To Be Alone

A Brief History of the Siddur
9 th Century Rav Amram Gaon

1927 – Festival Prayerbook by United Synagogue
• “to provide a satisfactory English translation”
• To Correct the Hebrew text
• Providing attention to layout and design
• Format some texts for responsive reading with ease
• Prayer for the Government (deleting prayer for the King)
• Petition for the restoration of ritual of sacrifice changed to a recollection of the sacrificial service.

1946 – Sabbath and Festival Prayer Book by United Synagogue and Rabbinical
Assembly
• Maintain the above modifications in the service
• Adding the word “ba-olam” to the prayer Sim Shalom (based on a modification by Saadia Gaon) ie, Universal Peace
• Modify the prayer for the community to include those who were working toward the rebuilding of the State of Israel.
• Modification of the morning blessings (Birkot HaShachar)
• For not having been created as a woman <>For being created in God’s image
• For not having been created a slave <> For being created free
• For not having been created as a non-Jew <> For being created as a Jew
• New prayers and meditations in English added
• Many supplementary readings added for responsive reading and contemplation.

1961 – The Weekday Prayer Book by Rabbinical Assembly
• Change English to contemporary English
• Alternative choices in the amidah offered
• One followed the 1927 changes with regard to animal sacrifice
• One added a petition for the privilege of worship in Jerusalem as well as a petition on behalf of all Jews wherever they may live.
• Adding a prayer for Yom Hoatzmuut (Israel Independence Day)
• Mincha for Tisha B’av modified to reflect the reality that Jerusalem is being restored.

1972 – Machzor for RH and YK by Rabbinical Assembly
• Continued the innovations begun in 1927
• Continued concern with layout and design
• Updating liturgy to meet contemporary concerns of American Jews
• Adding passages to reflect the establishment of State of Israel
• Adding passage for concern for persecuted Jews around the world
• Seder HaAvodah changed from Piyyut to adaptation of Mishna Yoma
• Eleh Ezkerah changed to reflect the reality of the holocaust
• Alternative Torah reading for YK afternoon added

1985 – Siddur Sim Shalom by United Synagogue and Rabbinical Assembly
• Alternative texts offered for personal prayer
• Weekday and Shabbat Siddur in one single volume
• Prayer for our country changed to allow Siddur to be used outside of U. S.
• Alternative Musaf is offered to allow further changes to Musaf than were previously offered since 1927
• Following views of Rambam some Musaf passages are mared “some congregations add” to reflect
Rambam’s view that these were unnecessary.
• Rabbi Ishmael’s 13 principles replaced with texts about deeds of lovingkindness instead of sacrifice.
• Tahanun changed to reflect reality that Jerusalem is no longer abandoned nor desolate.
• Translations presented to permit devotional prayer in English.
• More supplementary readings
• Yom Hashoah readings added
• Further corrections in Hebrew text and punctuation.
• Textual changes to revert to language of Rav Saadia Gaon made for:
• Rabbi Isaac Luria – early morning service
• Rav Saadia Gaon – Changes to Al-hanissim
• Other changes following discoveries of texts from Italy, from Eastern Europe.
• Correction of Yedid Nefesh to match the manuscript of the author (16 th Cent) Rabbi Elieazar ben
Mosheh Azikri.

1998 – Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals
• Two volumes (Shabbat and weekday) allow for slimmer, easier to hold volumes plus the reality that synagogues needed a Shabbat book that had more variety without increasing the bulk of the book.
• Alternatives for the inclusion of the Matriarchs in the Amidah
• Reintroduced the following prayers:
• Rabbi Ishmael’s 13 principles
• B’rach Dodi (pesach)
• Ana B’koach
• Traditional Yehi Ratzon following Musaf
• Ushpizin for Sukkot (in an egalitarian version)
• More authentic English translations throughout the volume
• Egalitarian God-language (without gender)
• Extensive rewriting of supplementary readings and essay sections.
• Additional use of Transliteration throughout
• Psalms set on a single page to avoid confusion.
• Responsive readings set to flow better.

1999- Sim Shalom for Weekdays
• Weekday Torah readings
• Added “chapel” type sections for use on Shabbat (Shabbat Mincha)
• Extensive personal prayers section for use at home
2003 – Siddur Or Hadash
• A commentary on the Siddur of
Shabbat and Festivals
2006- Siddur Or Hadash Weekdays
2010- Mahzor Lev Shalem
???? - Siddur Lev Shalem

• You are released from page numbers

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment
• Looking for God elsewhere

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment
• Looking for God elsewhere
• Big Wow, Little Wow

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment
• Looking for God elsewhere
• Big Wow, Little Wow
• Follow Your Delight

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment
• Looking for God elsewhere
• Big Wow, Little Wow
• Follow Your Delight
• Pray through the embarrassment

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment
• Looking for God elsewhere
• Big Wow, Little Wow
• Follow Your Delight
• Pray through the embarrassment
• Uncover what is already there

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment
• Looking for God elsewhere
• Big Wow, Little Wow
• Follow Your Delight
• Pray through the embarrassment
• Uncover what is already there
• Start where you are

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment
• Looking for God elsewhere
• Big Wow, Little Wow
• Follow Your Delight
• Pray through the embarrassment
• Uncover what is already there
• Start where you are
• Its in my hands

• You are released from page numbers
• It’s a process
• All or nothing?
• Prepare for the trip (wsj or a trip to Italy)
• Have no expectation for entertainment
• Looking for God elsewhere
• Big Wow, Little Wow
• Follow Your Delight
• Pray through the embarrassment
• Uncover what is already there
• Start where you are
• Its in my hands
• Its all prayer

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M e m o r i e s Underlines
Make it Yours

A fixed place
A not fixed place