Starting on November 22 for Shabbat services we will be using our new prayer books. We just purchased copies of Mishkan T’fillah, the prayer book published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis, an affiliate of the Union of Reform Judaism. Although new for us, it was published in 2007 and is used throughout the country is Reform congregations. My liturgy professor at Hebrew Union College, Rabbi Doctor Lawrence Hoffman, said that each generation should write their own prayer book to reflect their own values. The prayer book is a complete worship service including all the prayers prescribed for all our holidays except the High Holydays. The English readings reflect what Jews in the 21st Century are concerned with, including feminism, social justice, Zionism, distinctiveness, and human challenges. We are a diverse people and Mishkan T’fillah tries to appeal to everyone. It gives many choices on the page to look at, either the Hebrew, direct translation of the prayers or poetic musings on our tradition. It is book that can move every Jew to worship.

I understand change is hard and congregants become attached to what they are familiar with. I feel we should all give Mishkan T’fillah a try.  Come to services – that is the only way to embrace a new initiative. I will be explaining the book at least for the first month that we will be using it, in hopes that you will become comfortable with the new text. This is an exciting adventure for TSS. Please meet me at services and let us explore Mishkan T’fillah together.

This week’s Torah Portion Vayeitze deals with Jacob’s experiences in Haran. In the end Jacob was able to return to Canaan with a large prosperous family. The twenty years that he lived in Haran and worked for his uncle Laban were very hard. On numerous occasions Laban tricked Jacob. Jacob had to use all the cleverness he possessed to eventually get what he wanted. Jacob was a complicated character with many flaws. God had to teach him many lessons. One important lesson is that the end does not justify the means. It is not enough to want to do the good, one must do the good. The steps that we take to achieve the good must be just and honorable.

The central theme of the sedra is that we must struggle with ourselves to make a difference in our lives. Jacob has a dream and fights with an angel and comes out of that experience a better person, more secure, kinder and dedicated to doing the right thing. The Rabbis say that the “angel” is really Jacob himself, struggling with his negative traits. The portion implies that we can make ourselves better if we face our issues and struggle with our “demons.”