LECHU NERANENA

Lechu Neranena, Lower Merion's partnership minyan, is dedicated to creating a spiritual and inclusive atmosphere within the framework of halacha. We encourage all members, regardless of gender or background, to actively participate in our services, but our main goal is to provide everyone with a wonderful tefillah. In our observant Zionist minyan committed to both halacha and equality, women often lead Kabbalat Shabbat, give Divrei Torah, receive aliyot and read Torah for the community. Lechu Neranena follows several prominent Orthodox rabbis who declare that the concept of כבוד הבריות, respect for all living creatures, allows and encourages women to take a more active role in the synagogue.

Lechu Neranena is a non-profit Pennsylvania corporation. The Lechu Neranena Board consists of: Hallie Chandler, Noah Gradofsky, Rafi Hamermesh, Carolyn Hochstadter, Susanna Ratner, Emilie Passow, Nistar Steinerman, and Matthew Weitzman

Lechu Neranena is a partnership minyan, dedicated to Torah Judaism and allowing women to participate in tefillot to the full extent allowed by halachah.  If you are interested in learning more about the halachot pertaining to partnership minyanim, here are some articles and sources:

• Guide for the Halachic Minyan by Elitzur A. and Michal Bar-Asher Siegal 
• Congregational Dignity and Human Dignity: Women and Public Torah Reading by Rabbi Daniel Sperber
• Qeri'at HaTorah by Women: A Halakhic Analysis by Rabbi Mendel Shapiro
• Some Rabbinic Sources on Women and Torah Reading compiled by Elana Sztokman
• "Dignity of the Congregation" as a Defense Mechanism: A Halakhic Ruling by Rabbi Joseph Messas by Avinoam Rosenak
• Feminism Encounters Traditional Judaism: Resistance and Accomodation by Tova Hartman
• Stretching the Boundaries of Orthodoxy by Michael Gordan

If you are unfamiliar with the tefillot and would like to hear audio files of traditional tunes, see the Mission Minyan website at: http://www.missionminyan.org/whattoexpect_music.php.