Transliteration?

Tags

English, Hebrew, Prayer, Shabbat, transliteration

Do we need transliteration in our siddur? Why do we need transliteration? What is transliteration?

We are putting together the Shabbat morning siddur for our temple. There are many interesting decisions to make in a Reform temple. The editors have posed a question of whether we need to have transliteration. Most of our service is in Hebrew but we provide translations. Do we also need transliterations?

Yes.

Why do we need them? What do you with a population where more than half of the people cannot read Hebrew? Some argue that they should learn. That is nice but not realistic. Just getting people to come on a non-holiday is a challenge. Making the service unattainable would not help.

So what does the transliteration do? Taking the Hebrew words and writing them with Latin characters allows an English reader to participate in the Hebrew prayers. No this does not help them lead the service but it does help for following along. For those who are learning Hebrew it is helpful for when it is too difficult to keep up with the speed of some of the prayers.

Transliteration is great for beginners and non-Hebrew readers to feel like they can participate in the prayers. Hopefully as people come more often the words will become ingrained and following along in Hebrew will become easier. Providing the tools for each person where they are allows them to pray with the community as they can.

Happy Chanukah

Tags

Channukah, Chanukah, Hanukah, snow

It has been snowing since Friday afternoon

It is now Sunday night

The shortest night of the year

The snowiest, the coldest and the windiest

I have been shoveling and shoveling

I am sore

I feel old

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah

We trudged over to my neighbors and we lit the candles

We drank hot mulled cider

And the kids opened their gifts

We went back home to shovel some more

We ate dinner

We read books

Now some sleep

So much for enjoying the first night of Chanukah

Tomorrow I will try again

Balance

Tags

balance, broken glass, extremes, Rabbinic

Do you know about yin-yang? Or perhaps the idea of balance in Yoga? I always think of this balance as an equal but opposite force. Something done in moderation. 

I find this idea of balance to resonate with my personal beliefs. I tend to be a person to do things in moderation and in balance. I do not like to push things to the extremes. I like harmony.

Have you ever noticed that the Rabbi’s like balance too. However, it is a different balance. Not that of yin-yang curled up with each other but that of a bar bell. Enjoy the extremes but remember to balance.

• Remember that you are in the image of G-d but that you were born of dust and dust you will return.
• Revel in the joy of life but recall in that moment that all can come crashing down (like the broken glass at a wedding)
• Earn what you can but remember that 20% is the right of the poor
• You are but one person in this world and you need to remember that you are the only person who can make a difference in another person’s life
• G-d is all powerful but needs your help to do tikkun olam and repair the world

I love the extremes. I love how one extremes needs the reminder of the other to remain in balance. However, we are not asked to live an ascetic life. We are asked to live life to the fullest but to keep it in balance.

Do you live in the extremes? Do you keep it balanced? What Rabbinic teaching do you like that lives in this extreme balance?

Expectations

Tags

community, do, expectations, G-d, individual, offer

What are the expectations of you? Are they mostly internal? Are they external? By your spouse, friends, parents? By your work? By your community? Are they by G-d?

Do these expectations help you live to the best of your abilities?

What is the best you can be? Or are you asked to reach for the stars? What are the expectations put upon you?

Do expectations help you better yourself?

Like Rabbi Zusha asks: What is G-d going to ask you when you get to the gates of heaven? Why weren’t you like Moses or King David? Or why weren’t you more yourself?

Judaism recognizes you as an individual and I believe expects you to do all you can do as individual within the world which we live. Do you recognize what you have to offer? Do you do all that you can with what you have to offer?

- inpired by a Boston CJP adult learning class with Rabbi Samuelson