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Category Archives: Happy Minyan
Rabbi Rabbs Unhappy With The Happy Minyan
Rabbi Rabbs does not go to shul much. He stays at home typically on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. But for a while, he would go to the Happy Minyan once a month for their big kiddush because he knew … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan, R. Rabbs
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Will The Happy Minyan Survive The Departure Of Co-Founder Stuart Wax?
Stuart Wax founded the Happy Minyan in 1994 with David Sacks and friends. Now Stuart has moved with his family to Boca Raton, Florida. Stuart was a foundation of the minyan. How will it go on without without him? The … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan
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The Moshav Band Plays The Happy Minyan Saturday Night
I heard the crowd got so excited that they started throwing their sheitels on stage. A friend says: “A group of women started dancing together and the men rushed out with a makeshift mechitza to put around them. I was … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan, Moshav Band
Tagged davening, mechitza, minyan, Moshav Band, sheitels
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Valley Village To Get A Happy Minyan
Many of us find that the only time we enjoy davening is when we’re rocking out at the Happy Minyan, which prays to Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach melodies. Now I hear that the San Fernando Valley is getting its own Happy … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan, R. Shlomo Carlebach
Tagged Aish HaTorah, minyan, rabbi shlomo carlebach, San Fernando Valley, toras
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Vishnu Luke Visits First Happy Minyan Banquet
Behind my computer keyboard, I feel like Vishnu. I feel like the All-Pervading essence, the master of—and beyond—the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan, Personal
Tagged america in the 1950s, australian men, Facebook, orthodox judaism, traditional sex roles, yogi bhajan
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The Happy Minyan Comes Of Age
For the past couple of years, the Happy Minyan has an independent existence at the Karate Academy on Pico Blvd (near Rexford). Prior to this, it resided at Orthodox shuls (Beth Jacob, Mogen David) that tried to incorporate the group … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan, Personal
Tagged Beth Jacob, David Sacks, harvard lampoon, karate academy, orthodox shuls, religious journey
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Where Does Luke Ford Daven?
At shalosh sheudos (third meal) today, a new friend said to me, "All my friends ask me, ‘Is it true Luke Ford davens at the Happy Minyan?’" I’m still singing. Lila li. Li lalalalilili, bum, bum, bum. That place rocks. … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan, Personal
Tagged avondale college, beit midrash, bum bum bum, luke ford, place rocks, religion department
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Bnai David Rabbi Urges His Congregants To Emulate The Happy Minyan’s Virtues
This summer, the rabbi of congregation B’nai David-Judea, Yosef Kanefsky, took a two month Sabbatical. He stayed in town but davened everywhere but his own shul. His time at the Happy Minyan was particularly moving and he gave a sermon … Continue reading
Posted in Bnai David-Judea, Happy Minyan, Prayer
Tagged catalina island, chana, nai david, natalie wood, shabbos, shul
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I Learn To Pray Again
I’d pretty much given up on my ability to pray in shul. It just seemed so lifeless. Then I returned to the Happy Minyan and learned to pray again. I feel myself opening up to God there in a way … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan, Pico/Robertson
Tagged David Sacks, God, minyan, saturdays, Torah
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The One Problem With The Happy Minyan In Particular And Orthodox Judaism In General
The Happy Minyan meets on Shabbos at a karate studio. The bathroom is in the back, near the woman’s section. Women tend to congregate around the bathroom. There’s no loud fan in the bathroom and you couldn’t turn it on … Continue reading
Posted in Happy Minyan, Orthodoxy, Pico/Robertson
Tagged inordinate fear, karate studio, loud fans, minyan, orthodox judaism, respectful silence
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