Welcome
Written by Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet
Welcome to this section of the website celebrating the publication of the eighth edition of ‘Seder Ha-t’fillot’, ‘Forms of Prayer’, our Movement prayerbook. Here you will find much information on its history and development over an eight year period – the issues that we had to address, the feedback from congregations to the various drafts and the way it changed and developed in response to concerns, problems and suggestions for improvements. You will be able to see just how much it has been a collaborative effort - that is part of what makes this new edition unique.
Many people only get to see the Siddur on a Shabbat evening or morning during the regular services, so we have done our best, with the translation, explanations, transliteration and reflective passages to make it accessible. But this new edition is also intended for family and private use, with extended sections on home celebrations, as well as personal prayers and meditations for many lifecycle experiences and events. The new Study Anthology contains favourite passages from previous editions alongside much new material, and an entirely new section that focuses on the nature and structure of Jewish worship services. The many new songs included offer the chance to learn new musical settings to enhance the quality of our services. The illustrations, by Jewish artists from throughout Europe, open up the challenge of how art can play a role in our Jewish spiritual life.
We hope that this website will encourage you to make fuller use of the new Siddur, privately and through congregational study and discussion. The ‘Compact Edition’ makes it an ideal travelling companion, whether for daily use or occasional browsing, as many have already discovered.
The world today looks different than it did thirty years ago when the last edition appeared. We offer this Siddur as a Jewish response to the challenges of a new millennium.
