New Year’s resolutions are good for prodding ourselves to do new things, to stretch ourselves in directions we might not otherwise go. Along with “exercise”, “more time for friends and family”, “less TV”, and other noble (and hopefully lasting!) resolutions, it’s also a time for expanding our spiritual and religious horizons. And among my own resolutions is one to shake up our davenning (prayer) a bit.
To understand what this means, we need to see the careful crafting and compromises that create a typical Saturday morning service. With a 9:30 start time and a 12:15 conclusion (to coincide with the end of Torah School), and given the expectations around a normal service, we must fit the following elements into that two hours, 45 minutes:
Thus, about 110 of our 165 minutes go toward “basics” which, aside from melodies employed and varying Torah and Haftarah readings, change little from week to week. Less than an hour is then available for all “extras”. Into the mix of possible or necessary “extras” each week go the following, with an estimation of the frequency of each (out of 52 Shabbatot):
Even humanities majors like me can see that we’re already out of time, such that constant tradeoffs are called for. The Cantor and I, along with lay-service leaders, discuss what choices to make each week, and try to maintain a healthy mix: More music or more discussion; a theme vs. a pastiche; a focus on current events or a mini adult education session. Yet within that zero-sum framework, we risk our services becoming a bit routinized and predictable.
One more note before the announcement — On the bimah as in life, you can’t please all the people all the time. Some of us would like more cerebral services, some more touchy-feely, some more musical, and so on. Our long-range planning survey will show the proportion of each preference, but that diversity of desires is real. We know this, and will continue to offer some of each approach, though we may tinker with their frequency. Your feedback is always welcome, even if others are giving contradictory input at the same time!
So … on the first three Shabbatot in February, and to a lesser extent
throughout the season, look for innovations in our services. Try to come near
9:30 — on a usual day the most musical and participatory part (shacharit)
ends by 10:15; in February, even the order of services may change. Be ready
to shake (movement) and rattle (music and rhythm), while on a traditional
roll (liturgy). Set your assumptions and inhibitions aside, and daven with
us! Happy New Year to all, and many Shabbatot of Shalom.
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb