Seating at Washington Square Minyan
At Washington Square Minyan, we typically daven (have services) with separate seating, without a mechitzah (partition). However, on first Shabbat of every month, we include a third, all-gender seating section.
In 2023-2024, Washington Square Minyan undertook a process to explore the possibility of transitioning from two-section seating to a three-section seating arrangement. Below, you will find a message from the WSM Vaad with insights into this process and its outcomes.
Process
WSM has no by-laws prescribing how the community makes decisions, leaving the Vaad in uncharted territory. We did not take this process lightly and weighed many options. Above all, we were guided by the thoughtful feedback received from the community. We have sought to be as transparent as possible throughout the process, so we wish to share more about how we structured the vote. (Having operated without by-laws throughout this process, the Vaad recommends that we draft by-laws to guide future decision-making.)
In examining all the different ways a vote could be structured, the Vaad did not believe there was any truly “value-neutral” process for deciding this issue. Whether to hold a vote at all (or have the decision made by the Vaad), the age cut-off for voting, who is allowed to vote and how many votes each person or family has, the threshold for approval, and the options presented in the voting process are all value-laden process decisions with no neutral “right” answer. There are endless permutations, all of which could be viewed as weighing in favor or against specific outcomes.
Some people expressed concern that the 2/3 threshold created too significant a barrier to change, while others supported that position. To the extent people have made decisions about housing location, community involvement, etc., based on long-set expectations regarding how the minyan davens, we believed there were strong arguments against making fundamental changes based on a simple majority vote.
Ultimately, the vote outcome demonstrates that the overwhelming majority supports the proposed compromise, aligning with the feedback we received during the community conversations: the community desires unity, not division.
Vote Results
118 out of 135 eligible members voted, for a vote participation of 87%. The ballot asked members if they wanted to maintain our current two-section seating or implement three-section seating. Reflecting the feedback we heard during the community conversations, the Vaad decided that a 2/3 majority would be necessary to change the seating configuration, as it represents a significant change in WSM’s hashkafah (religious outlook/practice), from the status quo when we all joined the community.
Of 118 votes, 72 (61%) supported adopting three-section seating, while 46 people (39%) voted to maintain two-section seating. Consequently, WSM will not adopt three-section seating.
The ballot also asked members for their opinion on a potential compromise if we did not reach the required 2/3 majority: having approximately 12 Shabbatot a year with three-section seating. Of 118 votes, 102 (86%) supported periodic three-section seating. Consequently, WSM will adopt this periodic three-section seating arrangement.
This WSM Seating Vote Results Spreadsheet allows everyone to review the complete list of anonymous votes, filtered-out accidental duplicate votes, vote validation, and the resulting analysis. (See the navigation tabs near the bottom of the spreadsheet.)
Concluding Reflections
When the Vaad began discussing the seating initiative last summer, we knew community members held diverse opinions. We were under no illusions that we would get everybody to agree, but we did aspire to:
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listen to different voices and learn from those with whom we disagreed,
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avoid fractious debate,
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affirm commitment to our community, and
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arrive at a consensus on how to move forward.
With a strong voter turnout, the WSM community has voted overwhelmingly to add an all-gender seating section approximately 12 times yearly. We are so pleased that this proposal has met such resounding support.
That said, we are also acutely aware that the community is divided on the main question on the ballot, with over 60% of voters supporting a more far-reaching change. Having failed to reach a 2/3 supermajority, we won’t move to a 3-section seating configuration every week. We know that this outcome is disappointing to many.
We read in Pirkei Avot: Kol machloket she-hi l’shem shamayim, sofah l’hitkayem“- any dispute that is for the sake of heaven will, in the end, endure.
The seating issue at WSM feels like a machloket l’shem shamayim, reflecting the deeply held values and beliefs guiding us on our individual and collective journeys. Our disagreements will, no doubt, continue to endure. But equally enduring is our commitment to ongoing growth, learning, and deepening relationships in community. We appreciate all of you for the tremendous engagement, open-mindedness, and generosity of spirit you have brought to this endeavor.
May we continue to grow together and strengthen one another,
The Washington Square Minyan Vaad