Among the ongoing innovations of the burgeoning Jewish community of Teaneck/Bergenfield is the upcoming “Kavana Minyan” to be held monthly on Sunday mornings at rotating venues. Originating out of the Young Israel of Teaneck, members saw a need for a slower-paced minyan that would allow daveners an opportunity to focus more closely on the tefillot in the hope of adding more understanding and meaning to their daily recitation.
In pursuing this vision, local shuls were approached and asked to appoint individuals who would serve as the “point men” in their congregations to assess the interest and anticipated participation of their congregants.
David Schwartz, president of the Young Israel of Teaneck, elaborated on the origins of the Kavana Minyan. “There were multiple members of the Young Israel of Teaneck who were interested in a forum like this, and upon inquiring we found strong receptivity at many of the other shuls as well. It seems like an idea that is long overdue: to simply provide enough time, if only once monthly, to actually understand what the words of the tefillot we are saying. Fortunately, in Teaneck/Bergenfield we are lucky enough to have a large pool of daveners across many shuls to be able to glean a self-selecting critical mass of those interested in getting together for such an opportunity,” he said.
The initial Kavana Minyan session has been planned for Sunday morning, April 7, at 8 a.m., and will be scheduled for one complete hour, until 9 a.m. The first host shul will be Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, where it will take place in the Old Main shul. To date, 13 community shuls have expressed interest in joining, supporting or hosting the monthly minyan including Ahavat Shalom, Bais Medrash of Bergenfield, Beth Aaron, Beth Abraham, Bnai Yeshurun, Jewish Center of Teaneck, Keter Torah, Netivot Shalom, Ohr HaTorah, Rinat Yisrael, Shaare Tefillah, Young Israel of Teaneck and Zichron Mordechai.
In announcing the formation of the Kavana Minyan, an email went out from all the shuls involved explaining the raison d’etre behind the innovation. “The objective of this minyan is very simple, if ‘revolutionary.’ It will provide those interested in an opportunity, just once monthly, to daven at a slow-enough pace as to enable them to better understand the meaning of the tefillot.”
The email continues, “More specifically, the minyan will target a 60-minute, rather than 35-minute Shacharit, for regular Sunday morning davening.The minyan is scheduled to meet only on regular Sundays, not including Rosh Chodesh or fast days.There will be no extraneous changes or additions to the davening such as singing, speeches or extra responsive readings. The key will be that approximately twice as much time will be allocated to the recitation of the tefillot from Baruch She’amar through Shir Shel Yom, allowing for more attention and comprehension.”
The threefold benefits of the new minyan were outlined as follows:
To re-acquaint us with the words that we say every day that we may not have had an opportunity to fully understand.
To provide us with a fulfilling davening with kavana, without the sense of rushing that we may experience at our daily minyanim.
To enhance our everyday davening through the hope that we garner a new understanding and appreciation of the verses that will remain with us on a daily basis.
David Hes, who is serving as the point man for Congregation Beth Aaron, offered, “I see the new monthly minyan as an opportunity to add new meaning and understanding to our daily tefillot and thus enhance them greatly, whether we are seasoned or beginning daveners.”
Rabbi Pruzansky, who will be hosting the initial Kavana Minyan, shared, “This is a wonderful opportunity not just to daven but to think about the davening, understand the davening and internalize the davening.”
There will always be a women’s section at the Kavana Minyan. Those interested in participating are asked to email [email protected].
By Pearl Markovitz
