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Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Reform Judaism (10/12) Previous Document: Question 18.5.1: Traditional Judaism Differences: Why does Reform liturgy say "m'chayey hakol" [who gives life to all] instead of Next Document: Question 18.5.3: Traditional Judaism Differences: Why does Reform generally celebrate Rosh Hashanah for one day? See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Answer:
The Reform Movement has repeatedly revised the traditional liturgy, in
order to shorten the service by dispensing with some of the
repetitions (for example, there is only one reader's Kaddish), and to
bring the doctrinal content of the liturgy into accord with Reform
thought by omitting or recasting passages expressive of beliefs that
are not part of Reform (e.g., a personal Messiah as distinct from a
messianic age, ressurection of the dead, restoration of the
sacrificial cult, and the existance of angels).
As an example of this, consider the Shema and Tefillah. Traditionally,
the Shema consists of three Scriptural passages: Deut. 6.4-9, Deut.
11.13-21, and Num. 15:37-41. In Reform siddurs, the second paragraph
is often omitted because of the doctrine of retribution, and the third
because of the commandment regarding fringes. Reform does include Num.
15.40f. With respect to the Tefillah, there are more significant
changes. The Tefillah traditionally consists of 18 benedictions, to
which, perhaps in the 2nd or 3rd century CE, a 19th was added. It can
be broken into three parts: the first three benedictions, an
intermediate thirteen benedictions, and a final three benedictions.
These are traditionally said three times daily, and appear (in a
modified form) in the weekday service in the Reform siddur (although
most Reform congregations do not hold weekday services, there are
congregations and study groups that do, and hence, a service is
provided for them). On Shabbat and on festivals, only the first three
and the last three are said; the intermediate benedictions are
replaced by ones peculiar to the appropriate day.
First Grouping:
1.
The first benediction, Ancestors/Avot, is retained mostly
unchanged, except for referring to our fathers and our mothers.
Most Reform siddurs change the text to read "redemption"
instead of "a redeemer.". A recent trend has been to include
Sarah, Leah, Rachel, and Rebecca in addition to Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob. This goes with the egalitarian nature of Reform.
2.
The second benediction, Powers/Gevurot, is amended to affirm
that God is the source of all life, and that God has implanted
within us eternal life. Traditionally, the main theme of this
benediction was resurrection of the dead, a doctrine not
accepted by Reform Judaism. These words were expressed in the
traditional siddur as "...and revivest the dead with great
mercy..". In the Reform prayerbook, this is changed to "...with
great compassion give life to all."
3.
The third benediction, Holiness of God/Kedushat Hashem, has
also been changed slightly. The Hebrew that might more
literally be rendered as "holy beings" (angels) has been
changed to "those who strive to be holy".
Intermediate Benedictions:
1-4.
The first (Understanding/Binah), second (Repentence/Teshuvah),
third (Forgiveness/Selichah), and fourth (Redemption/Ge-u-lah)
of the thirteen intermediate benedictions are retained,
although they are rendered in a gender-neutral language (that
is, God is referred to as a Soverign or a Ruler, as contrasted
to a Father or a King).
5.
The fifth intermediate benediction, Healing/Refuah, is changed
slightly. The traditional "who heals the sick of His people
Israel" is changed to "Healer of the sick", a potentially older
version found in J. Ber. 2.4 and Sifrei to Deut. 33.2. The
change was made because the older version is more
comprehensive.
6.
The sixth intermediate benediction, Blessing of the Years
(Abundance)/Birkat Hashanim, is also changed slightly: one
phrase ("Bless our year like other years") is omitted.
7.
The seventh intermediate benediction, Ingathering of the
Exiles/Kibbuts Galuyot, is rewritten. The Reform version begins
the same way as the traditional text, but in place of the
petition for the ingathering of the exiles goes on to emphasize
the hope for universal freedom. Thus, "...bring our exiles
together and assemble us from the four courners of the
earth..." becomes "...inspire us to strive for the liberation
of the oppressed, and let the song of liberty be heard in the
four corners of the earth..."
8.
The eight intermediate benediction, Justice/Birkat Mishpat, is
also rewritten. The first half, which traditionally voices the
hope for the restoration of Israel's judges, is reworded to
express the hope for universal justice (based on passages such
as Isa 40.23; Ps. 148.11; Joel 3.1; Zech 12.10, and so on). The
second half is almost identical with the traditional.
9.
The ninth intermediate benediction, a malediction against
slanderers or informers (originally heretics), is omitted.
10.
The tenth (traditional, ninth in Reform) intermediate
benediction, Blessing for the Righteous/Birkat Hatsadikim, is
abridged (i.e., "...upon the righteous and faithful of all
peoples, and upon all of us.")
11.
The eleventh (traditional, tenth in Reform) intermediate
benediction, Builder of Jerusalem/Bonei Yerushalayim, is
rewritten. Traditionally, this benediction beseeches God to
rebuild Jerusalem and to reestablish the Davidic monarchy.
Partly for doctrinal reasons, and partly because the
traditional theme is repeated by the subsequent benediction,
the Reform version is altered to be a prayer for the present
and continuing welfare of the land and people of Israel. The
Reform version also contains an allusion to the connection
between Zion and the messianic hope, expressed by a reference
to Zion and Jerusalem as the source of enlightenment to all
humanity.
12.
The twelfth (traditional, eleventh in Reform) intermediate
benediction, Blessing concerning David, Birkat David, is also
rewritten. In the Reform version, the hope for restoration of
the Davidic commonwealth is broadened into a concept of a
Messianic Age.
13.
The thirteenth (traditional, twelfth in Reform) intermediate
benediction, Who Harkens to Prayer/Shomei-a Tefillah, is
abridged.
Final three benedictions:
1.
The first of the last three benedictions, Worship/Avodah, is
modified. The traditional references to sacrificial worship are
omitted; instead, a throught on the theme of God's nearness to
all who seek God with sincerity is used.
2.
The second of the last three benedictions,
Thanksgiving/Hoda-ah, uses the complete text, but is rendered
in a gender-neutral fashion.
3.
The last of the three benedictions, the Priestly
Benediction/Birkat Kohanim, is retained relatively unchanged
from the traditional version, although some of the translations
are more freely done.
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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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