Elegant new prayerbooks are in the pews in the Gordon Chapel and main sanctuary. They are “Mishkan Tefilah,” our newly adopted prayerbook for Shabbat. Mishkan Tefilah means “Tabernacle of Prayer” and it welcomes everyone into a congregational and personal prayer space. When you pick up and open Mishkan Tefilah, you’ll quickly discover many positive qualities about it.

• It’s light. Mishkan Tefilah for Shabbat is easy to hold
• Transliteration is found directly on the page with the Hebrew prayer. Now everyone can participate in new and familiar Hebrew prayers and songs
• Explanations about a prayer’s meaning are found at the bottom of each page. Now everyone can understand the purpose and significance of every prayer
• Commentaries are found at the bottom of each page. Now personal meditation may be prompted by insightful writings
• Creative prayers are available for worship in the Gordon Chapel. Guitar and beautiful readings will enhance the Shabbat Chapel experience
• Familiar Hebrew and English prayers mark our regular place in the sanctuary. Transliteration will increase participation. Explanations and commentaries will increase understanding.

            The clergy have prepared to use Mishkan Tefilah, too. We’ll guide you to new pages, and invite you to read and sing. Before worship begins, peruse the book. Read the introduction and find Rabbi Karff’s words. He wrote, “Each generation must struggle to hear the call, ‘Where art thou?’ Each must choose to answer, ‘Here I am, send me.’” Mishkan Tefilah invites all of us, in every generation, to seek God through prayers we love and understand.

            This Friday night, November 6^th, Shabbat worship will be held only in the Gordon Chapel, at 6:30pm. Rabbi Miller and Rabbi Scott will join you. There you’ll inaugurate Mishkan Tefilah and begin to glimpse the Chapel service that will bind you to all that is familiar and also to what is new.

            Next Friday night, November 13^th, Shabbat Shira returns to the main sanctuary, at 6:30pm. All the rabbis and cantor will be in full voice to sing, clap and dance with you. Soon, we’ll worship in the sanctuary with Mishkan Tefilah, and open a new chapter in our long history of Jewish life and devotion at Beth Israel.

            Worship is joyful, meaningful and relevant at Beth Israel. Your place is waiting. Find your familiar seat and join your family and friends, your rabbis and cantor on Shabbat. As we say when we finish a book of Torah, “Chazak, chazak, v’nit-cha-zeik,” Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen each other.

            From my family to yours, Shabbat Shalom.

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