.
Lifecycle Events
Lifecycle events for both men and women are marked at Darkhei Noam. New mothers and fathers often receive aliyot to mark the birth of a new child, which is often accompanied by a baby naming ceremony for girls. Boys and girls celebrate their bar and bat mitzvahs with the community, and brides and grooms receive aliyot as part of their aufruf weekend before marriage. Men and women both recite kaddish when in mourning or to mark the yahrzeit of loved ones.
Learning
Darkhei Noam is committed to providing as many venues as possible for the community to grow and learn. Every Shabbat morning there is a shiur given before davening begins and there is a dvar torah before Musaf. In addition, scholars are invited to learn with our minyan several times a year, offering the community opportunities for extended learning and discussions on various topics as well as communal meals with the scholars-in-residence.
Please view our Halakhic Resources page for more details regarding Darkhei Noam's ritual practices.
Ritual Tools
Darkhei Noam has developed a series of tools and handouts for use during services. We are happy to share these with other partnership minyanim.
General
Torah Aliyah Cards (set to print double-sided, cut, and laminated)
Torah Blessing Sheets, with half-kaddish and birkat gomel on the back
End of Davening Order, for children leading the end of services
Gabbai Booklets
Gabbai Tools - a 52-page booklet with public prayers, various misheberakhs for special occasions, and page announcements for holidays. Individual prayers can be printed as separate pages.
Gabbai Handbook - a 40-page booklet of ritual notes as to how Darkhei Noam operates, and a calendar guide for the year to help prepare for various shabbatot and holidays.
Holidays
Liturgy breakdown for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with potential women's roles in a co-leading model highlighted
Page number charts for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, listing various commonly used mahzorim
Reshuyot for Hatan/Kallat Torah and Hatan/Kallat Bereishit on Simchat Torah
Sat, September 23 2023
8 Tishrei 5784
Support Darkhei Noam
Friday Night
Candle Lighting : 6:24pm |
Kabbalat Shabbat : 6:30pm |
Shabbat Day
Shacharit : 9:00am |
Candle Lighting : 7:22pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Sep 23 DN Young Professionals' Book Club Shabbat, Sep 23 12:30pm |
Sep 24 Kol Nidre Sunday, Sep 24 6:20pm |
Sep 25 Yom Kippur Davening Monday, Sep 25 8:30am |
This week's Torah portion is Parshat Ha'Azinu
View Calendar
Volunteers to lead Services!
If you would like to volunteer to lead services, read from the Torah or give a Dvar Torah, please use our Leaders Form!
Join DN's Caring Community Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer with our Caring Community and help our community members -- including hospitality, supporting sick congregants and providing meals for new families -- fill out our Volunteer Form!
Join Darkhei Noam on WhatsApp
DN Chesed will be used to connect the community and alert members to volunteering opportunities.
Need a laugh? You'll find jokes, videos, memes and more at DN Comic Relief.
If you identify as a "Young Professional" in the Darkhei Noam community and are interested in connecting with others, join the newly formed Darkhei Noam YPs Whatsapp Group!
Are you a Tot Tefillah parent or do you want to start attending? Join the Tot Tefillah WhatsApp group to be in the know.
Pride at Darkhei Noam welcomes all LGBTQ+ members of DN to our group. We look forward to having exciting programming including social gatherings, educational events, and Chesed opportunities.
Email info@dnoam.org to request the sign-up links.