Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffet has co-edited Masorti's first siddur[Missing Credit]
One of the features of Siddur Kol Rina is its inclusion of commentary from the writings of the late Rabbi Dr Louis Jacobs, the spiritual mentor of Masorti, which was founded as a synagogue body 40 years ago.
The siddur is named after the late Rina Wolfson, a popular figure in the movement who died in 2021 aged 48. “She was a well-respected educator who taught a siddur satnav course at New North London Synagogue,” Rabbi Zagoria-Moffet explained.
For many years, she penned the JC’s much-loved Secret Shulgoer column, reviewing her experiences in synagogues up and down the country.
The new Masorti siddur is named in memory of the much-loved educator and writer Rina Wolfson[Missing Credit]
The phrase kol rina, “a joyous voice”, which comes from Psalm 118, is sung during the Hallel prayers.
The siddur is “printed in colour – featuring the colours of the Mishkan [Tabernacle], purple and blue and we have done a lot to try to make it accessible,” Rabbi Zagoria-Moffet said.
For example, symbols are used to help with the Hebrew pronunciation or for synagogue etiquette such as when to bow during the service. The pages are bordered in blue to indicate for which prayers congregants should stand.
The siddur also gives English transliterations for the Hebrew for prayers that are commonly sung by the congregation so that those who may struggle with the original language can join in.
The liturgy is mostly the same as would be found within the United Synagogue with a few variations. Instead of the traditional morning blessing “who has not made me a woman”, there is “who has created us in God’s image”, which comes from Hacham Yitzchak Sassoon and derives from manuscripts found in the Cairo Geniza.
Also there is an option for mentioning the matriarchs as well as the patriarchs in the Amidah in a way which is “not bothersome for those who don’t want to but available for those who do”, he said.
Mindful of contemporary sensibilities, the editors toyed with using the plural “Their” rather than “He” to refer to God but decided to avoid the possessive adjective altogether and say “God’s”.
Another feature is the listing of sources for biblical quotations that appear in the prayers.
The prototype is the product of collaboration between Masorti, Izzun Books – a Judaica publishing venture Rabbi Zagoria-Moffet set up – and the Louis Jacobs Foundation.
It began as a series of consultations with the movement’s communities, although, joked the rabbi, producing a siddur was “an impossible task – you can’t ever please everyone.”
Eventually, the aim is to come out with a fuller version incorporating all the prayers for Shabbat as well as for the three “pilgrim” festivals – and then move on to a weekday siddur.
