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I like to think that our services can be deeply meaningful to individuals who don’t know a word of Hebrew. But, without question, some understanding and familiarity with these prayers helps – and also allows us to carry on, actively and energetically, the extraordinary Hebrew worship traditions which have been passed down to us.
Our "literacy," of course, is not happenstance. We have evolved a first rate Hebrew School with dedicated teachers and with parents who care and who remain involved (including to a great degree the non-Jewish parents in our interfaith families). Even for those students who come to us later than the usual starting age foe Hebrew school, we have developed the means to gear up their skills rapidly and effectively. And for those of us who haven't had the chance earlier in life, we have a most ambitious adult education program that includes the opportunity to learn quickly to read Hebrew.
If we doubted for even a moment the efficacy of this Hebrew education, those doubts were put to rest watching the recent b'nai mitzvah students leading prayers and offering reflections at our Dedication service, and by listening to Hannah leading prayers at our High Holiday services. The second lovely compliment heard was "this congregation sings like B'nai Jeshurun." "BJ," for non-New Yorkers, is the legendary upper West Side singing congregation whose voices are said to reach the heavens every Shabbat. It is such a joy to be in the midst of such kavannah-filled, worshipful singing at our services, and with singing, I should add, from the broadest array of Jewish liturgical tradition. Special thanks here are in order not only to Andi, Allen, Kate, Judy, Hannah, John, the Morse family and the choir, but to all of us who find the greatest satisfaction in expressing our Jewish spirituality by raising our voices together in this way. Yasher koach to us all.
B'shalom,
Jim
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