New prayer books revive forgotten women’s liturgy http://jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/prayers-for-women-coming-back/ A terrorist attack inspired a Bar-Ilan University professor to research the neglected history of prayers for Jewish women. en-us bharris@jta.org Copyright 2008 2008-12-08T;17:27:00-05:00 Comment by charles jackson charles.jackson.nyc@gmail.com Given the greater responsibility placed on young Jewish males, from circumcision to figuring out how not to strangle one’s self putting on tephilin, maybe the women’s siddur should have the alternative blessing: “Shelo asani boy” Given the greater responsibility placed on young Jewish males, from circumcision to figuring out how not to strangle one’s self putting on tephilin, maybe the women’s siddur should have the alternative blessing: “Shelo asani boy”

]]> 2009-11-08T;03:12:00-05:00 Comment by Arnold Rosenzweig ar@jhvonline.com Dear JTA, Your article about the new liturgy includes reference to the “discomfort many feel with the traditional blessing thanking God for making women in his image, an alternative to the blessing for men that thanks God for not making them women.” But, in fairness, I think the statement misrepresents what is found in the traditional prayer book. In my Orthodox Siddur, the blessing for women ends “she-asani kirtzono"--which would be better ttanslated as offering thanks for His having “made me according to His will"--with no reference to being made in the divine image. For the man, the traditional blessing ends: “shelo asani isha"--"who has not made me a woman.” The men’s blessing has been traditionally explained in a positive way: Men offer thanks for the greater number of commandments that they must uphold. Both men and women are obviously made in the divine image. Yes, the traditional blessings said by men and women have been upheld, criticized, omitted and amended, but at least, let’s not confuse the divine image with being made “according to His will.” Shalom-you-all from AR down South, where we try to get our facts straight Dear JTA,
Your article about the new liturgy includes reference to the “discomfort many feel with the traditional blessing thanking God for making women in his image, an alternative to the blessing for men that thanks God for not making them women.”
But, in fairness, I think the statement misrepresents what is found in the traditional prayer book. In my Orthodox Siddur, the blessing for women ends “she-asani kirtzono"--which would be better ttanslated as offering thanks for His having “made me according to His will"--with no reference to being made in the divine image. For the man, the traditional blessing ends: “shelo asani isha"--"who has not made me a woman.” The men’s blessing has been traditionally explained in a positive way: Men offer thanks for the greater number of commandments that they must uphold.
Both men and women are obviously made in the divine image. Yes, the traditional blessings said by men and women have been upheld, criticized, omitted and amended, but at least, let’s not confuse the divine image with being made “according to His will.”
Shalom-you-all from AR down South, where we try to get our facts straight

]]> 2009-11-08T;03:12:00-05:00 Comment by Penny Kessler penny.kessler@gmail.com &lt;&lt;A conference on Jewish Women’s Prayer, sponsored by women’s organizations from across the denominational spectrum, is scheduled for March in New York City.&gt;&gt; Where/when will this conference be held? Is there more information? <<A conference on Jewish Women’s Prayer, sponsored by women’s organizations from across the denominational spectrum, is scheduled for March in New York City.>>

Where/when will this conference be held? Is there more information?

]]> 2009-11-08T;03:12:00-05:00 Comment by Linda Rich eandjsaunt@yahoo.com Does anyone know how I can get a copy of this prayer book? Does anyone know how I can get a copy of this prayer book?

]]> 2009-11-08T;03:12:00-05:00 Comment by Ellen Peck sabletaz@yahoo.com A must-have prayer book. A must-have prayer book.

]]> 2009-11-08T;03:12:00-05:00