On Kinderlach and Communal Prayer
- Maria Cristina Lecerio
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
This is the third post in a series of 10 posts prior to the inaugural gathering of Minyan Midbar-Desert Minyan on Shabbat morning, April 25, 2026. RDG
As an advocate for the centrality of Shabbat in Jewish life, I have long championed the inclusion and participation of children whenever we gather on Shabbat—whether for communal prayer, sacred meals, or spirited table singing. When my children were very young, we would clear the dishes and pile pillows in the middle of the table so they could sit amidst the sounds of spiritual yearning. During my years as a congregational rabbi in Seattle, I introduced the custom of inviting all the children to the bimah to sing V’shamru in front of the congregation at the close of the Shabbat morning service. I also commissioned a woodworker in the congregation to build a prayerbook page announcer, which quickly became a joyful destination for pre–Bar and Bat Mitzvah children eager to “play the numbers” and help keep the congregation on the same page.
In all these efforts, my aim was to make prayer an intimate, loving, and engaging experience for children. Our prayer spaces should be warm and inviting—places where children feel welcome, valued, and at home.
That is why, from the very beginning, I hope that Minyan Midbar will not only be child‑friendly, but a place where children feel comfortable being in close proximity to spiritually engaged adults. To achieve this, I am working with parents to find meaningful ways for children and their families to participate fully in the life of the Minyan. One parent, Alix Lancaster, has graciously stepped forward to lead a children’s circle of song and story circle from 11:15 to 11:50 in the fellowship hall at UU SF. At the conclusion of our service, she will lead the children to the Bimah to sing V’shamru and to join us for the Adon Olam.
Through these shared moments, Minyan Midbar aspires to be a multigenerational Shabbat home—where the voices of children are woven naturally into the prayerful life of the community. I hope you will join us at our first service on April 25th.
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