Three Part Study Module

Entering Mishkan T’filah

Introduction to the Entering Mishkan T’filah Module

The Entering Mishkan T’filah Module is a collaborative project between the URJ Departments of Lifelong Jewish Learning and Worship, Music and Religious Living. The module is designed to enable professional and volunteer synagogue leaders to conduct classes that will introduce and orient adult congregants to Mishkan T’filah, the new prayer book of the Reform Movement.

“Entering Mishkan T’filah” can be taught as stand-alone sessions or as a series. Each lesson has been written to be conducted within a 60-90 minute timeframe. The sessions have been developed utilizing the Understanding by Design (UbD) curriculum model. Therefore, each session contains:

  • Enduring Understandings – Foundational concepts for Jewish learning. Enduring understandings are the “big ideas” that have lasting value to our learners long after they have left the classroom.
  • Essential Questions - Inquiries leading to the enduring understanding(s).
  • Questions to Be Addressed - “Triggers” that relate to the specifics of the session’s message. These can be a useful guide to help participants follow the progress of the session.

We recommend that you begin each session with introductions of all those present, unless you are quite sure that all the participants are already acquainted with one another. If you are teaching more than one session, it is advisable to give an overview, where possible, of what came before and of what will follow. The chart below has been provided to assist you in doing this.

Session #

Title

Focus

1.

Why a New Siddur? Why Now?

This session will highlight Reform prayer book change in North America, and will provide participants with an understanding of how liturgy changes in response to the changing needs of the Jewish community, with particular emphasis on Reform innovations. Current trends in Jewish thought will be identified and linked to the significant changes represented in Mishkan T’filah.

2.

What is New, What is Different?

Mishkan T’filah will be utilized as a source text through which participants can discern which Reform Jewish values have endured (i.e, the efficacy of prayer, autonomy) and what has changed as Reform Judaism prepares for life in the 21st century (i.e, Israel, Hebrew, visual images). Special attention will be paid to the changes in the Sh’ma, Avot V’Imahot and G’vurot prayers.

3.

Where Are We? Where Are We Going?

The role of prayer in our private and communal life and well-being will be explored, with special focus on the way in which Mishkan T’filah enables the individual to find his or herself in the liturgy. The balance that Mishkan T’filah achieves between keva and kavanah through its use of an “integrated theology” will be explored.

  • The lessons are intended to assist you, so please feel free to adapt them in any way that you think will be beneficial to your congregants or more in line with your own teaching style.
  • You may want to enlarge and post the Essential Questions, as they can be a valuable aid in guiding and reinforcing the learning.
  • Optimally, each congregant should have his or her own copy of Mishkan T’filah to use during the session.
  • An art activity has been included in lesson #1. Utilizing art is another way to tap into the multiple intelligences of adult learners and the use of this kind of creativity can parallel the evocative, aesthetic design of the Mishkan T’filah prayer book. Wherever possible, you may want to find opportunities to bring creative activities like these to the learning process.
  • A brief evaluation form is included as an appendix to each session. Please complete and return these as indicated so that we can incorporate your congregation’s feedback in the planning and design of future program materials.

*Please note that the words “congregant” and “participant” are used interchangeably in these sessions.

Session One

Session Two

Session Three

Entering Mishkan T’filah

A Three-Session Study Module

Author: Frances Schwartz

Project Supervisor: Joanne Doades

Advisory Committee:

Rabbi Kim Geringer, Rabbi Joan Glazer Farber,

Mr. Art Grand, Cantor Alane S. Katzew,

Rabbi Jan Katzew, Ms. Iris Petroff, Dr. Richard Sarason,

Rabbi Sue Ann Wasserman