T'filah

Students attend t’filah twice each day, in the morning for shacharit, and in the afternoon for mincha. Our minyan is conducted by the students. Eighth grade students serve as gaba’im, ba’alay korim and chazanim. Sixth and seventh grade students also lead the minyan as chazanim and other kibudim during t’filah. Students are guided and coached by faculty members to partake in leadership roles and encouraged to daven with the proper respect for t’filah and for a Beit Knesset. A d’var Torah is delivered by one of the faculty on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, giving students food for thought relating to t’filah or the parshat hashavua.

On Rosh Chodesh students participate in a special t’filah with singing and ruach. Occasionally there is a separate girls t’filah with singing and music as well.

Various parts of the t’filah are recited in unison. This helps students become more familiar with the words and reciting them meticulously. As part of our curriculum, classes are given on be’ur t’filah, kriah, hilchot t’fila and navigating the siddur. These lessons give students an appreciation of the importance and relevancy of t’filah in their lives. The lessons also ease the transition of sixth grade students who are now part of a minyan and improve their skills.

Students also share their bar or bat mitzvah celebration in our minyan by leading the t’filah or sharing a d’var Torah with their teachers and peers.