Missing you all already

[Rachel Gurevitz <rgurevit...>]

Hi everyone,

Back in the UK but still jetlagged it's really nice to 'hear' everyone over
e-mail.  I had an amazing time at HN again - would agree with the jist of
everything already mentioned in evaluation and have one suggestion re:
Hebrew, understanding services etc.

As some of you who I spoke to at HN already know, I also have a foot in the
Jewish renewal camp.  Until I went to my first renewal service I didn't
understand the structure of the service or the significance of particular
prayers at all, although I could read Hebrew fairly well - even the
translations didn't really help.  But the way a renewal service works (a
good one, not too kooky) it helps make the meaning of prayers and the
structure of the service really obvious.  Also, a technique that I use a
lot when planning to lead one of these services is to review the week's
parsha and other seasonal or relevant themes and then look at the service
to see what calls out to me that relates to those things- so each service
is a bit different and also highlights a message from Torah like a drash.
There was a lot of comment during HN from the leaders, especially Debbie,
about how the US Reform service had thrown so much good stuff out,
especially the morning service section before the Barechu.  

So why do we need to be restricted to following the book page by page just
using our favourite tunes?  In planning a service, at least one or two
could be more creative and maybe help some people understand them better in
the process.  And in being creative, we don't always need to say every word
of every page each time.  One renewal technique is focus on a line or two
that forms the essence of a prayer and use it to concentrate kavvanah
(intention)- this doesn't stop you reading through the rest of the prayer
yourself at the same time, but it helps us understand something about the
prayer and also helps out those with limited Hebrew - if you chant or sing
the same couple of lines over and over you soon get familiar with it.

What do you think?

Love to all,

Rachel G