Siddur Sim Shalom: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

All Topics

Siddur Sim Shalom

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

	Siddur Sim Shalom
	Home
	Siddur Sim Shalom may refer to any siddur in a family of siddurim Siddur A siddur is a Judaism prayer book, containing a set order of List of Jewish prayers and blessings. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as we know it today has developed.... , Jewish prayerbooks, and related commentaries on these siddurim, published by the Rabbinical Assembly Rabbinical Assembly The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative Judaism rabbis. The RA was founded in 1901 to shape the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement.... and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America. It closely works with the Rabbinical Assembly, the international body of Conservative Rabbis, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.... . There are currently three versions of the Siddur Sim Shalom prayerbook, and two detailed commentaries that contain the entire text of the siddur. The commentaries are known as Or Hadash ("A New Light"). Siddur Sim Shalom (Original 1985 edition) The first version of Siddur Sim Shalom was edited by Rabbi Jules Harlow Jules Harlow Jules Harlow is a rabbi and liturgist; son of Henry and Lena Lipman Harlow. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa.In 1952 at Morningside College in Sioux City he earned a B.A., and from there went to New York City to study in the Jewish Theological Seminary of America; here he became ordained as a rabbi in 1959.... , and published in 1985. This is the first siddur in which the beliefs and theology of Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism is a modern Jewish denominations of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.... were fully made explicit. While very traditional when compared to the prayerbooks of Reform Judaism Reform Judaism Reform Judaism refers to the spectrum of beliefs, practices and organizational infrastructure associated with Reform Judaism in Reform Judaism and in Reform Judaism .... , this siddur does contain a number of notable departures from the text used in Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism is a Jewish denominations of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict constructionist and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim.... . It contains services for weekdays, Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night.... and Jewish festivals. In accord with Conservative theology is contains prayers and services for Israel Independence Day and Yom HaShoah Yom HaShoah *Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laGvura* , known colloquially in Israel and abroad as *Yom HaShoah* and in English language as Holocaust Remembrance Day, is observed as a day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.... (Holocaust Memorial Day). It is egalitarian in usage, e.g. offering prayers for the wearing of tefillin and tallitot in both feminine and masculine form. The pocket edition also includes weekday Torah Torah The term "Torah" , or Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, refers to the entirety of Judaism's founding Halakha and ethical religious texts.... readings. Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals was edited by Rabbi Lawrence Cahan, and published in 1998. It started as a new edition of Siddur Sim Shalom just for Shabbat and Festivals (it contains no weekday services; this resulting thinner edition is thus nicknamed "Slim Shalom"). Most of the translations are nearly identical to Harlow's 1985 edition, but this siddur uses gender-sensitive translations of the names of God, and presents the option to use the Imahot (matriarchs) in the Amidah Amidah The Amidah , also called the Shmona Esre , is the central prayer of the Siddur. As Judaism's prayer par excellence, the Amidah is often designated simply as tfila in Rabbinic literature.... (Shemonah Esrah). It also restores a few traditional Ashkenazic prayers that were not in the 1985 version, including Rabbi Ishamel's 13 principles of biblical interpretation, the B'rah Dodi poems for Pesach, Ana B'kho-ah at the end of Psalm 29 in Kabbalat Shabbat, and Ushpizin for Sukkot, included in a new, egalitarian version. The Y'hi Ratzon meditation following the Musaf Amidah is restored. It includes new translations of a number of prayers and poems that were not translated at all in the previous edition, including Akdamut Akdamut *Akdamut, or Akdamut Milin* or *Akdamus Milin* is a prominent piyyut recited annually on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot by Ashkenazi Jews.... and the Hoshanot (only summaries of these prayers had been given previously.) It offers an easier to follow layout and table of contents; many pages have notes explaining the background and meanings of the prayers; guidelines and instructions on the content, choreography and continuity of the service. There is an increased use of transliteration. It contains a comprehensive section of Shabbat and Holiday home rituals. Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays was edited by Rabbi Avram Israel Reisner, and published in 2003. This siddur is the companion to Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals. In the introduction the editor writes: We began with the text of the original Siddur Sim Shalom published in 1985 under the...skillful editorship of Rabbi Jules Harlow whose eloquent and poetic translations inspire this text....Many of the innovations and approaches of the 'Siddur for Shabbat and Festivals' have been adopted here. Whenever possible, pages were reproduced intact, or with minor changes. This weekday siddur contains Torah Torah The term "Torah" , or Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, refers to the entirety of Judaism's founding Halakha and ethical religious texts.... reading, inspirational messages, services for the home and includes new materials for special occasions and commemorations. We felt keenly that while the miraculous events of the founding of the State of Israel had found fitting expression the more difficult experience of the Holocaust had yet to find an appropriate place in our prayers, Therefore, we composed a Nahum prayer for Yom Ha-shoah, inspired by that which appeared in Siddur Va-ani Tefillati of the Masorti Movement in 1998. In an insert into the Amidah, similar to that used traditionally on Tisha B'Av, we seek God's comfort in light of our people's losses in Europe during the Holocaust. We felt the need, beyond that, to acknowledge on a daily basis the enormous effect that the Holocaust has had upon our people. At the end of Tahanun papers, in a prayer which reflects our suffering, we added reference to the anguish we still feel. Or Hadash Or Hadash: A Commentary on Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals was written by Israel Masorti Rabbi Reuven Hammer Reuven Hammer Reuven Hammer is a Jewish rabbi and author, affiliated with the Masorti movement in the United Kingdom and in the State of Israel. The Masorti movement is a part of Conservative Judaism.... , and published in 2003. It contains the complete text of the siddur for the Sabbath and festivals, surrounded by a comprehensive commentary. The page layout loosely resembles that of the Talmud Talmud The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Halakha, Jewish ethics, customs, and history. It is a central text of mainstream Judaism.... . Or Hadash: A Commentary on Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays was also written by Israel Masorti Rabbi Reuven Hammer Reuven Hammer Reuven Hammer is a Jewish rabbi and author, affiliated with the Masorti movement in the United Kingdom and in the State of Israel. The Masorti movement is a part of Conservative Judaism.... , and published in 2008. It contains the complete text of the siddur for weekdays, surrounded by a comprehensive commentary. Both volumes offer information on the historical development of the liturgy, "a phrase-by-phrase commentary, a linguistic, literary and theological explanation of their structure and meaning as well as interpretations meant to make them relevant for the modern worshipper." (from the description on the Rabbinical Assembly Rabbinical Assembly The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative Judaism rabbis. The RA was founded in 1901 to shape the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement.... website.) All of these siddurim are available from the United Synagogue Book Service.