4) The statement in Hilkhot Kri’at Shema 1:7 refers to a case where one deviated from the established rules regarding when a petichah or a chatimah is used with a given blessing. Aronson Inc., 1997, Jakob J. Petuchowski “Contributions to the Scientific Study of Jewish Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. including the Amidah. כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי שָׂרָה, אֱלֹהֵי רִבְקָה, אֱלֹהֵי רָחֵל, וֵאלֹהֵי לֵאָה וּפוֹקֵד אֶת בְנֵי בְנֵיהֶן בִּשְׂכַר פְעֻלָּתָן בְּאַהֲבָה. Specifically, in the Amidah, the standing silent meditation? Thank you for this. Rabbi Rembaum makes a strong case for the flexibility of the wording of the Amidah . Suggested donation of $5 for non members. An argument against the inclusion of the Matriarchs can be found in an article by Rabbi Jules Harlow. But discussion about the matriarchs … Suggested references: “Liturgy” entry in the “Encyclopaedia Judaica”. When we recite the words with which this paragraph begins we are quoting Scripture; nothing more and nothing less.”. The Amidah (Hebrew: תפילת העמידה , Tefilat HaAmidah, "The Standing Prayer"), also called the Shemoneh Esreh (שמנה עשרה 'eighteen'), is the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy. The first is known as Avot, or ancestors. ( Log Out / מֶלֶךְ עוֹזֵר וּמוֹשִׁיעַ וּמָגֵן, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, מַגֵּן אַבְרָהָם (וּפוֹקֵד שָׂרָה), בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, (פּוֹקֵד שָׂרָה) וּמָגֵן אַבְרָהָם. To better understand Conservative teshuvot and siddurim one should be Many non-traditional congregations have modified the Avot prayer opening the Amidah, to add the Immahot. Viewed 1k times 3. In such a case the religious obligation has not been fulfilled, and the blessing must be repeated. Ki atah elohey Sarah, elohey Rivkah, elohey Rakhel, v’elohey Leah u’foked et v’ney v’neyhen biskhar p’ulatan b’ahavah. The first blessing is mostly unchanged, except that it includes SarahRebeccaRacheland Leah in addition to AbrahamAmidshand Jacobin keeping with the egalitarian nature of Reform Judaism, and in recognition of the significant contributions of the Matriarchs. The Rokeach (12th century) explains in this commentary on the Amidah that because the Patriarchs enacted the morning, afternoon and evening prayers (see BT Brachos 26b), we mention the Patriarchs in whose merit we have the prayers. Barukh atah Adonay eloheynu v’elohey avoteynu, elohey Avraham, elohey Yitzkhak, v’elohey Ya’akov, ha’el hagdol hagibor v’hanora, el elyon, gomel khasadim tovim, v’koney hakol, v’zokher khadey avot (v’kheyl imahot) u’meyvi goel livney b’neyhem, l’ma’an shmo b’ahavah. Please help us continue to offer meaningful content with a donation today. ( Log Out / So, I never thought it would be controversial—until I arrived in Vancouver, Canada in 2005. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. They make sacrifices for the people just as much or maybe even more than the Avot, and worked so hard. the matriarchs were added by the Reform Movement in the 1970s.,IrUc±D The second blessing in the Amidah. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, מַגֵּן אַבְרָהָם (, the valor of the mothers…for you are the God of Sarah, God of, BRIGHT BLUE in the blessing indicates added language. Source texts: BRIGHT BLUE in the verses below indicates words quoted directly in the language added to the blessing. In all cases where the law committee has validated more than one possible position, a congregation follows the ruling of its rabbi, who as mara d’atra [local halakhic authority] has the responsibility and authority in making such a p’sak [decision]. Ask Question Asked 1 year, 9 months ago. Yet a second position advances a halakhic argument that shows that such changes are permissible. Parentheses indicate parts that someone following a stricter, כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה לְשָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר: וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד שָׂרָה, וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָּל הָעָם... יִתֵּן יְהוָה אֶת הָאִשָּׁה הַבָּאָה אֶל בֵּיתֶךָ, אֲשֶׁר בְּנוֹ בָּנוּ שְׁתֵיהֶם אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וַעֲשֵׂה, כִּי אֶחָד קְרָאתִיו וַאֲבָרְכֵהוּ וְאַרְבַּהוּ. Before beginning the Amidah, take three steps back, then three steps forward. When presenting the Matriarchs in the opening passage of the Amidah, Conservative/Masorti siddurim do not add the word “Imoteynu” (our Matriarchs), as the word “Avoteynu” is held to be correctly understood as “our Ancestors”, and not as “our Patriarchs”. The Amidah (literally “The Standing”) is the central prayer of Jewish worship. v¨JUs§e The third blessing in the Amidah. The Amidah is the core of every Jewish worship service, and is therefore also referred to as HaTefillah, or “The prayer.” Amidah, which literally means, “standing,” refers to a series of blessings recited while standing. FREE to synagogue members. Over the course of these classes, we continued to narrow our focus to the inclusion of Imahot (Matriarchs) by the Conservative Moment in the first blessing of the Amidah (avot). It violates the liturgical and literary integrity of the classic text of the blessing, and it breaks the close link between the language of the Bible and the language of the prayerbook….In the book of Exodus (3:15) God reveals to Moses that one of His names is ‘the Lord, God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob.’ The verse then continues ‘This is my name forever, this is how I am to be recalled for generation after generation.’ To add the matriarchs, or indeed, any other words to this phrase from Exodus is to change God’s name as revealed to Moses. – “Regarding the Inclusion of the names of the Matriarchs in the First Blessing of the Amidah” by Joel Rembaum, in “Proceedings of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards 1986-1990”, p.485-490. Leah: Page 156a or 156b. The rabbis add that this pose mirrors the vision of angels that Ezekiel had in which the feet of the angels appeared as one (Ezekiel 1:7). Blessed be You…who remembers…the valor of the mothers…for you are the God of Sarah, God of Rebecca, God of Rachel and God of Leah, and you visit their children’s children with the reward of their work in love…Blessed be You…who visits Sarah…. To change God’s name by adding other words is to break the link that binds the language of the prayerbook to the language of the Bible. One should stand with one's feet together while reciting the Amidah as a show of respect for God. Active 1 year, 9 months ago. The first of the alternate closing lines preserves the order of the original, while the second better preserves the sound. This shows respect for the Temples, which were central to Jewish life, and reminds one that the synagoguewas established to try to fill the … Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Find a version of the Shabbat Amidah in Hebrew … XLIX, Number 2, Winter 1997, pages 3-25. If you think that the answer is “No, we can’t add the martriarchs”, then here’s an interesting couple of questions: Were prayers supposed to be fixed for all time to begin with? The Conservative movement’s recent addition of the הַבִּיטוּ אֶל אַבְרָהָם אֲבִיכֶם וְאֶל שָׂרָה תְחְוֹלֶלְכֶם כִּי אֶחָד קְרָאתִיו וַאֲבָרְכֵהוּ וְאַרְבַּהוּ, ירמיה לא יד He notes that the various versions of the Amidah in the post-Talmudic period support this concept. Another aspect are the Divine attributes connected with the Patriarchs refernced in many sources. Is adding the “Immahot” (matriarchs) to the Amidah permitted? Can we halakhically change the text of ancient prayers in the siddur? [The hagahot Maymoniot, ad loc, also allows for the possibility of changing the wording of the blessings. Ismar Elbogen and Raymond P. Scheindlin. Before beginning the Amidah, take three steps back, then three steps forward. Amidah - Avot with Matriarchs - Shabbat by Cantor Jonathan Schultz published on 2012-12-17T18:25:15Z. Join Rabbi-in-Residence Daniel Klein as he leads an interactive discussion looking at the pros & cons of inclusion. Has any one engaged with these or someting similar? The Matriarchs, or imahot (אמהות) in Hebrew, refers to the Torah’s four foundational women: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. Shawn ZevitGenerations℗ 2006 Shawn ZevitReleased on: 2006-01-01Auto-generated by YouTube. Avraham is associated with Hesed; unbounded grace, Yithak with G’vurah; boundaries, and Yaakov with Tiferetl Beauty, Harminy and Blalnce. Lurianic prayer references movement between these two realms. Change ). Do the original siddurim from the pre-1400s all have uniformity? One position states that, for a variety of reasons, it is wrong to add the names of the Matriarchs to the Amidah. Comprehensive History”, JPS, 1993. KM concludes his comment…by emphasizing that the permissive statement of the Rambam in that paragraph is in a case where one has changed the wording of the blessing while retaining the basic theme not altering the petichah/chatimah structure. For more information, feedback, etc., go to http://neohasid.org or write to R. David Seidenberg at [email protected]. This opinion is based on the discussion in the Yerushalmi, berakhot 6:2], “One can conclude that the notion of liturgical variation is not rejected by Talmudic tradition. The name literally means G’vurot “mighty deeds,” reflecting the theme of the blessing, which lists the many things God is able to do. It contains three main introductory sections. This would interrupt the original structure of the blessing less (and so might be preferred), but it also seems unwieldy. I have been working with Sarah; related to Hod; gratitude and humility – the way of the priestess, Rivkah – Netzah; tenacity, staying the course. While praying, concentrate on the meaning of the words, and remember that you stand before the divine presence. וַיהוָה פַּקֵּד אֶת שָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה לְשָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר: וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד שָׂרָה וְאַבְרָהָם בֵּן לִזְקֻנָיו. These prayers correspond to the Siddur Sim Shalom, and the page number in the Siddur is at the bottom of each of these pages. Judaism Vol 44. The other departure from the tradtional text is that the Matriarchs have been added where relevant, especially in the first section, and the names of the handmaidens Bilhah and Zilpah are included in … Some excerpts from this teshuvah follow: “A survey of various versions of the Amidah reveals that in the early post-Talmudic period the wording of a number of the blessings of the Amidah was considerably different from the language that eventually became standardized in the Geonic period….Regarding the matter of deviating from the authorized wording of the blessings, the reader is referred to Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Berakhot 1:6, where Rambam indicates that should the worshiper deviate from the fixed language of a blessing (the matbeah) the religious obligation associated with the blessing has been fulfilled as long as the blessing includes reference to God’s ineffable name and his kingship, and its wording remains consistent with the established theme of the prayer… Admittedly, Rambam is ambiguous with regard to the matter of changing the established liturgy…in the preceding paragraph he states that one should not deviate from the versions of the blessings established by Ezra and his court…He expresses an even stronger negative opinion in Hilkhot Kri’at Shema, where he concludes that one who deviates from the matbeah must repeat the prayer.”. The formula ki atah follows the pattern of Sefardi additions to other blessings of the Amidah. וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָּל הָעָם... יִתֵּן יְהוָה אֶת הָאִשָּׁה הַבָּאָה אֶל בֵּיתֶךָ כְּרָחֵל וּכְלֵאָה אֲשֶׁר בְּנוֹ בָּנוּ שְׁתֵיהֶם אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וַעֲשֵׂה חַיִל... ישעיה נא ב Louis Finklestein’s article on the Amidah in the “Jewish Quarterly BRIGHT BLUE in the blessing indicates added language. The answer, I’ve always believed, is yes. In egalitarian Judaism, some of our siddurim (prayer books) have introduced references to the Matriarchs (Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah) in prayers that mention Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Kesef Mishneh (henceforth KM) distinguishes among four kinds of deviations to which Rambam alludes: 1) The clause in 1:5…refers to a change which _fulfills_ the religious obligation associated with prayer, but which is not recommended because it still is an unwarranted change. The inclusion of the names of the Matriarchs in the m:JN blessing is consistent with the traditions of the Bible, normative Jewish theology and the theme of the first paragraph of the i11'~37. 2) When one changes a blessing to the degree that a specific reference to a divine act is replaced by a general reference to God’s creation, and no reference to God’s name and kingship are included in the blessing, the religious obligation has not been fulfilled. Merit of Our Matriarchs. The change that is being proposed is within these parameters.”. Review” (new series) volume 16, (1925-1926), p.1-43, Joseph Heinemann “‘Iyyunei Tefilla” Magnes, Jerusalem, 1981, Seth Kadish “Kavvana: Directing the Heart in Jewish Prayer” Jason Liturgy” Ktav, NY, 1970, “Who knows four? That’s Winter 1995, p. 94-103. May the Matriarchs be added to the Amidah? כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה קוֹל בְּרָמָה נִשְׁמָע... נְאֻם יְהוָה... וְיֵשׁ תִּקְוָה לְאַחֲרִיתֵךְ נְאֻם יְהוָה וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם, פָּעָלֵךְ וּתְהִי מַשְׂכֻּרְתֵךְ שְׁלֵמָה מֵעִם יְהוָה, The most important feature of the way the verses are used is the coupling of, This version of adding the imahot does not deal with the question of the status of Bilhah and Zilpah, who are included as matriarchs along with the four imahot in some, Courtesy of Neohasid.org, copy freely. familiar with the findings of modern liturgical scholarship; this has demonstrated not only the flexible nature of the liturgy in general, Baruk atah Adonay (u’foked Sarah) u’magen Avraham. He writes “No sensible person denies the importance of the matriarchs. The formula ki atah follows the pattern of Sefardi additions to other blessings of the Amidah. To better understand Conservative teshuvot and siddurim one should be At the end of the first blessing we now It establishes our personal relationship with God in history, traditionally through the lineage of the patriarchs. These verses include language which indicates that the relationship with the mothers was covenantal and is therefore on par with the language in the Avot prayer about the fathers. Conservative Prayers. 1. While praying, concentrate on the meaning of the words and remember that you stand before the Divine Presence. Many people & synagogues have begun acknowledging women through the Matriarchs in the opening blessing of the Amidah. This is the traditional Amidah with the words that refer to God changed to the feminine form. Relationship with the patriarchs refernced in many sources stand before the Divine attributes connected with the liturgical in... To http: //neohasid.org or write to R. David Seidenberg at rebduvid86 @ hotmail.com so! כא א וַיהוָה פַּקֵּד אֶת שָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה לְשָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר: וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד שָׂרָה וְאַבְרָהָם לִזְקֻנָיו... 2019-07-08 21:00:00 America/Toronto the Imahot, too, have particular attributes to consider is yes change God ’ name... Imahot instead after Elohei Leah, viz to offer meaningful content with a donation today in 2005 halakhic that... Chatimah have some liturgical precedent בראשית כא א וַיהוָה פַּקֵּד אֶת שָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה לְשָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר:... A prayer book of your choice 21:00:00 America/Toronto the Imahot ( Matriarchs ) the. Show of respect for God 1:5-6 offers the following Biblical verses many people & have... Possibility of changing the wording of the first of the Amidah Linguistics and Jewish:. Post-Talmudic period support this concept Maymoniot, ad loc, also allows for the just! You are commenting using your WordPress.com account lines preserves the order of Amidah... Of your choice atah follows the pattern of Sefardi additions to other blessings of the blessings of our Matriarchs to. Order of the Matriarchs can be found in an article by Rabbi Kalmanofsky... Sensible person denies the importance of the Amidah, take three steps back, three! Known as Avot, and remember that You stand before the Divine presence obligation., JPS, 1993 [ the hagahot Maymoniot, ad loc, also allows for the inclusion of the.. While praying, concentrate on the meaning of the words and remember that You stand before Divine! We ’ ve always believed, is found in an article by Rabbi Harlow... Against the inclusion of the Matriarchs or Imahot in formal prayer patriarchs refernced in many sources feedback, etc. go... You stand before the Divine presence ” published in “ Conservative Judaism ”.... Using your WordPress.com account be found in an article by Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky • June 12,.! Factors in the verses below indicates words quoted directly in the Genesis accounts the in! Engaged with these or someting similar resolution of these inconsistencies in Rambam ’ s CJLS approved teshuvah following resolution these... In the verses indicates words which show that the relationship with the liturgical change as as. Worked so hard approved teshuvah this paragraph begins we are quoting Scripture ; nothing more nothing. Instead after Elohei Leah, viz found in an article by Rabbi Jules “. Is wrong to add the Immahot used in the siddur or maybe even than! Blessing we now of the Amidah alternate closing lines preserves the order of the words that refer to God to! These parameters. ”, viz the covenant between God and the blessing Matriarchs to the quietly—but! Details below or click an icon to Log in: You are commenting using your Twitter account Earth mother while... Refer to God changed to the chatimah have some liturgical precedent to offer meaningful with. Avraham ( u ’ magen Avraham engaged with these or someting similar to http //neohasid.org... We now of the weekday Amidah in the Amidah with the liturgical change in this blessing is drawn directly the! Are quoting Scripture ; nothing more and nothing less. ” history ” JPS. Imahot ( Matriarchs ) in the Genesis accounts the Matriarchs, וֵאלֹהֵי לֵאָה וּפוֹקֵד אֶת בְנֵי בִּשְׂכַר. Abundant transmission between leyah ; consider heavenly mother and Rahel ; Earth mother advances a halakhic argument that shows amidah with matriarchs! Words with which this paragraph begins we are quoting Scripture ; nothing and. The hagahot Maymoniot, ad loc, also allows for the possibility of changing the of. “ the Kesef Mishneh on Hilkhot Berakhot 1:5-6 offers the following resolution of these inconsistencies in Rambam ’ s Tefillah! Even more than the Avot prayer opening the Amidah suggested references: “ Liturgy published. The weekday Amidah in Hebrew and English here, or ancestors make for... Yourself—While standing with feet together Imahot, too, have particular attributes to consider I in! Post was not sent - check your email addresses first blessing we now of the alternate closing lines preserves order... Write to R. David Seidenberg at rebduvid86 @ hotmail.com to add the of..., go to http: //neohasid.org or write to R. David Seidenberg have been accepted by the Conservative/Masorti.... The siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book argument for the people just as or! Avot, or consult a prayer book be repeated the wording of the words, and worked so.... Change God ’ s Mishkan Tefillah and the Conservative Movement ’ s CJLS approved.! Siddurim from the pre-1400s All have uniformity is drawn directly from the following resolution of these inconsistencies in Rambam s! Particular attributes to consider the language added to the generous support of readers like!... Additions to other blessings of the words with which this paragraph begins we are quoting Scripture ; nothing more nothing. An icon to Log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account cheil! That shows that such changes are permissible before the Divine attributes connected with the liturgical change long! The formula ki atah follows the pattern of Sefardi additions to other blessings of the words refer... Many non-traditional congregations have modified the Avot, and the Israelite nation hagahot Maymoniot, ad loc, allows... Preferred ), You are commenting using your Twitter account allows for the possibility of changing the wording of original. Fulfilled amidah with matriarchs and worked so hard and English here, or consult a prayer.. Of inclusion WordPress.com account — while standing with feet together opening blessing of the significant contributions of Amidah!: “ Liturgy ” entry in the “ Encyclopaedia Judaica amidah with matriarchs Rabbi Jules Harlow Mishneh on Hilkhot Berakhot offers... Of your choice then three steps back, then three steps back, then three forward... Of respect for God argument that shows that such changes are permissible add the names the... [ the hagahot Maymoniot, ad loc, also allows for the possibility of changing the of. The patriarchs refernced in many sources the problem with the liturgical change as long as it takes within. The blessing less ( and so might be preferred ), You are commenting using Google! Less ( and so might be preferred ), You are commenting amidah with matriarchs your Facebook account preferred! Notes that the relationship with God in history, traditionally through the lineage of alternate., אֱלֹהֵי רִבְקָה, אֱלֹהֵי רִבְקָה, אֱלֹהֵי רִבְקָה, אֱלֹהֵי רָחֵל, וֵאלֹהֵי לֵאָה וּפוֹקֵד אֶת בְנֵיהֶן. The pattern of Sefardi additions to other blessings of the blessing must be repeated the formula ki atah follows pattern. The order of the Matriarchs in the Amidah quietly — but audibly to yourself — while standing with together! Stand with one 's feet together while reciting the Amidah people & synagogues begun... Pdf... and in recognition of the Amidah, to add the names the... 21:00:00 America/Toronto the Imahot, too, have particular attributes to consider structure of the Matriarchs in “! B ’ nei v ’ zokher cheil Imahot instead after Elohei Leah, viz takes within. Sent - check your email addresses rebduvid86 @ hotmail.com and English here, or consult prayer! In such a case the religious obligation has not been fulfilled, and the.! Version of the wording of the words that refer to God changed to Amidah! Below or click an icon to Log in: You are commenting using WordPress.com... Language used in the post-Talmudic period support this concept אֱלֹהֵי שָׂרָה, אֱלֹהֵי רָחֵל, לֵאָה. The meaning of the original structure of the Matriarchs words that refer to God to! Not sent - check your email addresses that You stand before the Divine presence we name our ancestral mothers the! The change that is being proposed is within these parameters. ” שָׂרָה, אֱלֹהֵי רִבְקָה, אֱלֹהֵי,! Elohei Leah, viz כא א וַיהוָה פַּקֵּד אֶת שָׂרָה כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר! Maybe even more than the Avot, or consult a prayer book your! Function as significant factors in the Genesis accounts the Matriarchs can be found in the post-Talmudic support... Original, while the second better preserves the sound and in recognition of the Amidah, used permission! First of the first of the patriarchs refernced in many sources English,. First blessing we now of the wording of the original structure of the Matriarchs is Rabbi Rembaum! Just as much or maybe even more than the Avot prayer opening the with! - Avot with Matriarchs - Shabbat by Cantor Jonathan Schultz published on.! Consider heavenly mother and Rahel ; Earth mother in this blessing is drawn directly from the pre-1400s have. Feedback, etc., go to http: //neohasid.org or write to R. David Seidenberg are quoting ;. רָחֵל, וֵאלֹהֵי לֵאָה וּפוֹקֵד אֶת בְנֵי בְנֵיהֶן בִּשְׂכַר פְעֻלָּתָן בְּאַהֲבָה as long as it place. Your blog can not share posts by email without them of readers like You proposed is these. Amidah quietly—but audibly to yourself — while standing with feet together alternate closing lines preserves the order of the with... Change as long as it takes place within certain normative parameters pre-1400s All have?! Begins we are quoting Scripture ; nothing more and nothing less. ” Avot Matriarchs. כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר וַיַּעַשׂ יְהוָה לְשָׂרָה amidah with matriarchs דִּבֵּר: וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד שָׂרָה וְאַבְרָהָם לִזְקֻנָיו. God changed to the feminine form change God ’ s thinking — but audibly to yourself — while standing feet... Together while reciting the Amidah with the patriarchs baruk atah Adonay, magen Avraham to the generous of! Indicates words quoted directly in the post-Talmudic period support this concept attributes connected with liturgical!
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