Spirituality

Let There Be Light --- And Joy

Temple Israel's new homegrown prayer book inspired by congregation.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Senior Writer

T

hose who attended Shabbat eve-
ning services at Temple Israel on
Friday, July 4, were treated to the
debut of Ora V'Simcha, light and joy, a new
siddur of prayers, inspiration and artistic
beauty created specifically for them.
The book will be used
during the summer's
Friday night outdoor
services and Friday
night Kabbalat Shabbat
and Saturday night
Havdalah b'nai mitzvah
services throughout
Rabbi Yedwab
the year at the West
Bloomfield synagogue.
"And it is very likely that within a year
or two, an expanded version of this sid-
dur will be published, which will include
a Shabbat morning service as well: said
Rabbi Paul Yedwab, who created the sid-
dur.
In the book's introduction, the rabbi
described the book's title.
"The Hebrew phrase ora v'simcha
means 'light and joy' and is drawn from a
beautiful prayer composed by Isaac Luria,
the great Jewish mystic;' he wrote.
"As soon as I began work on this new
siddur, I knew what its title would be, for
truly that is what Shabbat should be for
all of us: a day of light and joy. This prayer
book is an attempt to bring just a little bit
of both into our Sabbath worship."
The new book is expected to eventually
take the place of the currently used 10-

Siddur cover

Page from the new siddur

year-old Shema Yisrael: The Temple Israel
Siddur, also created by Yedwab. He refers
to Ora V'Simcha as the "spiritual child" of
the older book, which, in the future, will
be used on holidays only. Some of the cre-
ative meditations and prayers written spe-
cifically for the new siddur include those
composed by Yedwab and other synagogue
clergy.
"My colleagues helped and gave input
throughout the process:' Rabbi Yedwab
said of Rabbis Harold Loss, Joshua
Bennett, Marla Hornsten, Jennifer Kaluzny,
Cantor Michael Smolash and Cantorial

Soloist Neil Michaels.
Shari Finsilver of Orchard Lake, who,
along with her husband, Stanley, attended
the outdoor service that introduced the
new siddur said, "I have always felt each
member of the clergy brings their own
personality to the service, which enhanc-
es it for me. Having their personally
written meditations and prayers as part
of the siddur makes it that much more
personal."
The cost of producing the 5,000 cop-
ies of Ora V'Simcha was underwritten by
Temple Israel members Renee and Martin

Beth El Adult Ed Classes
Learn Hebrew, explore Torah and expand a
knowledge of Jewish history and customs
at Temple Beth El's adult education classes,
which begin Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Lea Beurer, will teach advanced Hebrew,
Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m., and
conversational Hebrew, Wednesday evening
at 6 p.m. The cost of the 10-week classes is
$50 for Beth El members and $75 for oth-
ers.
"Introduction to Judaism:' a 10-week
course for prospective converts, non-Jewish
partners of Jews and Jews seeking a better
understanding of Judaism will be led by
Rabbi Daniel Syme, Rabbi Norman Roman

of Temple Kol Ami and Temple Beth El's
Rabbinic Associate, Keren Alpert. The cost
of the series, which begins Sept. 10 at 7
p.m., is $75 for Beth El and Kol Ami mem-
bers and $95 for others. Couples taking the
seminar will be charged only one fee.
Keren Alpert will lead a monthly lunch
and learn on selected Thursdays at noon
in the Temple's Alpert Room and a paral-
lel lunar learn on selected Wednesday
evenings at 7 p.m. in the library. Sessions
begin Sept. 17. There is no charge for either.
New this year is Beginning Musicianship
I, taught by Marla Aviva Bentley Tuesdays
at 6 p.m. Class dates are Sept. 9, 16, 23, Oct.
7, 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18 and Dec. 2 and 9. Cost

is $50 for temple members and $75 for
others.
"Aliyahphobia or "Help, I Can't
Remember How to Bless the Torah", taught
by Keren Alpert, returns Sunday, Nov. 16, at
10:30 a.m. Charge for the hour-long session
is $6.13 (for the 613 commandments).
On Wednesday mornings, beginning
Sept. 3, at 9:30 a.m., Lea Beurer will lead
an ongoing study of the Torah text. No
Hebrew reading is required. The charge for
this class is $35 for members and $50 for
others.
For information or to register for classes,
call the Temple Beth El religious school,
(248) 865-0612.

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Sins a new song to God;

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Sing unto Ciodi Praise God's name.
tr qf God's potroliktot kr to itut
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoioe;
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Lot the field and It creatures exult;
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Who conies to judge the earth; to role the world with justice.

lit onion, do peoples. V' llot watt! with took

Laker of West Bloomfield, who dedicated
the siddur in memory of their grand-
daughter, Ivy Shae Smith, and their par-
ents, Sarah and Harry Laker and Florence
and Samuel Meltzer.
Temple member and copyright attorney
Arnold Weintraub of West Bloomfield vol-
unteered to undertake the task of obtain-
ing all of the necessary permissions and
copyrights for the book.
As to why the new siddur was created,
Rabbi Yedwab said, "Prayer books, in our
movement, tend to have a 10- to 15-year
shelf life. Customs change. Sometimes,
the liturgy expands. That is true here as
well?'
But the rabbi added, "We also had more
practical considerations. We now have
some 1,500 people coming each week to
our outdoor Friday night services.
"Shema Yisrael was a full siddur that
included Saturday morning and festivals.
With its hard cover, it was very difficult
to bring out and distribute at our outdoor
services, not to mention the hundreds
that still come to pray with us when we go
indoors in the fall!'
"This book is preparing the way for a
new full siddur to be published in the next
year or so, so some 'experimental' changes
are included there as well, and we will see
how they 'pray' before we include them in
the next edition of our siddur."
Added Finsilver, "I love when a service
helps me to achieve the spiritual and
reflective state I enjoy during Shabbat
services. The siddur only enhances this
feeling!'

❑

Klezmer Show For Seniors
Area seniors are invited to gather for a
luncheon and program with CHaZaKaH
Young-at-Heart members at 12:30
p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington Hills. Schmaltz, a
Klezmer ensemble, will entertain.
The community is welcome. There is
a $10 charge for members of CHaZaKaH
Young-at-Heart and a $12 fee for non-
members.
Checks should be mailed by Aug. 21
to Shirley Baker, 26217 Summerdale Dr.,
Southfield, MI 48034.
For information, call the Adat Shalom
office, (248) 851-5100.

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August 14 • 2008

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