The Little Minyan is a small, dynamic, and evolving kehilla/community of individuals and families seeking spiritually meaningful and interactive approaches to Torah/learning, avodah/prayer, and gimilut chasadim/acts of loving-kindness. Through communal worship, educational programming, social action projects, holiday celebrations, and sharing smichot/joys and struggles, we are strengthened in our individual and collective Jewish journeys.
Our kehilla affiliated with the Reconstructionist Jewish Movement in 2009, because of our resonance with a Reconstructionist approach to Jewish values and practice and a desire to be a part of the voice of this growing movement. Our Spiritual Leader, Jessica K. Shimberg, is a rabbinic student, studying within Jewish Renewal (ALEPH – Alliance for Jewish Renewal), a post-denominational approach dedicated to renewing Jewish spiritual life through the cultivation of traditional practices such as meditation, chant, and prayer and the study of Kabbalistic and Hassidic sources to enhance both individual and communal practice.
We value the contributions of all Jewish movements to the rich fabric of “all-stream Judaism” and we welcome those voices in our worship, education, and general approach to community building. Our inclusivity makes our kehilla a welcoming environment for people with diverse life experiences and backgrounds. We use gender-neutral prayer language, egalitarian decision-making processes, and recognize and encourage all members’ contributions to the vibrancy of our kehilla.