New Reform Prayer Book Includes Prayer For Resurrection Of The Dead – Prayer Removed 122 Years Ago Returns

The JTA reports:

The Reform movement's rabbinic association is set to publish a new siddur, or prayer book.

Mishkan T'filah (Sanctuary of Prayer) is 712 pages long and more than a decade in the making. The new prayer book was beset by delays and still does not have a final publication date, but is expected to be available shortly after the High Holidays.

A key feature of the book is its double-page layout, with the right side featuring traditional prayers translated and transliterated, and the left featuring related readings and "spiritual commentary," according to Rabbi Peter Knobel, president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and chair of the book's editorial committee.

The book also features the return of the traditional prayer for the resurrection of the dead, which was removed in 1885 by the movement's Pittsburgh Platform. Knobel said the reintroduction was divisive and the movement's earlier version, which praises God who gives life to all, is retained in the new book.…

I'm speechless. I really am.

Comments

[schneur]

Probably in regards to resurrecting Reform Judaism

[Aharon Varady]

Wonderful news, all things considered.

[Anonymous]

This is no surprise. Last week's Jewish Week had a big writeup on the new Reform generation thinking it's in vogue to add some traditionalism.

It could be a good sign but it changes nothing if they stick to their core kefira. The traditionalism would then be worse than nothing at all as outlined by commentaries in Nach.

[Peter]

I think it's important to differentiate the leadership ideologues from the rank and file (maybe not just in Reform.) A lot of people want to be closer to the Jewish tradition, and it shouldn't be dismissed as just "in vogue." But there is a popular demand that the leadership is responding to.

In the bad old days people used to affiliate with Reform to escape Judaism. Nowadays they join a Reform temple to draw closer to the Jewish people. (Paraphrase of R. Hershel Yolles)

[Anon]

Wonder if they will reinsert "v'lamalshinim"?

[Yochanan Lavie]

As Reform becomes more traditional, and Conservative becomes more liberal (and is still hemoragging membership) I think the 2 will merge eventually.

[mark]

I am glad to see the ignorance of the right is as strong as that of the left.

[yona loriner]

whoe!!!!!!!!!!!

[Max Kohanzad]

one day you will all become part of Authentic Judiasm TM!

[mark]

authentic Judaism - thats a potful

[Neo-Conservaguy]

From what I've seen:

http://urj.org/mishkan/index.cfm

...this is an impressive effort to restore a more traditional liturgy while preserving alternate poetic passages. It also offers both transliteration and translation, which can be a big help for those learning Hebrew or the liturgy. In this respect it follows in the footsteps of another wonderful work, Siddur Chaveirim Kol Yisraeil

http://chav.net/siddur/sample.htm

I learned in part to daven from this siddur, so I have a special place for it in my heart. Because it has Hebrew, transliteration, and translation, one can progress along a path toward traditional davening in Hebrew while still participating along the way. There is a lesson there for all Jewish movements that seek to perform outreach and education to those that lacked a lifelong Jewish religious existence.

[Dave]

1. I personally do not believe in physical resurrection, only in the soul's resurrection/ permanence.
2. This new move from Reform sounds great except I also read that one of their rabbis is proposing a blessing for transgendered people. Where will their political correctness ever end?
3. I firmly believe that Unless a person is really fluent in Hebrew ie. they have learnt it for several years, they're originally from Israel and have continued speaking Hebrew, etc.-
Unless a person is really fluent in Hebrew, they really should read the translation of the prayers also, in their mother tongue (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, whatever), otherwise they are not spiritually absorbing the prayers.
Some people might say that this makes the prayers even longer- my answer is: easy- just get rid of all the mystical b.s. like the heavenly chariot, and any anthropomorphism, or any cultural-type non-essential prayers.

[Paul Freedman]

& also a blessing for sex changes for those resurrected who wish to explore alternative lifestyles