Minutes of Vaad Menahel meeting - November 3, 2005

Present: Penina Arbit, Randi Garber (co-chairpersons), Kobi Abelman, Jody Blum, Warren Burstein, Dov Cooper, Esther Edell, Orit Elgavi, Yonni Hammer-Kossoy, Bobbie Silberklang, Debbie Weissman. Philip Yakar (Administrator)

Observers: Dannie Kahan, Daniel Rohrlich, Dina Weiner, Dov Rabinovich.

Apologies: Donna Goldberg, Neil Pearlman.

Shmirah

Hershey Katz sent a letter outlining issues related to shmirah which are whether there is a necessity for an armed or unarmed presence at the entrance (there is no legal requirement for us to do so and many shuls in the neighborhood have stopped their shemira) and the fact that the burden of the shmira rotation now falls on 8 people who often do 2 or three toranuyot a month.

Four options were suggested (by Hershy):

• Recruit new people to enlarge the current dwindling group,
• Employ a paid guard,
• Post unarmed people at the entrance,
• Cancel all security arrangements (as have many places).

The vaad members who are also shomrim, agreed with the recommendation to discontinue the armed presence at the door, though felt that an unarmed presence would still be useful (not only for security reasons). The vaad decided to let the kehilla weigh in on the need for a presence at the door by appealing for new volunteers for either armed or unarmed presence, and based on the response to make a final decision. A toranut for opening and closing will also have to be developed.

Chagei Tishrei

Comments were received as follows.

Overall, all ran well.

Tefilot

• Problems were caused by baalei t'filah cancellations. There is a need to enlarge the number of potential shlichei tzibbur.
• T'filot on Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah should begin earlier, at 8:00, or even 7:45.
• There were baalei kriah who have not fully mastered the special trop.

Seating

• The seating chart should be finalised earlier and there be closer coordination between Penina and Warren.
• Chairs should have numbers stuck on them and not names. This would save sticking labels on twice.
• A flier should be put up at Pardess early in September to save last minute requests for seats.
• There should be a way of saving seats so that parents who go out during t'filot do not return to find their seats taken.

Yom Kippur

• For Kol Nidrei the Sifrei Torah should be held off the bimah.
• The toranut with the children on Yom Kippur was not effective. On Kol Nidrei night children should be better supervised to prevent noise.
• Need to close the acoustic door on Yom Kippur. How much would it cost to put a door in the acoustic wall?
• Need to check timing of t'filot on Yom Kippur.
• Announcements should be made before Neilah, not at the end.
• Chairs should be removed before Neilah, to make room for dancing etc. at the end.
• Start earlier to enable a longer break.
• People should be advised that bringing food to Shul on Yom Kippur (for the end of the fast) is strictly forbidden.

Sukkot

• Sukkot, no metal chairs upstairs, since they do not stack.
• Hoshanot need to be better organized. Vaad Minhag will give their considered opinion.
• Sukkah There should be help in taking down the Sukkah. Teens should help build the Sukkah and younger kids decorate it.
• Can the D'var Torah on Sukkot be given before Hallel? Vaad Haminhag to be asked to consider this.
• There should be no Kiddush in the Sukkah on Shmini Atzeret.
• Kohellet -The Vaad Minhag v'Halacha will discuss the reading of Kohelet and make recommendations.

Simchat Torah

• On Simchat Torah many of the "more serious males" were at the early minyan, causing problems at the main service.
• Guidelines should be prepared for Simchat Torah gabbaiyot.
• A sub-committee will be set up to discuss Simchat Torah issues – members, Pinchas Leiser, Yoni Hammer-Kossoy, Dory Ouaknin, Dinah Weiner, Yitzchak Avigad. To be coordinated by Penina Arbit.
• Need for order at womens' readings, no spur-of-the-moment readers, only those who read the whole reading or their own aliyah.
• Announce chatanim and kallot earlier.
• For the Hakafot a list, and order, of songs should be prepared. The Gabbaiyot need to meet in advance, and there should be no 'dead time' waiting for the Kallot to come downstairs.
• The mistakes by readers should be corrected and not passed over.
• The four t'fillot should be read and not omitted on Simchat Torah.

Children's Readings

• There need to be two Sifrei Torah for the children. This should be discussed with Yitzchak Avigad and Donna Katkoff-Goldberg before next year.
• The children could not be heard – need to change direction of the reading.
• Kids should not say barchu at the children's reading.. This should be referred to the Vaad Minhag.

General

• There is a need for an "operating manual" for the Chagim, to include what needs to be done and by whom, e.g. taking out and returning machzorim to shelves, building clean-up on 2-day chagim, clarifying the issue of post-Neilah drinks, supervision of kids, laundering of kittels, insuring borrowed Sifrei Torah.
• S'lichot Shiur, need for a clear time-frame.
• The early minyan on Rosh Hashanah was good.
• Need for a systematic plan for all shiurim and divrei Torah for the whole month, from S'lichot to Shmini Atzeret.
• Too much noise on Rosh Hashanah, divrei Torah inaudible.
• The t'filat horim (at Yizkor time) was successful.
• The pot-luck lunch should be on Shabbat Shuvah or not at all.
• Chairs have to be straightened between t'fillot.

Hashkamah Minyan Shabbat

Agreed there be a 3 month trial, once a month, at 6:45. After that period we will evaluate its impact on the 8.30 minyan.

Use of building by school

Agreed to allow the T'hilah School to use the building, price to be worked out. There will be a time limit. Members' events will take precedence. The school will be responsible for cleaning.

Drama chug

A new member has asked to open a chug once a week for children. The usual rental conditions will apply, and insurance taken care of.

Torah reading

Tzvi Ariel suggests that a pre-bar/bat mitzvah hold the yad during readings. The Gabbaim have raised objections mainly due to crowding on the bima. In principle it would only be done if the reader is agreeable. Also potential yad holders will be asked to prepare for the task. Approved for a trial period (reevaluation at the end of December).

New Ner Tamid

Reservations were expressed about the design. The chairpersons will meet with the artist.

Finance

Approved:

• Two new drawers for book-cases, 1600 NIS + VAT.
• Two rimonim holders for upstairs bimah, 800 NIS + VAT.
• Up to 4000 NIS for a ladder.

Date of next meeting

05.12.05, at 20:00.

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