Davening

A.       Our relationship with ה' informs who we are and directs our energies both individually and as a school community. Starting our day together with davening demonstrates our commitment to our priorities; participating in davening is a fundamental pathway through which students show their identification with the school’s ideals and values.

B.       שחרית begins punctually at 8:15. Students are expected to arrive in school with enough time to arrive in the Upper School Beit Midrash and begin davening at 8:15. Students and their parents are to insure that they leave their homes early enough to arrive on time. Repeated lateness and / or absence from davening will necessitate disciplinary action.

C.       It is our hope that students will participate fully in all aspects of davening. At a minimum, students are expected to be respectful of davening and to act in a manner consonant with entering a מקום תפילה. Arriving on time, taking a seat, opening a סידור, davening along with the ציבור, avoiding conversation with others, remaining in one’s place without wandering, and being present until the very end of davening are among the expectations for each student during מנין. Boys are expected to wear תפילין at each daily שחרית.

D.       The MJBHA Upper School schedules a twenty-minute period in the middle of the afternoon dedicated to מנחה and a break from class. Students are expected to move quickly from the class prior to מנחה to the assigned מנחה location. The same expectations described above for שחרית are to be maintained during מנחה, except for the need for תפילין.

E.        During the appropriate season, aמנין  for מעריב is held in the Kollel beit midrash (Room #313). While this מנין is not obligatory, students, both boys and girls, who remain after school for practice or extra-curricular activities are expected to join this מנין and fulfill the מצוה of davening מעריב בציבור. All others who have cars or carpools with flexibility are strongly encouraged to stay for this מנין .

F.        Students who disregard the expectations described above will be given a limited opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to responsible behavior, but repeated offenses will necessarily be met with administrative consequences.