Tefillah Rising

Tefillah is the Hebrew word for prayer. But the word doesn't tell us much about how we should pray. I am sure most of you have experienced a service or moment of personal prayer that did not rise to your expectations or highest spiritual hopes. You may have even developed a sense that prayer is, by nature, static, old, and difficult to practice. However, prayer innovations have long characterized Reform Judaism. Music has been central to the innovations throughout the centuries. Despite the fact that halachah (traditional Jewish law) now forbids the use of musical instruments on Shabbat, the Psalms and Rabbinic writings indicate that music, instruments, and song were central to prayer in the Temple in ancient Jerusalem. Reform Judaism (and now increasingly Conservative Judaism) no longer follows that legal prohibition and you are likely to find much music in our services.

The musical mode was never completely lost. Jewish music has a long tradition that has been increasingly explored and released through projects like the Milken Archives. Movements like Hasidism in the 18th century and early mystical strands emphasized the importance of music to prayer. In the late 12th century, for example, Yehuda HeHassid wrote in The Book of Hasidim, "When you pray, choose a tune you like, then your heart will feel what your tongue speaks. For it is song that makes your heart respond."

Today, we are moved by music as much as we ever were. And, we have easier access to music from all genres in so many formats (thanks to digital downloads, CDs, portable devices). The impact of Tefillah is rising as we layer more music into our prayer, adapt current genres of music to prayer settings, and use music connect the feelings of our hearts to words we speak.

It doesn't take a genius to recognize when the heart, mind, and tongue are aligned in a moment of prayer. And shouldn't take 900 years to realize that the music we like is one of the best vehicles for raising our prayers through our hearts and even higher.

Don't forget to join us at MRT for Shabbat Hallelu this Friday night at 7:45 PM or Shabbat Shir Chadash next Friday at 6 PM. Both are specially designed musical services using new instruments, bands, and melodies that are sure to align with your spirit. See you there....