Rodef Sholom: A Reform Jewish Congregation in Marin County, California

And let them build Me a sanctuary that I may dwell in their midst.

-- Exodus 25:08

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Press is proud to present --
Mishkan T'filah, the first new Siddur (prayer book) for the North American Reform Movement in more than thirty years. Including services for Shabbat, weekdays and festivals, as well as other occasions of public worship, and texts for more than a hundred songs, Mishkan T'filah reflects the full diversity of our Movement.  Click here to order your own copy.

Click here to learn about The Ashrei Project

Eitz chayim hi l'machazikim b' v'tomchech'ha m'ushar / it is a tree of life to those that hold fast to it, and all who cling to it find happiness.

In the 9th Century, Rav Amram produced the first-known siddur (prayerbook). Compiled at the request of the Jews of Spain, Seder Rav Amram (Rav Amram's seder/order) contained regular prayers according to the cycle of the year-Shabbat, weekdays, Rosh Chodesh (new moon), Chanukah, Purim, etc. The prayerbook contained the prayers that corresponded to each holiday and the halachot (laws) that pertained to them.

I imagine the Jews of Spain who called upon Rav Amram to compile this siddur-spiritually hungry for help navigating the Jewish calendar and the vicissitudes of life yet overwhelmed by the sheer quantity and complexity of prayers. Thank God for Rav Amram and thank God for every editor of every siddur since.

I think about the siddur as a kind of greatest-hits collection of Jewish prayers, songs and quotes, a requisite guidebook for people who are looking to claim a deep and meaningful spiritual path in the Jewish community. It has been close to a year now since we received our inspiring new siddur, Mishkan T'filah (Sanctuary of Prayer). Mishkan T'filah continues to serve as a springboard for us on Shabbat and on holidays, helping us to reach into our souls and send our prayers out into the universe.

Do your neshama (soul) a favor and and order yourself your own copy of Mishkan T'filah. Why should you have your own copy? Why have we ordered copies for all of our 4-7th graders? Because for over 1100 years, siddurim (plural for ‘siddur') have served as a repository for our people's greatest hopes, guiding us along our individual and collective sacred paths. In an effort to help pray-ers of all ages claim a deeper spiritual path, I have compiled a list of some of quotes and prayers from Mishkan T'filah. At our recent b'nai mitzvah retreat, parents chose a verse from the siddur to gift to their children, a sacred verse that embodied some of their prayers for their child at this pivotal moment in their life. Why not buy for yourself your own siddur this Chanukah, your own spiritual guidebook? Put it on your nightstand and claim a verse or some prayers in which you will plant your neshama.

Here are some of my favorite prayers in the first section of Mishkan T'filah. Stay tuned for more.

Ma'ariv/Weekday Evening
• For life, for health, for hope...all praise to the Source of Being (p. 2)
• B'chochma po'tei'ach sh'arim/Who in wisdom opens gates (p. 6/line 4)
• Day and night we will reflect on them for they are our life and doing them lengthens our days (p.8)
• ...we recite the Sh'ma to bear witness to the Oneness of God (p. 11)
• v'ahavata / and you shall love your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might... (p. 12/line 1)
• Abaye said: Spread the love of God through your actions...(p. 13 note)
• Emet v'emunah.../All this we hold to be true and trustworthy...(p 14/line1)
• You do wonders without number, marvels beyond count. You give us life and steady our footsteps... (p. 14/line 6)
• Mi Chamocha/Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, working wonders... (p. 16/line 3)
• Hashkiveinu - entire prayer (p. 18)
• U'shmor tzeiteinu u'vo'einu/ Guard our going and our coming, to life and peace evermore (p. 18/line 11)
• Teach me, O God, a blessing, a prayer...(p. 21).