By Rabbi Michele Brand Medwin

More than ten years ago, the leaders of the Reform Movement felt that it was time for a new prayerbook. The book we were currently using, Gates of Prayer, was already 20 years old, and no longer was adequate to meet the needs of our worship community. After many years of writing, rewriting, and editing based on feedback from the Reform Jewish community, the new prayerbook, Mishkan T’filah, is now ready to be delivered to synagogues throughout the country. (Over 700 congregations have ordered the books so it may take some time for each individual congregation to receive the books. With luck we should be receiving our books by the end of November or early December. We will let you know as soon as they are in.)

In anticipation of receiving our new prayerbooks I thought I would take some time to explain the wonderful additions and advantages to our new prayerbook.

HEBREW – While it is important to read our prayers in English, Hebrew adds a different dimension to our worship experience. Even if we don’t understand the Hebrew, when we say them in Hebrew we feel a sense of connection to Jews around the world who also recite the prayers in Hebrew, and a connection back in time to the Rabbis of the Talmud who wrote the prayers in Hebrew. But not many American Jews are fluent in Hebrew reading. To enable congregants to be able to join in the reading of Hebrew prayers, EVERY Hebrew prayer in the new prayerbook is transliterated with English letters, making it easier to join in, or follow along.

ENGLISH – It is important to have the English translation of every prayer. But sometimes, when we are able to read the English, we realize that the prayer, as it is written, is not as relevant to us today, as it might have been for Jews who lived 2000 years ago, when the prayers were written. The new prayerbook has three English reading options for each Hebrew prayer. One is the real translation, the other two are modern interpretations of the theme of the prayer. Thus each individual worshipper can chose the version of the prayer that is most meaningful.

MUSIC AND SINGING – Singing prayers raise them to a higher level than just reading alone can do. Music can help the words of the prayers calm us when we are stressed, raise our spirits when we are down, and feel part of community as we raise our voices together in harmony and song. The new prayerbook includes the words to many more songs, giving us more opportunity to pray in song, and to vary the songs we sing.

MUSIC CD – Psalm 33 tells us to sing a new song unto God. Many of the older melodies are important. They bring us a sense of familiarity and comfort. They remind us of good times from the past. We will continue to include older melodies in our worship service. There are also many contemporary composers who find new ways to interpret the words of the prayers. Some of the more meditative melodies are useful in beginning of the service, to help us make the transition from the busy work week to the restful spirit of Shabbat. Other melodies are joyful and help to lift our spirits. Psalm 33 also reminds us to worship God with gladness and come into God’s presence with joy. These newer melodies can help us with this Mitzvah. To help learn the new melodies I will be distributing a CD containing edited versions of these new melodies. I hope you will listen to the CD to learn the new music. I also encourage you, if you like a particular artist’s songs, to buy the original CD. This way you can support the artist and also hear other music by the same composer. The CD should be ready to distribute in early November. It will come with information on where to order the original CD’s. We will let you know when they are ready.

We will also let you know when we receive the new prayerbooks. In the mean time, we will continue to use the prayer booklets, containing one service from the new prayerbook, until the new books are in our hands. When the new prayerbooks arrive, I hope you will join us for an enhanced worship experience.

As the Psalms remind us:

Ivdu et Adonai B’simcha – Together let us worship God with joy and happiness.