The Downtown Minyan was born in 2016, when a small group of people got together and imagined a new Jewish community free of institutional constraints, able to embrace the vibrancy of our fast-paced lives, and committed to our Jewish tradition as the source of moral wisdom.
Our Minyan empowers young people to embrace Judaism in a way that is both sophisticated and accessible. We follow traditional halacha (Jewish law) and pray in Orthodox services, espouse values of inclusivity and respect regardless of religious background, and are committed to egalitarian principles. We aspire to live out our Jewish values in the modern world as a spiritually uplifting, intellectually engaging, outward looking, and radically welcoming community.
What we strive to be
Inspiring young people to live Jewish lives bound to tradition and open to new ways of thinking
Spiritually uplifting
Challenging each other to think critically about the Jewish lives we lead and how our heritage shapes us
Intellectually engaging
Fostering an environment that is open to people of all backgrounds and levels of practice
Radically welcoming
Engaged with the many communities we are a part of, including downtown Manhattan and the wider Jewish world
