• General Resources
• Music
• Sermons and Preaching

• GENERAL RESOURCES  (return to top)

Donin, Hayim Halevy. To Pray as a Jew. New York: Basic Books, 1991.

The classic in the field, this book details Orthodox practice and understanding of Jewish prayer.

Donin, Hayim Halevy. To Be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in Everyday Life. New York: Basic Books, 1991.

This volume has long been acknowledged as the classic guide to traditional Jewish laws and customs as they apply to daily life.

Hammer, Reuven. Entering Jewish Prayer. New York: Schocken Books, 1995.

A commentary on the liturgy of the Siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book, this resource deals with basic issues for the modern worshiper, the historial compilation of the Siddur, and much more.

Hoffman, Lawrence A. The Way Into Jewish Prayer. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2000.

Using Jewish history and thought as a foundation, The Way into Jewish Prayer explains the why, how, where, what, and when of Jewish prayer. Hoffman introduces the reader to the power and subtlety of Jewish prayer by exploring its historical and philosophical contexts. Drawing on both modern philosophers and medieval thinkers, the author moves from concepts of God (why) to the Jewish prayer service (how) to the synagogue and communal prayer (where) to deeper meanings inside the main prayers (what) to the Jewish calendar and the yearly cycle (when). Throughout much of the book, Hoffman applies the spiritual concept of being a “prayerful person” and helps the reader put concepts like prayerfulness and spiritual spontaneity into a Jewish context. The Way into Jewish Prayer is a useful tool both for those unfamiliar with Jewish ideas and worship and for advanced students wishing to enrich their practice. The book could be used in introductory classes on Judaism, or individual chapters could be adapted for in-depth study of philosophy, history, spirituality, holidays, and ritual.

The Carlebach minyanim (prayer groups) in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and elsewhere are recommended as wonderful places to daven (pray) and experience some of the joy of this renewal. Find a worldwide list of locations at www.rebshlomo.org/connect/minyan.

• MUSIC  (return to top)

Summit, Jeffrey A. The Lord's Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish Worship. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Uniquely, this book takes both a scholarly and a congregation-friendly approach to reviewing and evaluating music in Jewish worship settings. It also contains a CD of the music referenced in the book.

Much contemporary Jewish music is coming from Israel as well as the rest of the Jewish world. This music is often associated with the growth of spirit-centered Judaism. Artists to look for include Bustan Avraham and Rabbi Shefa Gold, among many others.

The Guild of Temple Musicians is an educational and networking organization for synagogue musicians, affiliated with the American Conference of Cantors (see Reform Judaism). It publishes a newsletter and offers workshops for members, as well as an annual convention. The president for the 2002-2004 term (beginning 1 July 2002) is Ben Steinberg. He is the contact person at the address and phone below.

• SERMONS AND PREACHING  (return to top)

Torahfax

Torah-Fax is a rabbinical support organization that supplies rabbis from all branches of Judaism with sermons and resources for sermons.

Rabbi James Bleiberg creates workshops that recruit and train the next generation of synagogue leaders. Drawing on his 11 years as a pulpit rabbi and his doctorate in clinical psychology, Rabbi Bleiberg collaborates with lay and rabbinic leaders to customize each workshop to fit the particular needs of a synagogue. Next Generation Workshops include case studies spotlighting best practices, exploration of pertinent Jewish texts and follow-up “homework” through which participants apply their workshop experiences.

Rabbi Jack H. Bloom has run Career Review and Planning for the Central Conference of American Rabbis for 25 years and worked widely across the Jewish communal spectrum. The model he offers is useful not only for clergy. It can also be used by a congregation interested in planning for its own future, to help it formulate what its goals are, what it expects from its rabbi, how it will know if its goals are achieved, and whether they are worth achieving. The career-planning workshop begins with a review of where participants are in their career, what their current abilities and past experiences are, and where they want to go. Its goal is to assist in the formulation of a personal working plan for the next five years. Rabbi Bloom has taught and led workshops on how congregations view their rabbi and what expectations of them are realistic. Additional topics include: dealing with new congregants, creating an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance, and team-building programs for congregational staff.

Dr. David Elcott has brought his insights and his analyses of Judaism and contemporary Jewish life to well over 100 communities across North America. This former vice-president of the Center for Leadership and Learning has brought his programs to communal leaders, rabbis, Jewish communal professionals, and young leadership, transforming anxiety over the future into confidence in the Jewish people’s capacity to renew themselves once again as a vital force in the world. Author of A Sacred Journey: The Jewish Quest for a Perfect World, Dr. Elcott works with Jewish communal organizations to retool their missions and vision in response to the conditions of 21st-century life.

Rabbi Larry Kushner is the leading resource for congregational spiritual growth in the United States. For a congregation willing to seriously study its spiritual life, he recommends a thorough process of involvement and review on every level and in every facet of congregational life. Only then would something like a year-long intervention with consulting begin to effect sustained change. An organization like Synagogue 2000 (see National Organizations) can be of great help in such undertakings and, Kushner believes, should also be consulted.