Wednesday, June 1, 7:30-9:00 pm, the Ritual Committee will host a congregational meeting on the Communal Prayers-for Israel, Our Country and Peace.  Details below. 
This Wednesday, June 1, 7:30-9:00 pm, the Ritual Committee will host a meeting to hear the thoughts of the congregation on the Communal Prayers: Israel, Our Country and Peace.  After an overview from Rabbi Greyber, congregants will be invited to briefly share their thoughts on the first 4 questions outlined below. Please review the questions in advance and if you'd like to speak, please come with your thoughts in mind. Leslie Winner, Board 2nd Vice President, will facilitate this meeting and keep the conversation moving so the many different perspectives of the congregation can be shared.

Congregants are encourages to share thoughts on questions #5 or any of the other questions in writing at the meeting. People can additionally send their thoughts by email to the new Ritual Committee Co-Chairs, Randi Smith, [email protected], and Meg Anderson, [email protected].

1) The Ritual Committee is considering alternate texts for a Prayer for Israel and a Prayer for Our Country and a Prayer for Peace than what is currently in Siddur Sim Shalom. What criteria should the committee use in evaluating the content of these prayers?

2) What is important to you about saying these prayers as a community?

3) As a community any week the Prayer for Israel is recited the Prayer for our Country will also be recited. Do you have a preference as to whether the Prayer for Peace can be recited on its own or do you prefer it to always recited in a trio with the other two prayers?

4) Is it important to you if any of these three prayers are said specifically in Hebrew or English?

5) We will continue to work towards the goal of completing services by 12:15 pm on Shabbat. Adding the Communal Prayers to Shabbat Services on a weekly basis lengthens the service by several minutes. Is there a part of the service that, if it can be skipped and still maintain the Conservative movement's standards for communal liturgy, you would prefer to skip in order to include these prayers weekly?

For some background on this discussion please read the communication from the Ritual Committee and Rabbi Greyber over the past year.

2015 Ritual Committee
Communal Prayer Meeting Notice

I hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday.

L'shalom,
Aviva Starr
Past Ritual Committee Chair

Beth El Synagogue
1004 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919)682-1238 | Email Us

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