MISHKAN T'FILAH, the new prayer book for Weekdays, Shabbat and Festivals, has been introduced across the American Reform (Progressive) Movement - the Union for Reform Judaism - during 2008, to great acclaim.

It was developed for the North American market over many years, building on the many prayer books that have come before it, and most notably on its predecessor, Gates of Prayer, brilliantly edited by Rabbi Elyse D Frishman.

It is fresh, exciting, innovative and offers great opportunties to stimulate spirituality for our own generations.

However, it became clear that in certain respects it does not quite fit with the practice of some progressive congregations outside of North America, and especially those English-speaking ones in the Southern Hemisphere who are not sufficiently large to develop and produce their own and have generally relied on the American books.  In particular, these are the congregations found across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Differences fall into two categories - a) Being in the southern hemisphere, references to the seasons (which relate to Israel and more generally the northern hemisphere) can be confusing, and b) in general, progressive congregations outside of North America tend to the more traditional end of the spectrum of prayer and practice, and hence slightly more of the traditional liturgy is preferred (for example the full haftarah blessings and the full Shema should be available). 

For these reasons, a full process of review has been undertaken amongst the Rabbis of the Australia, New Zealand and Asia region over the past 6 years, to consider which Siddur would be the best replacement for Gates of Prayer.

Over the past 2 years, this has been formalised and the consultation extended to include lay input, by the so called 'Victorian Committee', headed by Philip Mayers in conjunction with the Rabbis of the Va'ad Victoria and through them the Rabbis of the region with some consultation and welcome input from the Rabbis of the South African Union for Progressive Judaism.  The conclusion was that we would seek to produce a version of one of the new generations of prayer books, tailored for use in our regions.

A full needs analysis led to the review and evaluation of various new Progressive Prayer Books, and Mishkan T'filah was clearly the one that most closely satisfied our requirements, and we then set about a process of detailing our needs and wishes on the one hand, and formally negotiating permission to produce a local version on the other.

The new book, to be called 'MISHKAN T'FILAH - World Union Edition', will be published during 2009 and promises all the freshness, excitement and innovation, and the great opportunties to stimulate spirituality, that the American version does, but suited to the specific needs and traditions in our region. 

The book will clearly be a part of the CCAR Mishkan T'filah range, and will maintain the clean and informative house style and presentation, and also the pagination, so that it can be used when taken to America, and similarly the regular American editions can be used when visitors come to our congregations.

As with the regular version, the book of course opens right to left in the Hebrew style, but it will only be available fully transliterated, and a decision has also been made to keep the translations in line with the degendered CCAR High Holyday Machzor Gates of Repentance, and use 'Eternal One' (in place of Mishkan T'filah's 'Adonai' throughout) in the English.  The 'World Union' Edition will also be printed on a high-grade and high opacity but thinner paper which will reduce the weight, bulk and evironmental impact by up to 40%, and it will include 2 marker ribbons.

This website is being regularly updated so you can see progress on our exciting 'World Union Edition' Siddur.

                                                                                                            Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black