Why does the new prayer book open only from right to left?
While proudly universalistic, Mishkan T’filah reflects the growing importance of Hebrew and commitment to Am Yisrael (Jewish peoplehood) in our Movement; therefore, it opens in the traditional manner of a Hebrew book, from right to left. How important is it to our Movement that a single prayer book becomes widely adopted by Reform congregations? It’s very important. Some people think that we live in a post-denominational age–that denominations just don’t matter anymore. I disagree. More than ever, in this age of choice, Jews have to decide what kind of Jews they are. People who say they are “just Jewish” have not yet processed their Judaism beyond its bare essentials. Mature and full Jewish identity requires choices, and choices imply denominations. And the prayer book is the gateway to Jewish identity; more than anything else, how we pray defines what kind of Jew we are. I grew up in an Orthodox shul, and while I can still appreciate traditionalist services, I find the Orthodox praye
