Ritual Opportunities for Women
MTJFC feels there are halachikally sanctioned opportunities for Women to engage in services and synagogue life. This page serves as a clearinghouse for the varied ways women engage throughout the year. Please reach out to the Rabbi and Gabbaim/Gabbaiiot to find out more about spiritual opportunities the MTFJC has to offer women in our community.
Selected Opportunities
Shabbat - Mechitzah Seating, Torah Carrying, Mi Shebeirach Recitation, Singing, Me-Drash/She-Drash
Holidays - Shofar Makri, Reading of the any of the 5 megillot, Women's Hoshanot on Sukkot with Lulav and Etrog; Women's Hakafot with Torah on Simchat Torah;
Bat Mitzvah Options: Women's-led Shabbat morning Torah Reading service[Kriat Nashim] from the main sanctuary; Shabbat Afternoon Shira Chadasha/Halachik Egalitarian Tefillah;Kabbalat Shabbat, Erev Shabbat Shira Chadasha/Halachik Egalitarian Tefillah; Havdalah Service; Sunday Morning Service-
Leadership - Governance on the Shul Board - president of the shul and anything else; Gabbait of the shul
Clickable Table of Contents
Sefaria Links to Megillot
Nusach, Nigguns & Trope Collections and References
JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance)
Virtual Cantor Nusach Collection
General Music Note Trope and Nusach
Haftorah Trope:
Haftorah Trope Sheet Music (Covers almost all of the Haftorah tropes)
2023-2024
Roster is updated by the reading coordinator.
Current Planned Roster of Readers
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Megillot Sign Up!
Please use this form to sign up for readings. You may request as many chapters as you wish, and you can submit any number of times throughout the year. The Rabbi or reading coordinator will follow up with you to confirm selections and arrange for any needed support.
The Five Scrolls or the Five Megillot
From: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Megillot)
The Five Scrolls or the Five Megillot (Hebrew: חמש מגילות [χaˈmeʃ meɡiˈlot], Hamesh Megillot or Chomeish Megillos) are parts of the Ketuvim ("Writings"), the third major section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible).[1] The Five Scrolls are the Song of Songs, the Book of Ruth, the Book of Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and the Book of Esther. These five relatively short biblical books are grouped together in Jewish tradition.[2]
History
An early testimony that these five scrolls were grouped together is in the Midrash Rabba. This midrash was compiled on the Pentateuch and on the Five Scrolls.[3]
Liturgical use
All five of these megillot ("scrolls") are traditionally read publicly in the synagogue over the course of the year in many Jewish communities.[4] In common printed editions of the Tanakh they appear in the order that they are read in the synagogue on holidays (beginning with Passover).[2]: p. 226
Song of Songs
The Song of Songs (Hebrew: שיר השירים Shir ha-Shirim) is read publicly in some communities, especially by Ashkenazim, on the Sabbath of Passover. In most Mizrahi Jewish communities it is read publicly each week at the onset of the Shabbat (Sabbath). There is also a widespread custom to read it at the end of the Passover Seder.
In the Sephardi ritual it is read before the Mincha service on the afternoon of the seventh day of Passover (eighth day outside Israel).[4] Italian Jews read it at the Maariv (Evening Prayer) of the first and second day of Passover.
Ruth
The Book of Ruth (רות) is read in some communities, especially by Ashkenazim, before the reading of the Torah on the morning of Shavuot. Others read it in the Tikkun at night, or not at all.
Lamentations
The Book of Lamentations (איכה Eikhah or Kinnot) is read on the night of the Ninth of Avin all Jewish communities.
Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes (קהלת Kohelet) is read publicly in some communities, especially by Ashkenazim, on the Sabbath of Sukkot. In other communities it is not read at all.
Esther
The Book of Esther (אסתר) is read in all Jewish communities on Purim. The public reading is done twice, on the evening of Purim and once again the next morning.