Praying Together
There is a concerning identity crisis among many members of the
general public in Israel today. This is so even as regards the
holiest of days in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. Unfortunately,
as opposed to what was once common in Israel, there is a growing
feeling of alienation on the part of the general public from the
“official” synagogues. In light of this phenomenon, Tzohar decided
to invite members of the secular community to join in prayer with
rabbis from Tzohar in a neutral venue, one in which an unaffiliated
Jew could feel comfortable. Every Yom Kippur Tzohar, together
with other organizations, sets up dozens of ad hoc synagogues
all over Israel, in community centers, youth clubs, and in secular
kibbutzim and moshavim. These are places in which there is no
minyan the rest of the year, and which become houses of worship
where all are welcome, and all feel at home.
In each minyan secular and religious Jews pray together. A priority
is placed on explanations – for the children, as well as for the
adults, help in finding the right place in the prayer book, and
on joint learning of the prayers. Special holiday prayer books
are printed for these minyans, with instructions and explanations.
Each year, dozens of coordinators and prayer leaders are trained
who conduct the prayers together with the congregation.
Special emphasis is made on organizing minyans for olim. In the
last years dozens of minyans for olim have been established; especially
olim from the former USSR and from Ethiopia. Special prayer leaders
have been trained for the task of conduction services, and holiday
prayer books have been translated into Russian and Amharic. The
pace of founding these minyans has accelerated over the years,
and today there are approximately 250 minyans, with more than
40,000 participants who, without this project, would be denied
the experience of being a part of that holy day, and through it
of feeling that they are part of the people of Israel and of Jewish
culture.
This project has great social and educational value. Every Jew
in the State of Israel shares the common denominator of belonging
to the Jewish People. This joint destiny becomes increasingly
clear against the background of the misfortunes which have been
the lot of the Jewish People this last year. As a result, there
is a growing desire among many people who do not consider themselves
religious to be part of their people on the holiest day of its
calendar, and to take part in the prayers of that day. Gathering
together on Yom Kippur leads to direct dialogue between religious
and non-religious Jews, between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews,
recent olim and long-time citizens. It creates ties between members
of these groups, and leads to welcome, variegated continuation
of the different dialogues.
Thank-you letters about the Praying Together project
Letter 1
Letter 2
Letter 3
Letter 4
Letter 5
Letter 6
