Coordinator Guidelines

There are a variety of tasks besides davening and leyning that must be done for each service. This page provides a description of these tasks and guidelines for the people who coordinate them.

Davening Coordinator
On-Site Person
Leyning Coordinator
D’var Torah Coordinator
Kiddush Coordinator

Davening Coordinator

The Davening Coordinator is responsible for:

  • Finding people to lead P’sukei D’Zimrah, Shacharit, and Musaf for Shabbat, Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot.
  • Reminding the daveners of the davening timing guidelines.
  • Consulting the luach for anything nonstandard (such as Rosh Hodesh) and alerting the daveners. If in doubt, contact the meta-coordinator and check the luchot online at the Orthodox Union and Chabad. (Boston is 42°20′ N 71° W = 42.33° lat, -71° long).
  • Finding someone as an ‘on-site person’.

Encourage members to sign themselves up on the Minyan Davening google docs spreadsheet.

Note: It’s easier to get members to participate by calling or emailing them directly, rather than sending a mass email to the entire Minyan. Mass emails should be reserved for emergencies.

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On-Site Person

The On-Site Coordinator is responsible for:

  • Finding two gabbi’im to assist the Torah readers. The Gabbai Rishon also calls out the names of people receiving aliyot and recites the Mi She-Berakh blessing and any other special prayers required during the Torah reading. The Mi She-Berakh texts are printed on full-size laminated sheets.
  • Distributing the seven aliyot (including maftir) during the service. You can give the small laminated aliyah cards on the ring to daveners volunteering or selected for aliyot.
  • Finding a magbiah and gollel (the lifter and dresser of the Torah).

The aliyah cards and Mi She-Berakh sheets are stored in a box that the Setup person should take out of the closet and place at the front of the room.

If a second Torah scroll is used: You need to find someone to remove the tallit and carry the second Torah when the ark is opened during services.

Note: It is our custom not to give consecutive aliyot to immediate relatives.

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Leyning Coordinator

The Leyning Coordinator is responsible for:

    • Finding people to read all aliyot and the haftarah. The default leyning guide (for shabbat only) is the KTAV Tikkkun. If you have a different tikkun, consult with someone who has the KTAV. Confirm the beginning and end of each reading with each reader.
    • Checking the luach for special Torah or Haftarah readings.
    • Co-ordinating with the Setup person if a second Torah is needed to ensure that the 2nd Torah is in its place and rolled to the correct section.

To be fair to those needing time to prepare, start making arrangements (contacting people at least two weeks in advance

Note: It’s easier to get members to participate by calling or emailing them directly, rather than sending a mass email to the entire Minyan. Mass emails should be reserved for emergencies.

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D’var Torah Coordinator

The D’var Torah Coordinator is responsible for finding people to give a d’var Torah for:

  • Shabbat
  • Friday night pot-luck services
  • Sukkot
  • Pesach
  • Shavuot

To be fair to those needing time to prepare, start making arrangements (contacting people) at least two weeks in advance

Note: It’s easier to get members to participate by calling or emailing them directly, rather than sending a mass email to the entire Minyan. Mass emails should be reserved for emergencies.

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Kiddush Coordinator

The Kiddush Coordinator is responsible for:

  • Finding people to shop for kiddush for Shabbat.
  • Finding people to setup kiddush on Shabbat.

Guidelines for  shopping for and setting up kiddush are here.

Note: It’s easier to get members to participate by calling or emailing them directly, rather than sending a mass email to the entire Minyan. Mass emails should be reserved for emergencies.

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