An exciting addition is coming to Temple Shaari Emeth for the High Holy Days this year. The Board of Trustees has decided that it is time for our community to adopt the new Reform High Holy Day machzor (prayer book) called Mishkan HaNefesh (Sanctuary of the Soul.) Last year at the Holy Days, I included a variety of readings for the new machzor which received much positive feedback. During the winter we offered a sample Rosh Hashanah service from Mishkan HaNefesh. Those in attendance overwhelmingly loved the machzor sharing that it was relevant, thoughtful, beautiful and inspiring.
There are so many positive elements in Mishkan HaNefesh.
It is in the same two page layout as our Mishakan Tefila which we use for Shabbat.
All the Hebrew is transliterated which opens the service in a new way to non-Hebrew readers.
The God language in the machzor is non-gender and requires no changes as we are reading.
There are commentary explaining the prayers along the bottom of the pages. There are additional study texts and essays peppered throughout the book and there are beautifully moving, contemporary poems and prose reflecting all kinds of theology.
The Holy Days are a personal and communal experience. We come for personal exploration and we also come to do so with others in the community. This prayer book offers room for both, and many who have seen it have enjoyed the fact that it leaves room for personal reflection within the communal setting.
It is natural to feel connection to Gates of Repentance, the prayer book Reform Jews have used since it was published in 1978. We will be focusing our Selichot Study this year on introducing Mishkan HaNefesh and focusing on how you can best utilize it during our Worship.
In order to purchase Mishkan HaNefesh, we are assessing each member unit/family a one-time only fee of $36. We will also be utilizing additional money from the Prayer Book Fund to cover the rest of the cost. You will see this charge added to your July bill. If you feel very strongly and do not wish to participate in this effort, you will be able to opt out. Everyone who participates will have a bookplate placed in a book. We must receive your donation by August 15th, 2018 in order to prepare the bookplates and have them placed in the machzor in time for the Holy Days.
If you would like to stop by the Temple and see a copy of the machzor, we will have one available in the office for you to see. This is a very exciting moment for our community, and we thank you in advance for being part of a community that fosters meaningful prayer for everyone.
