Use
This Guide Along With the Prayerbook
during the service
With
specific attention to the service as conducted at the Carlebach Shul
The page numbers are those of the English/Hebrew “Complete Artscroll Siddur”.
DON’T BE SHY:
TO FIND THE PLACE IN THE PRAYERBOOK (and in this accompanying guide) ASK SOMEONE FOR THE PAGE NUMBER; the sections below
are referred to by both the page numbers of the prayer and the name of the
prayer. Suggestion: as the prayers proceed,
glance at the section ahead so that you will know what to expect before it
happens.
Prayer is a meditation, an attempt to establish a connection with God. Since it may be preferable to say less, but with greater concentration and depth, several special sections are recommended below. Transliterations of some important sections are provided. NOTE: “[C]Hazan” = leader of the service.
SKIP NOW TO THE APPROPRIATE PAGE NUMBER BELOW
………………………………….
A. 
Afternoon service: “Min(c)ha”:
“Ashrei”=“Praiseworthy”.:P232: The [C]Hazan repeats the
last sentence or two. (don’t just read it, say it, in
a whisper) If you can say only one line, say with deep concentration the line ¾
of the way to the bottom beginning: “You open”. After saying it in English you
can say it in Hebrew: “Possay-ach es ya’decha, umasbi’ah lechol chai ratzon”
·
“Kaddish”
Top p234: The Chazan says “Kaddish” =”sanctification of God”. Beginning with
“May His Great Name….”. See siddur for appropriate
responses. The congregational response “Amen, May His great Name …” has great
spiritual kabbalistic significance and so it is traditionally said with
concentration and fervor. You can follow
along with the Hebrew/Aramaic “Amen, Ye’hey shmey rabbah mevorach, le’olam
oole’olmei olmaya”.
·
P235-249: “ShemonehEsrei-Amidah:
about 10
minutes long.
Recited (not just read) in silence, feet together (see how most of your fellow
congregants do it), with concentration. Better to say a little part of it
slowly and with concentration, for example the first 2 pages or so, than to say
more of it without concentration.
·
The Amidah is
repeated aloud by the chazzan (ten minutes). Each of the 19 blessings begins
“Baruch ata adonai”= “Blessed are you God =Hashem=Adonai”. After the Name “adonai” the congregation
says “baruch hu oo varuch shmo” = “blessed is He and blessed is His name”; at
the end of the blessing the congregation says “o-mayn”/”amen”: This repeat of
the service will give you the time to read it all in English as the chazzan is
saying it: think of the whole congregation as a unit beseeching God.
·
”Kedusha”: P236: Towards the beginning
of the repetition of the Amidah there is a responsive four part section
(“kedusha” = “holiness”) It begins with the chazan saying ”Ne’kadesh”
= “Let us sanctify”, and is said with one’s feet together. The prayer is based
on the words the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel heard the angels use in praising
God! Think of this as you say the words. See commentary etc.
·
Towards the end: “modem” , the congregation will give a response of a few sentences:
this is a sign that the next part of the service will begin soon:
·
P252: “Full
Kaddish”: “Amen, Ye’hey shmey rabbah mevorach, le’olam oole’olmei olmaya”,
with concentration.
·
P252-3: “Alenu
Leshabeyach” = “It is our duty”:notice that at the words “and we
bow” the congregants will bow slightly.
·
P255 middle-bottom “Mourner’s Kaddish”: Said by mourners or their appointed
representatives. See commentary. To follow along: “Amen, Ye’hey shmey rabbah
mevorach, le’olam oole’olmei olmaya”.
B.
P308: Kabbalat Shabbat: a pivotal service! J
·
Six psalms, followed by a kabbalistic poem, and then
a series of short verses recited aloud, in unison. After the congregation has
completed each psalm, the chazan repeats the ending of the psalm. At the
Carlebach shul the entire second, fourth and sixth Psalm of the service are sung; often the last one is accompanied by dancing: move
to the front of your section (men/women) to join in. Speaking during the
service is of course frowned upon; at the Carlebach shul the singing and
dancing is not “a break” in the service, it is taken very seriously as a
meditation of great concentration, intensity, and holy joy. The singing is a
high spiritual meditation, so you may choose not to read the words of the
prayer if it interferes with your “getting into” the singing; you can read the
words another time.
·
“Mizmor
LeDovid”: The sixth Psalm, Ps 29 contains many Kabbalistic allusions and is
to be said/sung with intense devotion and great joy.
·
P314
bottom: “Ana-beko-ach” = “We beg
you....”:short, intense, Kabbalistic poem: sometimes sung.
·
P316-318:
“LeCha Do-di”: the short verses are
sung; first by the congregants and repeated by the chazan or v.v.; at the
Carlabach shul there is dancing at the conclusion of this section. You’ll hear
the words: “LeCha Do-di” repeated
many times in this part of the service. BE
PREPARED TO PIVOT 180 degrees, to face the back of the synagogue or the
door with everyone else, at the last stanza, or the end of the next-to-last
one! (see commentary in the siddur for an
explanation).
·
P321:
Psalms 92: “Mizmor Shir LeYom
HaShabbat”: at the carlebach shul the beginning is often sung. This is the
Psalm for the Sabbath, and is therefore fittingly the seventh Psalm to be
recited in the Kabbalat Shabbat service. Then Psalm 93.
·
P322: “Mourner’s Kaddish”: Said by mourners or
their appointed representatives. see commentary.
Begins with “May His Great Name”.“Kaddish” =”sanctification of God”. The congregational response
“Amen, May His great Name …” has great spiritual kabbalistic significance and
so it is traditionally said with concentration and fervor. This transliteration
will help you follow along: “Amen, Ye’hey shmey rabbah mevorach, le’olam
oole’olmei olmaya”.
·
Depending on custom: the mishna
section “Bameh madlikim” p322 bottom
is recited/learned: Song of Songs is read (Shir ha’shirim): the short prayer
“kegavna” is said.
·
P329: The chazan recites “The Rabbi’s Kaddish”. One again says: “Amen,
Ye’hey shmey rabbah mevorach, le’olam oole’olmei olmaya”.
There
may be a short speech at this point, or after the evening service.
C. p331: Evening Service:
“Arvit”/”Ma’ariv”:
The Friday evening service has the same overall
structure as the evening service recited every night, but the actual prayers
are somewhat different.
·
Begins with “Barchu”:
p331: See the large font letters
“Bless Hashem”: the service-leader bows and says “Barchu es adonai hamevorach”,
and the congregants bow slightly and answer “Boruch adonai ha-mevorach le-olam
va-ed”. See siddur for translation and explanation.
·
Two short prayers, and then One of the central parts of the
entire service, the one-line “Sh’ma
Yisrael”:
p330 bottom, in large letters: “Hear oh
·
Following the shma a few short prayers follow - see
siddur - some of which may be partially sung, particularly: p337 “Veshomroo”: “And the children of Israel shall keep” To help you
follow along in the singing, this is a transliteration of the words: “Veshomroo bnay yisroel, es hashabos,
la’asos es hashabos, ledorosom bris olom, baynee oovayn b’nay yisroel, os hee le’olam,
key shayshess yamim asah adonai es ha’sha’mayim ve’ess ha’aretz, oovayom
hashvi’ee shavass va-yinafash”
·
Half Kaddish: Begins with “May His Great
Name” Kaddish=sanctification of God. The congregational response “Amen, May His
great Name …” has great spiritual kabbalistic significance and so it is
traditionally said with concentration and fervor. In Aramaic/Hebrew it is “Amen, Ye’hey shmey rabbah mevorach,
le’olam oole’olmei olmaya”.
·
P338-34:
“Shemoneh Esrei – Amidah” for the
evening service. Silent prayer. Feet together, no interruptions. Better to say
a little part of it slowly and with concentration, for example the first page
or so, than to say more of it without concentration.
·
After this: “And the Heavens” = “Vayechulu”
·
Chazan: “Blessed….” . The
congregation says: “He who was”= “Magen
Avot”
·
P348:
chazan says Kaddish: remember:
“Amen, Ye’hey shmey rabbah mevorach, le’olam oole’olmei olmaya”.
· P348 bottom: Kiddush, said over wine.
· P350 Short prayer: “Alenu Leshabeyach” = “It is our duty”: at the words “and we bow”
the congregants bow slightly (see how most of your fellow congregants do it).
· P352: Mourner’s kaddish:
see above: “Amen, Ye’hey shmey rabbah mevorach, le’olam oole’olmei olmaya”.
· P352 bottom: Adon Olam is sung, beginning with
“Master..” . Yigdal may be sung.
This
completes the service.
Dinner
At
dinner but before the beginning of the meal, which itself is a kind of service,
everyone sings Shalom Aleichem, a welcoming of the angels who visit every
Shabbat table, then in many places “Eshet Chayil” is sung, and then Kiddush is
said over wine, then the washing the hands for bread, and the blessing over the
bread. With that the meal begins, often accompanied by singing and the sharing
of insights on Torah.
For
invitations to a shabbat dinner ask the Rabbi of the synagogue or a board
member immediately after the services; if it is a few days beforehand, contact
Steve Eisenberg or Eva Levy.
Saturday
The
morning service usually begins about 9 am (later at the Carlebach shul), and
end about 11:30 (about 1 pm or later at the Carlebach shul) followed in most
synagogues by a “kiddush”, a (free) light meal or snack.
Before
sunset the shabbat afternoon service is said, similar
in structure to the one for Friday but with the addition of a short reading
from the Torah. Followed in most synagogues by a (free) light
meal.
After
this, when the stars are beginning to appear, is the evening service, very
similar in structure to Friday’s, and then Havdallah, the (short) ceremony
marking the conclusion of the Shabbat, with a blessing over wine, a fragrance
and a flame.
References:
Books
on the prayers and about Shabbat can be found online, at Jewish bookstores (ask
a clerk for help), in some synagogues, and at Aish Hatorah. See http://www.innernet.org.il/archives/cosmic.htm (Innernet’s “The Cosmic Prayer Connection”)
and other articles referenced in their archive. See also the links to prayer on
www.aish.com
eg http://www.aish.com/spirituality/prayer/
. See the Artscroll book “Kaddish” for a deeper discussion of that prayer.
Classes on prayer can be found at many synagogues as well as at Aish Hatorah
and Hineni, and for women at the Jewish Renaissance Center and Drisha.
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Please
feel free to take this with you when you leave to read later at your leisure;
if not please return it to its place.
…………………….
This
is a preliminary edition: Please send your comments, references, suggestions,
including suggested additions/changes to: avi.rabinowitz@nyu.edu . This material is
copyright, but may be reproduced WITHOUT CHANGE OR ADDITION for non-commercial
use in synagogues and schools. If you wish a special version to be crafted for
the service at your synagogue, please write to the e-mail address above.
……………..
For
SYNAGOGUES: MAKE SIGNS VISIBLE AT THE back OF THE SHUL:
Instead
of announcing page numbers every page etc, just have a sign with a holder for
cards, placed in succession one on top of the other as the service proceeds,
with numbers of sections of the service correlated to the numbers I’ll put on
the sections of the Guide, and the name of the section
Eg
1. Afternoon
Service: Ashrei
2. Afternoon
Service: Kaddish
3. Afternoon
Sevice: Shemoneh Esrei Amidah
· (throughout the services, and in various synagogues, you will
hear the congregants’ responses said in various pronunciations, based on their
background communities.