 |
 |
 |
|
|
Among Jews, history impacts prayer style. In Judaism, the reading of the Torah is a performance, says Rabbi Michael Paley. Like all religious oratory, the goal is to relay the word of God. Paley, executive director at the United Jewish Association, says, "In America there are different branches of Judaism and different styles of observing the prayer. Among the Orthodox groups, there is a more radical and rhetorical style of delivery." "In exposition of the Torah they would start with a problem, then the solution of that problem takes place, and then there is an ethical message toward the end that is delivered with a sense of urgency," he says. Judaism is a learning and teaching tradition that interchange, according to Rabbi Paley. "The prayer book has lots of teaching moments and these moments are delivered in a style that seeks to make it effective. And in Orthodox style the final message is urgent, seeking to invoke a sense of purpose and immediacy," he says. The delivery style, however, among Reform Jews is much more Episcopal, says Paley. "The style is a rabbinical tradition. People like me speak at the service in a slow, medium fashion." The sermon comes out of the English Church, he says. Among the Reform Jews, the style is based on a musical cadence. The Friday evening service at B’nai Jeshurun typifies the Reform style. B’nai Jeshurun follows this style for historical reasons. Paley says this is due to the last 100 years of Jewish history. "A good amount of repression and fear stalked the Jews. The idea that we are safe now in America is pretty new. The reform style is a celebration of that security. For a very long time, the services were very disorganized, it was a cacophony. It had its beginnings in Germany in 1870. It was like a chant, a dirge. But in the last 20 years, there has been a revival of the cadence style," he says. ### |
|
PHOTOS:
Synagogue
Art Research
|
|||
 |
  |