Mission Statement
Selah Seattle Minyan is an independent, lay-led, egalitarian community that gathers for spirited Jewish experiences.
Core Values
- Open and inclusive community -- we are committed to being welcoming of different people, regardless of race, age, gender identity, sexuality, national origin, ability, political beliefs, religion, or Jewish background and identity.
- Meaningful Jewish experiences -- we aim to offer programs that connect people to Jewish tradition, ritual, and community.
- Spirited prayer services -- we daven (pray) together in a traditional Hebrew prayer service that is full of singing.
- Egalitarian -- people of all genders have the same roles in prayer and other ritual spaces and are counted in a minyan (a quorum of 10 Jewish adults).
- Independent -- we are not affiliated with any particular Jewish denomination, though we are one of dozens of independent minyanim around the country.
- Lay-led -- we are a grassroots organization that is entirely volunteer-run, and we depend on the dedication of time and energy of community members.
What's in a Name?
The word Selah (סֶלָה) appears 74 times in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), yet its definitive meaning is somewhat of a mystery. At the same time, there is great power and emotion in this three-letter word.
Selah is used as a musical mark in the liturgy, signifying a break in verbal song for a musical interlude. Selah tells us to stop, listen, and reflect on what has been said as wordless music overtakes us. We recognize the power of song that we create together, whether through liturgical prayer, joy of communal song, or just pure uplifting music.
Selah also means "forever" or "eternal." We recognize that this community is fluid, ever changing, and will not necessarily last forever. However we hope that the connections that are made, the knowledge that is gained, and the spirit that is lit within each of us are experiences that we can take with us as we venture through life.
As this minyan grows, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of how Selah truly embodies our community and all that we strive to be.
(A note: סֶלָה (selah) is not to be confused with the Hebrew word סֶלַע (sela), which means rock.)
Selah is used as a musical mark in the liturgy, signifying a break in verbal song for a musical interlude. Selah tells us to stop, listen, and reflect on what has been said as wordless music overtakes us. We recognize the power of song that we create together, whether through liturgical prayer, joy of communal song, or just pure uplifting music.
Selah also means "forever" or "eternal." We recognize that this community is fluid, ever changing, and will not necessarily last forever. However we hope that the connections that are made, the knowledge that is gained, and the spirit that is lit within each of us are experiences that we can take with us as we venture through life.
As this minyan grows, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of how Selah truly embodies our community and all that we strive to be.
(A note: סֶלָה (selah) is not to be confused with the Hebrew word סֶלַע (sela), which means rock.)
