September/October 2011
Dear Friends at TBT,

A few days ago Eit Ratzon, a new mahzor / prayer book for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, was published, and copies were immediately shipped to TBT. The text and format—reflecting its editor’s progressive-traditional Jewish outlook, one consistent with our needs as an unaffiliated, open-minded congregation committed at the same time to the core beliefs and most vital values of Judaism—allow us to see our holy liturgy with fresh eyes and appreciate its beauty with a renewed sense of awe befitting the upcoming holiday season. Eit Ratzon has several advantages for us:

Its translation employs familiar, modern language. It is egalitarian and thus fully inclusive of women as well as men. Its textual selections from Jewish tradition and its interpretive passages affirm (instead of casting aspersions on) the humanity and ethical capacities of gay and lesbian Jews as well as our non-Jewish neighbors and relatives. It provides us with theological choices instead of insisting on a one-size-fits-all way of looking at Jewish beliefs and ideas. It contains transliteration of virtually the entire text and thus gives a voice to non-Hebrew along with Hebrew readers. Instead of assuming that the user understands how to pray as a Jew and what the prayers mean, it offers clear, easy-to-follow explanations and commentaries that can help to empower—and validate the spiritual questioning of—the person experiencing these holidays.

Refusing to impose dogma, it welcomes questioning and flexible, dynamic reflection—even while it is consistent with the core teachings of the Jewish religious value system. I am very excited about having the chance to introduce it to you; this year’s services will be, I expect, an eye-opening, heart-felt and richly educational time for us as a synagogue community and, I hope, for each of us individually. I hope that, as we continue to use and grow familiar with it over the years, the prayer book will prove to be a blessed resource for our congregation.

Its title, Eit Ratzon, translates roughly to mean “A Time of Favor/Desire,” “A Favorable/Auspicious Moment.” This is, indeed, an auspicious moment in our congregation’s evolving relationship with the Torah and the teachings of Judaism. By choosing Eit Ratzon, TBT has signaled its ongoing, always remembered commitment to the Jewish idea that, as Rav Kook said, “The old becomes new, and the new becomes holy.” This is also what is suggested, in our liturgy for the Days of Awe (High Holidays), when we prayerfully call out to God: hadesh yameynu kekedem - “renew our days as of old!”

Ah, but speak about good timing: as, in mid-August, I conclude this message to you, my son, having brought in the mail, just now—at this very moment—walks into my study and hands me an envelope containing my copy of Eit Ratzon. I can barely contain my eager desire to open the package and to start leafing through and diving deep into this wonderful new resource—and to share it with you!

Leshanah Tovah!

Rabbi Seth Riemer