About Siddur Chaveirim Kol Yisraeil

This Siddur is named Chaˇveiˇrim Kol Yisˇraˇeil, a phrase from the blessing recited on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh (the first day of the new Hebrew month), praying that God will cause all of the Jewish people from the earth's four corners to join together in friendship and community. The sentiments of the phrase describe well the process by which this Siddur was created. In addition, the Siddur's content itself reflects our vision of harmony among the Jewish people, a harmony respectful of our individual differences but one which also celebrates our unity as a single, unique people.

In November of 1995, Mark Frydenberg, of the Progressive Chavurah in Boston, inquired on the mail-havurah Internet discussion list whether other communities might wish to join together to create a new Friday night Shabbat Siddur. He described a Siddur that would be gender-sensitive, linearly arranged to encourage Hebrew literacy, with accurate English translation/rendition, complete transliteration for those not (yet) reading Hebrew, and commentary and liturgical options. Accepting this invitation, people from several Chavurot across North America came together to work on the project. (Many of those involved have never met each other in person and relied on e-mail to communicate.) Though differing somewhat in vision and practice, the group achieved consensus on the finished product, becoming in the process chaˇveiˇrim kol Yisˇraˇeil, friends and partners in Jewish worship.

The translations, transliterations, explanations, and readings are all original for this project. Some works have been used with permission.

This siddur was written by non-rabbis and rabbis, computer programmers and doctors, women and men, Hebrew readers and Hebrew learners. All of us share a desire to learn more about liturgy, and claim as our own the prayers our tradition has handed us. We invite you to share in our journey.

Features

• easy to read four column layout:
• Transliteration, Hebrew, and English arranged linearly along with kavvanot, inspirations and explanations about the liturgy, in four columns across the page
• complete transliteration of a traditional Hebrew text, perfect for those who do not yet read Hebrew but would like to participate in services
• gender neutral, accurate, inclusive English translations
• Liturgical options to the main Hebrew text that recognize tradition and reflect a pluralistic approach to Jewish prayer
• New English readings, some metrical translations

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