Services
Written January
2004
“Shabbat
shalom, Shabbat shalom, Shabbat, Shabbat, Shabbat, Shabbat shalom. Shabbat
shalom, Shabbat shalom, Shabbat, Shabbat, Shabbat, Shabbat shalom,” sings
the leading congregant. Her voice rises in the air as the last stragglers
reach their chairs and all of our voices join her in song. “Shabbat, Shabbat,
Shabbat, Shabbat shalom.”
This is our opening song. A simple song, consisting
of simply the two Hebrew words “Shabbat shalom,” the wishing of peace
on Shabbat. It opens our services every Friday night, welcoming us and calling
us for prayer. We all know it, from the youngest child to the oldest senor,
and our voices rise together in harmony, welcoming Shabbat and beginning our
service.
The song ends and we open our prayer books, going into
the substance of our service. We start with Shalom Aleyhem, and continue
without pause into Ma Tovu. These are familiar tunes, very similar
to each other. Most of the prayers are in like tunes, with a few exceptions.
Way back in history, before there were printed prayer books, everything in
a service had to be memorized. So that the prayers would be easier for children
to learn, a simple tune was laid out, and the majority of the prayers were
put to that tune. Those traditional tunes are still used today, and they aid
us in learning the prayers so that we, too, can sing them.
“May the door of this synagogue be wide enough to receive
all who hunger for love, all who are lonely for fellowship. May it welcome
all who have cares to unburden, thanks to express, hopes to nurture. May the
door of this synagogue be narrow enough to shut out pettiness and pride, envy
and enmity. May its threshold be no stumbling block to young or straying feet.
May it be too high to admit complacency, selfishness, and harshness. May
this synagogue be, for all who enter, the doorway to a richer and more meaningful
life.” This unnamed prayer, immediately following Ma Tovu, is one
of my favorites. It is one that we say together rather than chanting, in
soft voices. Voices mingle together, the words calm and reassuring, stating
a purpose.
This prayer emphasizes one reason why services are so
important for me. They bring people together. In places where the Jews are
few, services are the one place where we’re all together. All of us Jews,
together, observing our religion. In Loudoun County, and throughout the world,
wherever there are Jews. All are watching the darkness come on the eve of
Shabbat and beginning their festivities — their dinner with the accompanying
blessings, and their service. It makes me feel connected. The act of attending
services and praying is a reminder of my culture and of my religion. It connects
me with other Jews, both local and around the world — all Jews. “May the door
of this synagogue be wide enough to receive all.”
With the preliminary prayers done, it is time for the
Barhu, the call to worship. “Barchu et Adoni ha-m’vorah,” the
leading congregant chants. Praise the Lord, Source of all blessing. “Baruch
Adoni ha-m’vorah l’olam va-ed,” we respond with her. Praised be the Lord,
Source of all blessing, forever.
This is one of the most important prayers, one which
we recite standing. It is the formal posture for prayer. In older days, when
services were shorter, all prayers were recited in this position. Now, since
services are so long, only the most important prayers are said standing. The
Barhu is one of them.
The Barhu emphasizes the Jewish view of prayer’s
importance. “Praise the Lord, Source of all blessing.” The prayer in services
is the way for Jews to pray to G-d. It is a connection between G-d and the
Jewish people. Prayer is defined as “a specially worded form used to address
G-d,” and that’s exactly what it is. In our services, we use the words, both
in Hebrew and in English, to address G-d, to praise him or to ask for help.
This is the main point of prayer in Jewish services. This is what we are there
to do. To pray to G-d.
“Shama yisrael adoni elohanu, adoni echad,” we
chant next. Hear, oh Israel: the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One. Silently,
we add, “Baroch sham c’vod malchuto, l’olam vaed." Blessed [is His]
Name, Whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever. We go from that prayer right
into the chanting of another, the V’ahavta. These, too, are major
prayers. The Shema is one that no Jewish child goes without learning. It
underlines an important Jewish view, that G-d is one. The V’ahavta
is its sister prayer, a prayer reminding us of G-d’s commandments and how
we should always obey them, never be without them.
“Oseh shalom bi-m’romav, hu ya-aseh shalom aleynu
v’al kol yisrael, v’imru amen,” we sing as we conclude another set of
prayers—the Amidah. The Amidah is a set of silent prayers, so
Oseh Shalom brings everyone back to collected prayer. “May the One
who causes peace to reign in the high heavens let peace descend on us and
on all Israel, and let us say: Amen,” the Oseh Shalom prayer means.
Peace is a huge thing in Judaism. To me, Oseh Shalom is a reminder
of just how much peace is needed. And it breaks the silence with a peace of
its own — a peace of united prayer.
Every service concludes with the Mourner’s Kaddish.
This prayer is recited only by the leading congregant, those who are mourning
someone who has recently died, and those who are observing yarzit (the anniversary
of a person’s death, according to the Jewish calendar). This is a prayer to
honor the dead, but it speaks of life and G-d. It confirms that the reciting
people still believe in G-d, despite the death. It is a prayer with a double
meaning.
We finish with Adon Olam, our closing song, and
the service ends. We move to the oneg. Everyone stays after, chatting and
eating the food that a sponsor has provided. We know each other, mostly. It’s
the same familiar faces every week. We catch up on each other’s news, and
talk about the happenings in the congregation. We stay for a while, and eventually
people begin to stagger out. The number of us left dwindles, until finally
we have all left, to see each other the next week.
I am a Jew. Judaism is both my religion and my culture.
Services are an important part of both of those, and I take joy out of them.
They are my connection to both the Jewish faith and the Jewish people. I am
proud to take part in them week after week.