One thing that traditionally has distinguished a Conservative prayer experience from a Reform prayer experience is the amount of Hebrew found in the service (though in some Reform congregations this has begun to change in recent years). The Conservative movement has largely held on to the value of Hebrew as lashon kodesh, our holy language- even though it is often a challenge to many of our members. The question is, why does Conservative Judaism keep such a strong hold on Hebrew, especially knowing that prayer in any form is difficult enough, and for many Hebrew feels like a barrier to having a meaningful prayer experience?
There is something very powerful about the Hebrew chanting, melody, and rhythm of our worship. And, even though the language is foreign to many, there is something very familiar about chanting together in a language that is thousands of years old and that connects Jews of all different beliefs and backgrounds across the world.
In a recent discussion at the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Movement, Rabbi Adam Kligfeld was reflecting on a responsum concerning the role of one who is deaf and the use of sign language in Jewish ritual and liturgy. In his reflection he wrote the following:
What struck me in this exchange was the idea that, quietly, informed it: there is sanctity–unique, supreme, perhaps even mystical sanctity–to hearing our holy Torah chanted, perfectly, in the original. Think about it. For many regular shul-goers, Hebrew is not a fully, or immediately, comprehensible language. This is true for many Torah-readers! And so the exercise of reading Torah in our shuls often involves a non-Hebrew-speaker chanting Hebrew sounds/syllables to an audience that, mostly, does not understand the words. And yet we consider that ritual to be, in its pristine state, so sacred and unimpeachable that we would consider a rendering of the Hebrew text into a medium that would be comprehensible (ie, English for our community, sign-language for the non-hearing community) somehow less than authentic.
I raise this point not to question whether our association with Torah-in-Hebrew ought to persist; I believe it should. I raise it to have us consider what it means for the individual Jew, and the community of Jews, to pray and, quite literally, “hear revelation” every week in a foreign language. Religion pushes us beyond the rational, and engages the mystical. Whether we are full-blown kabbalists who impute to each Hebrew letter unlimited power and import, or Jews looking to taste and touch something of the transcendent, the Hebrew text, the Hebrew word and the Hebrew chant is our medium. ( http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/reflection-cjls-meeting-may-25-2011?tp=242 for Rabbi Kligfeld’s complete text)
What do you think? Have you had powerful prayer moments in Hebrew? Do you find power in the chanting of Hebrew, even if you do not understand it? And if not, do you find that you are able to pray more completely in English? What could our synagogue do to help make the meaning behind the Hebrew tefilot more accessible? And if we did, would that help you personally to come to services more often?
As always, I look forward to hearing your insights. For the complete responsum that was Rabbi Kligfeld reflects on above, check out the following link: