An Update on Minyan Midbar
Dear Friends,
I would like to update you on Minyan Midbar, an initiative to foster an independent Shabbat minyan in New Mexico.
Minyan Midbar resumed meeting on Friday evening, November 6, with a Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by a Shabbat dinner. We also offered an early Shabbat program for young families. Attendance was strong throughout the evening. Minyan co-founder Rabbi Jack Shlachter, pictured above, joined me and shared a thoughtful and inspiring D'var Torah.
A Brief History
Minyan Midbar was founded by Rabbi Jack Shlachter, Andrew Grossman, and me in early 2026. We envisioned a Jewish prayer community rooted in participatory worship, soulful singing, and meaningful Torah learning.
The minyan combines a traditional approach with an inclusive spirit. We are committed to the full and equal participation of women and men. Our services use the Conservative siddur Lev Shalem, which honors the Hebrew language while remaining accessible to those with limited Hebrew skills. We are also strongly committed to creating a welcoming environment for families and children of all ages.
Read more about the philosophy of Minyan Midbar HERE.
During its first phase, the minyan met jointly with HaMakom in Santa Fe on Shabbat mornings during the spring. Following a summer break, Minyan Midbar became an independent congregation under the auspices of Shabbat with Friends. While benefiting from SWF's nonprofit status, the minyan will maintain its own identity and leadership. We are currently building a leadership team that will operate independently of the SWF Board.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to develop, we would like to experiment with meeting twice each month:
First Friday Evening of the Month
Kabbalat Shabbat service
Shabbat dinner
Early Shabbat program for young families
Third Shabbat Morning of the Month
Soulful Shacharit service
Kiddush brunch and learning session
Torah service and Torah reading
Children's programming and childcare integrated into the morning experience
Our next gathering will be Friday, December 4, which coincides with the first night of Hanukkah. Our first Shabbat morning gathering will take place on Saturday, December 19.
For now, we will continue meeting in the community room at Olympus de Santa Fe, 955 Richards Avenue.
Minyan Midbar Schedule Through February 2027
Friday, December 4 – Kabbalat Shabbat and First Night of Hanukkah/Shabbat Dinner
Saturday, December 19 – Shabbat Morning Service
Friday, January 1 – Kabbalat Shabbat and Secular New Year, Shabbat Dinner
Saturday, January 16 – Shabbat Morning Service
Friday, February 5 – Kabbalat Shabbat, Shabbat Dinner
Saturday, February 20 – Shabbat Morning Service
Help Shape the Future of Minyan Midbar
At this important stage in our development, we are seeking both input and volunteers to help build the Minyan Midbar community. We are especially looking for individuals interested in serving on a leadership team and helping organize various aspects of our programming and operations.
To that end, we invite you to an Organizing Meeting:
Sunday, November 22 |6:30-8:00 p.m.
The meeting will be offered in a hybrid format:
In person: Shabbat with Friends Office, CoLab, 1807 2nd Street, Unit 40, Santa Fe
Online: Via Zoom
We welcome your thoughts, ideas, and feedback about Minyan Midbar. Please feel free to contact me directly with questions or suggestions.
B'vracha,
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
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