Who We Are
Minyan Dorshei Derekh (“Seekers of a Way”) is a spiritually joyous, intellectually curious, and politically progressive Jewish community, one of the three davening (prayer) groups that meet on Shabbat and Holiday mornings at GJC (see also Charry Service and Minyan Masorti).
Our minyan, an affiliate of Reconstructing Judaism, is home to people of many different backgrounds, reflecting the rich diversity of Northwest Philadelphia and beyond.
Dorshei Derekh prizes a joyous, participatory, egalitarian style of davening, showcasing our members’ talents, energies, and perspectives.
We especially appreciate the contributions of new members, who bring their own traditions and innovations to our community. We also encourage our members to keep learning and sharing new skills, and in that spirit conduct periodic workshops and classes for those interested in broadening their participation as well as pursuing social justice.
How We Pray
We rely on the educational, liturgical, and organizational contributions of our members to lead our services and keep our minyan running.
We use Kol Haneshamah, the Reconstructionist siddur (prayer book), which many members of our minyan helped to create. Our services are often enhanced by songs and English readings from other sources.
The first half of our service features lively singing, occasionally accompanied by instruments.
We read Torah on a triennial cycle, divided into three aliyot.
Members present each week’s D’var Torah/discussion, presentations that are text-based, creative, and intellectually stimulating, encouraging a lively response.
We are a child-friendly minyan.
What We Envision
We have a strong sense of community engendered not only by our gathering together for prayer and learning but also by our performing the mitzvot (commandments, good deeds) of caring for and supporting each other.
We are intentional about becoming more genuinely and effectively anti-racist through programming and dialogue that encourages self-examination— and through personal and community actions that lead to healing past harms. We recognize that this work is ongoing and strive to be humble, respectful, and caring in our efforts to carry it out.
We also recognize that our spiritual richness has been enhanced by the variety of our members’ life experience and identities and strive to further enhance this richness by reaching out to engage more people from variously structured families; from diverse educational, work, and life backgrounds; of all racial, sexual, and gender identities; and with differently abled bodies.
What We Do (Shabbat & Holidays)
Our Shabbat services are held in GJC’s Maslow Auditorium starting at 10:00 am and ending around 12:15 pm – followed by a kiddush/schmooze!
We also meet on the following holidays:
- Rosh Hashanah
- Yom Kippur
- Sukkot (first day),
- Erev and Morning Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
- Pesach (first and seventh days, in keeping with Reconstructionist and Israeli practice).
Getting Involved
For special events, ways to get involved, and news of our minyan and community leaders, please check out our url at: minyandorsheiderekh.org.
For Dorshei Derekh minyan membership information, download this membership form. To be a full member of Dorshei Derekh and vote at our quarterly meetings, membership at Germantown Jewish Centre is required. See Membership for more information about joining GJC.
How to Contact Us
http://www.minyandorsheiderekh.org/ includes a roster of our leadership, with email addresses. Thanks!