Participate in Services

Getting Acquainted with the Service

The structure and choreography of services can seem daunting but truly need not be. If you are looking for an explanation of what goes on during services and why, please email the Gabbai Commitee at gabbai@dcminyan.org. You can also familiarize yourself with the tunes we use by listening to the audio files in the links below.

Leading Services

Are you interested in leading services, reading Torah, or participating in our minyan in any other way? Whether you are new to DC Minyan, visiting for the summer, or have been attending for a while, please contact the Gabbai Committee at gabbai@dcminyan.org.

The Gabbai Committee is always happy to hear from those who would like to participate in services, and the gabbaim (ritual coordinators) make every effort to respond to everyone who volunteers. If you are leading services or reading Torah, haftarah, or megillah at DC Minyan for the first time, even if you have led or read in other communities, a gabbai will review your portion with you at least one week in advance. DC Minyan participants possess a wide range of skills and experience, and this policy exists to ensure quality in DC Minyan services.

Looking for someone to teach you how to lead services or read Torah if you don’t already have these skills, or if you need to brush up on your skills? We would be happy to help you! There are DC Minyan members who volunteer to help others learn or improve these skills. Please email gabbai@dcminyan.org, and we will match you up with a teacher.

Our gabbaim have gathered many useful resources if you are looking to lead services or just familiarize yourself better with the service, including when to sing, when to chant, how to stand, and lots more. There is also a large selection of audio files with the prayer services.

• Guides for leading Shabbat services, and audio files of Shabbat davening
• Audio files for High Holiday davening
• Resources for reading Torah

Give a Dvar Torah or Dvar Tefillah

A Dvar Torah is a brief talk about the weekly Torah portion and a Dvar Tefillah is a brief talk about a selected prayer. This page contains some resources to help you prepare to present one of these at DC Minyan services. Email dt@dcminyan.org if you are interested in giving a Dvar Torah.

How can I get an aliyah?

We would love to honor you with an aliyah (being called up to the Torah)! If you would like an aliyah, please let one of the gabbaim know on Shabbat morning before the Torah service begins or by email in advance of Shabbat. In addition, if you would like an aliyah in honor of a special occasion, please be sure to email the Gabbai Committee in advance of your requested date. We usually have over 100 people at Shabbat morning services, and there are a limited number of honors to give out each time. However, it is certainly not our intention to overlook anyone in particular! Since we cannot always remember who has been given aliyot in the past, we need your help in letting us know if you haven’t received an honor. One easy way to get an aliyah is to come to services on the early side (hint hint…).