Introducing Minyan Midbar-Desert Minyan

"The Jew does not stand alone before God; it is as a member of the community that one stands before God. Our relationship to God is not as an I to a Thou, but as a We to a Thou...."

"And yet—this we must never forget—prayer is primarily an event in the individual soul, an act of emanation, not only an act of participation. Even the worth of public worship depends on the depth of private worship, of the private worship of those who worship together. We are taught that the fate of humankind depends upon the conduct of one single individual—namely, you. That undoubtedly applies to what goes on in the house of worship." —Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Quest for God, pp. 45–46.

These words by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel serve as a motivation for the forming of the Minyan Midbar-Desert Minyan. We envision a traditional, highly participatory, egalitarian Shabbat morning prayer community. Services will be primarily in Hebrew, enriched by soulful group singing, with a triennial Torah reading with the traditional seven aliyot, and many opportunities for participants to contribute.

7 Founding Principles

Creating a distinctive and deeply moving Jewish prayer experience that does not currently exist in New Mexico.
Sustaining a strong commitment to inclusion and active participation at every stage of the service, while upholding the highest standards of excellence.
Planting the seeds of community by grounding our efforts in core Jewish spiritual, moral, and cultural values.
Reaching out to unaffiliated and disconnected Jews with a welcoming, accessible, and genuinely inclusive communal experience.
Welcoming families and children from the Minyan's inception by offering meaningful pathways for their participation.
Providing vigorous and stimulating Jewish learning opportunities that make the minyan inviting and accessible to people from all Jewish backgrounds.
Embracing hachnasat orchim — the sacred practice of welcoming guests — through Shabbat hospitality and shared meals.

Core Minyan Characteristics

A unique flow to services with a Kiddush "brunch and learn" between Shahrit (the morning service) and the Torah reading.
Volunteer-led with no over-reliance on rabbinic or cantorial leadership.
Non-denominational, welcoming Jews from all backgrounds.
Traditional Hebrew liturgy and strong grounding in Jewish prayer traditions.
A Sephardic style prayer space with the prayer leader facing forward.
A complementary Nigun Circle that will seed the musical signature of the Minyan.
A Page Announcer to help people follow the siddur and the service, avoiding page announcements.
Use of the Lev Shalem Shabbat and Festival prayerbook and its excellent commentary, readings, and helpful transliterations.
Use of the Etz Hayim Humash with its excellent commentary and easy navigation.