Publications: Masorti Siddur
Leading Israeli Publisher Brings Out New Masorti Siddur
Vaani T’fillati Siddur Yisraeli Now in Israeli Bookstores, Available for Purchase in the United States by Synagogues, Day Schools and Other Jewish Organizations
In an exciting breakthrough for the Masorti movement, a new edition of Vaani T’fillati, Siddur Yisraeli, is for sale in mainstream bookstores throughout Israel, thanks to a joint publishing venture between Masorti, the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel and Yedioth Books Publishing House, the leading book publisher of Judaica for the general public. (Yedioth Books is a sister company of Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s largest selling newspaper, and Ynetnews.com, the English language online edition of Yedioth
Ahronoth.)
The book launch was accompanied by a marketing blitz, with radio commercials blanketing the airwaves. (To hear them in Hebrew, click here.)
The new Vaani T’fillati was on bookstore shelves in time for Chanukah gift-giving. “This is a siddur that reflects modern Israel,” asserted Rabbi Mauricio Balter, who chaired the Masorti/RA-Israel Siddur Committee. “It makes a great gift.”
He continued, “The publisher fell in love with our content and design, with the balance between tradition and change and with well thought-out explanations alongside the t’fillot. I cannot exaggerate the importance of this development to the acceptance of Masorti Judaism in Israel.”
The new, attractively designed Vaani T’fillati includes modern Israeli poetry and special prayers for uniquely Israeli moments. Its presentation by a major publisher and placement in stores throughout the country is just one more reflection of the fact Masorti is registering on the Israeli psyche.
Rabbi Balter thanked the committee, which labored for four years on the project to update the decade-old siddur, originally edited by Rabbi Simcha Roth under the direction of Rabbi Michael Graetz.
Masorti is especially grateful to Sarah Lewis and her family and friends, whose generous gifts underwrote the costs involved in the development and preparation of the new siddur, which is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Albert Lewis, z”l. Rabbi Lewis served Temple Beth Shalom in Cherry Hill, New Jersey for 60 years.
For information about how to order copies of Vaani T’fillati for synagogues, day schools and other Jewish organizations in the United States, please contact the Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel at
(212) 870-2216 or info@masorti.org.