A Brief History of Minyan Tehillah 

In the fall of 2003, a small group of friends and acquaintances gathered together to discuss organizing a minyan in Cambridge, MA that would offer an uplifting and inclusive davaning experience.  A few weeks later, the first Shabbat morning service was held as a trial.  Without a name, a Torah of its own, or a membership list, the organizers anxiously wondered how it would fare.  Thrilled when some 70 people turned out for a beautiful, energetic tefillah, it was clear that a regular schedule of services should be set.

The immediate success of the minyan – soon to be named Minyan Tehillah - was partly due to the fact that it had grown out of Shirat Miriam.  This similar minyan met one Friday night a month for a spirited, "Carlbach-style" service, which followed Orthodox halachaha, while providing opportunities for women to lead parts of the service.  Cambridge was ready to expand this type of davaning to Shabbat mornings.

In addition, the North Charles Community Eruv had just been established.  Whereas Cambridge's religious community had long been composed primarily of singles and newly-married couples, this historic event provided couples with the possibility of remaining to raise families.  Now Cambridge's religious community was ready for a new self-sufficient minyan that functioned outside of university campus-life.

Finally, the minyan was founded shortly after the establishment of two successful, innovative minyanim; Darkhei Noam in New York and Shirah Chadasha in Jerusalem.  Among Cambridge's cosmopolitan, mobile population, many had spent time in Jerusalem and New York, where they had participated in these two minyanim.  Feeling deeply connected to their inclusive, halachic, spiritual tefillah, they had strong models to follow in establishing their own in Cambridge.

This confluence of forces, along with the energy, dedication and initiative of Minyan Tehillah's founders created great strength from the beginning.  Early on, services were held once a month on Shabbat mornings.  Over the years, the minyan has expanded its services.  Now, Minyan Tehillah meets twice a month for Shabbat morning services, and once a month for Friday evening services.  In addition, Minyan Tehillah meets for many holidays including Shavuot, Sukkot, Purim, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.