A new prayer book for the Commonwealth
![]() The current prayer book, Gates of Prayer, is to be phased out after more than thirty years because:
South African rabbis decided that the choice of payer book should be one in which all members could participate. During the course of 2008, three different prayer books were tried out in congregations around the country: The British Reform prayer book Forms of Prayer (2008); the British Liberal movement prayer book Siddur Lev Chadash (1995); and the US reform prayer book Mishkan T’Filah (2008). The Liberal book was rejected first, as too abbreviated, although many people liked the additional readings it supplies. The British Reform book was widely supported because it takes the most traditional approach, closer to South African practice, and offers excellent explanatory notes. But in the end, the US book won out, for a number of reasons.
Considerable editing and production work is required, which is why the revised Mishkan T’Filah will only be launched in South Africa near the end of 2009. The book has a most attractive format and design, and is printed in colour. It includes a wide selection of additional readings from the Progressive liturgical tradition and the great poetic writings from Jewish history. It is flexible, allowing for alternative theologies and styles of service. |
Help sponsor the siddur!During the months up to June 2009, the SAUPJ will be calling upon supporters to help sponsor the siddur project. One type of sponsorship allows people to have dedications to their loved ones inscribed permanently in all printed copies of the book. Three different levels of sponsorship are available, ranging in price from R2 500 to R7 500. To learn more about the programme, click here to see the SAUPJ sponsorship form.
What the name meansMishkan is the Hebrew word for “tabernacle”, the nomadic holy sanctuary carried through the desert by Moses and the Israelites. Mishkan T’Filah translates as tabernacle, or dwelling place, of prayer. |