Progressive siddur debuts
IN services around Australia, Progressive congregations this month began using a new siddur published specifically for the southern hemisphere.
IN services around Australia, Progressive congregations this month began using a new siddur published specifically for the southern hemisphere.
Mishkan T’filah: World Union Edition (pictured) is a variant of the acclaimed North American Mishkan T’filah siddur, but the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) has modified it to reflect the needs of Australian, New Zealand and South African worshippers.
It includes numerous prayers especially focused on the seasons, and various poems and writings by local authors, according to Steve Denenberg, executive director of the Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ), which represents Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
“It will be an important part of our prayers and religious celebrations for many years to come,” said Denenberg.
The search for a new siddur to replace Gates of Prayer — in use in Australia since the 1970s — was initiated by the Victorian rabbis of the Moetzah (rabbinic council).
After receiving permission from the publishers, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, a committee, led by communal worker Philip Mayers, oversaw the adaptation process.
“The editorial committee, led by Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, painstakingly worked through the entire siddur to include local content of relevance, and to ensure that the egalitarian and pluralistic essence of our Progressive Judaism is reflected,” said Denenberg.
The UPJ, which arranged production, shipping and distribution, collaborated on the project with the WUPJ and the South African Union for Progressive Judaism, whose president, Steve Lurie, will be in Australia for the launch.
Mishkan T’filah will be introduced to congregations across the region in the coming weeks and will be formally launched at a gala dinner at Parliament House in Canberra on November 25, during the UPJ biennial conference.
PETER KOHN
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