We are really glad you have decided to share your simcha with us. Because we are a volunteer led minyan, this list of guidelines will help make sure that everything goes smoothly. Let us know if you have questions or would like to hold an event.
To hold a simcha such as Bar or Bat mitzvah, aufruf, brit milah, or baby naming, the following policy applies:
- If it is a non-Altshul Shabbat, the simcha will be advertised as a community event. Altshul may offer a cheat sheet spreadsheet to the simcha organizers. It is up to the simcha organizers to find their own daveners and leiners and work out space arrangements with CBE. It is the organizer’s responsibility to ensure the shamashim are informed of all arrangements and communications with CBE, and to inform the shamashim a month in advance for the event to be publicized.
- If it is on an Altshul week, the service has to follow a standard Altshul davening.
- If it is on an Altshul week and the simcha organizer is expecting a lot of guests, Altshul will attempt to get an appropriate venue on the simcha organizers’ behalf but will require notice as far in advance as possible.
- Any celebration (e.g. lunch) that takes place at CBE on the day of the simcha must be open to the entire Altshul community.
- If the simcha organizers have never been to Altshul before, they should come and try it first.
- If the simcha organizer/s would like a role in the service for him/herself/themselves or any of their guests (e.g. leading services, chanting torah or haftorah, having an aliyah, giving a dvar torah or sponsoring kiddush) the shamashim should be contacted as far in advance as possible. Altshul has many volunteers who participate in services and needs to ensure that those roles are available.
- Any simcha-related speeches must either be in the form of divrei torah (subject to availability), or delivered after services at a kiddush or lunch. Simcha-related speeches may not be given at any other time in the service.