When living in Israel, one is afforded the opportunity to attend many different places for t'fillot. On every corner there is a beit k'neset (synagogue) which is ready to welcome any passerby. Each one is a little different in terms of spacial arrangement, attendance, and general atmosphere. I've referenced on a few occasions the importance a friendly environment, acoustics, and so forth. Obviously the davening itself is just as important. So, I offer you the following case study: Mizmor l'David.
Mizmor l'David is an independent minyan in Jerusalem. They meet in what appears to be the multi-purpose room of a local school. Participants are seated on plastic chairs. The room is cramped, and often far too warm. The mechitza which divides the space roughly in half is made of cloth on a wood frame, but is not usually opened during the d'var torah. Men and women deliver the d'var Torah, however only men serve as shaliach tzibbur (public emissary). The davening is Shlomo Carlebach style, with dancing often following the conclusion of L'cha Dodi (a liturgical poem that welcomes the Shabbat Bride).
My Take: Despite the cramped (some people even daven outside and listen through the open windows) and often overheated surroundings, I have yet to find a minyan that matches the energy and spirit of Mizmor. There are some other fantastic, and fairly famous minyanim around this neighborhood, but none of their Kabbalat Shabbat experiences are as consistently moving or energetic as those of Mizmor. The passion overwhelms all of the detractors (little personal space, uncomfortable seating, and the heat). Often I feel as if the energy builds, and then when it finally reaches its breaking point, participants begin dancing. Sometimes I force myself to stop my own singing, and just listen. The fact that I feel fully integrated into the davening while I'm just sitting there, speaks to the total experience of this particular t'fillah.
My blessing for everybody is that we find a place such as Mizmor where we can fully experience the t'fillot in a vibrant and communal manner.
6 comments:
I believe that the building is a "Tzofim" (the Israeli scouts) building used for activities and such.
I definitely agree, it is the most beautiful davening and very inspirational. I believe i cried the first time i davened there, but then again i cry whenever a service really moves me.
Thank you for the comment. What do you find is the catalyst for the tears?
Chayim (ever notice how chayim is in plural, i think it's because we all have so much going on in our lives all the time; there are always numerous matters, facets, and angles of every situation in life).
It depends on the week. Sometimes i really feel the Chassidut teaching that Shabbat is the source of all bracha for the week and gives us the energy to go on, so i feel the renewing of energy.
Sometimes though i feel as if it is the conclusion of the week, the pinnacle, which is also a Jewish concept. Yom rishon liShabbat, Yom sheni liShabbat...the whole week we are counting up to Shabbat.
Last week i was in Ramat Aviv (northern Tel Aviv) with a friend from childhood and some other friends - they all went to the Sfardi shul and i to the Bnei Akiva building to daven a good Ashkenzi/Carlebach davening.
(It is interesting because my friend hates living in Tel Aviv, it's so different than living in Yerushalayim, and says that the religious Jews pop out of the cracks on Shabbat. I responded by saying that we grew up in a small Jewish community in the States and it was like that, too, so why should this be different? It's beautiful, though.)
So while davening at this minyan of random religious Jews in northern Tel Aviv, i was really touched by the people who were so dedicated around me and the fact that a common belief had gathered us.
I also frequently just think about aliyah and how i want this to be my life, how i want to live in israel, and how if i live here i can have this every week.
Often i just review my week and what has happened in my life, and the other half of the time i try to really have kavannah on the words.
--shabbat shalom
Anonymous,
I can certainly appreciate a number of the comments you've made. I think the most globally important point was the one about creating the kahal, and the unique bond that forms during the time of t'fillah. One of the keys that I find to enjoying Shabbat is setting aside all of the things that I had worried about during the week. Usually this enhances my Kabbalat Shabbat experience immensely. Shabbat shalom.
daniel,
that is true and this week i thought about that...i focused on the singing and you know when you're moved just by the mere music and also that moment when everyone in the room is singing together and all in sync, it's beautiful and rare...i think that's what does it, too.
i was reading "the Lonely Man of Faith" by The Rav and came across a passage that i tought pertained to this conversation about prayer...i know it is a little out of context and he uses terms like Adam I and Adam II and parallel terms - majestic man (=AdamI)and covenantal man/community (=AdamII) - but it is still fascinating. here's the excerpt:
"Prayer, for instance, might appeal to majestic man as the most uplifting, integrating, and purifying act, arousing the finest and noblest emotions, yet these characteristics, however essential to Adam I, are of marginal interest to Adam II, who experiences prayer as the awesome controntation of G-d and man, as the great paradox of man conversing with G-d as an equal fellow member of hte convenantal society, and at the same time being aware that he fully belongs to G-d and that G-d demands complete surrender and self-sacrifice."
so i was thinking that going through a meaningful prayer service is great and matches up with his description with AdamI, but how does one attain or realize the AdamII mentality. i don't think that the Rav is refering to these Adams, who are two parts of the same man, as levels that are acquired, however. it is not a matter of getting to the level of AdamI and then acheiving the AdamII level, what do you think?
also the last part is supposed to humble us at the same time as it raises us up to be a person who is able to request things of G-d and talk to G-d on level of discourse...but of course he says it in reverse, so at first i felt - wow - it's awesome that we have the ability to talk to G-d, but at the same time we are in G-d's hands...this really struck me, so i tought i'd share.
Post a Comment