Episode 14: Listen to the Siddur (with Rabbi Steve Sager)
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Listen to the Siddur
Grateful to share another meaningful conversation with Rabbi Steve Sager. If you haven’t gotten a chance, listen back to episode 12 for our first interview. In this continuation, Rabbi Sager reflects on t’fillah through his own life, including his upbringing, his encounter with Mordecai Kaplan, and his path to Rabbinical school. Plus we continue to explore blessings, play and imagination, praying in English, and what it means to listen to the siddur.
What are the moments that make your breath catch in your throat? Where is your wonder?
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(0:41) You can find Part 1 of Eliana’s interview with Rabbi Sager here.
(1:16) T’fillah – תפילה – liturgy and prayer.
(1:41) Learn more about Rabbi Sager and Sicha here.
(1:56) Learn more about Reconstructionist (Reconstructing) Judaism here.
(2:08) Mensch – a Yiddish word meaning a good person.
(3:21) Smicha – סמיכה – rabbinic ordination.
(3:24) Learn more about RRC, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, here.
(4:13) Learn more about Conservative Judaism here.
(5:28) Birkot HaShachar – ברכות השחר – morning blessings. Pesukei D’zimra – פסוקי דזמרה – introductory verses of praise. Learn more here.
(5:34) Birkat Hamazon – ברכת המזון – prayers after a meal. Learn more here.
(7:00) Mordechai Kaplan was the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism. Learn more here.
(7:40) Musaf is a special service added on Shabbat and holidays. Learn more here.
(7:44) Ki mechakim anachnu lach – כִּי מְחַכִּים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ – Because we are waitng for You. This is a phrase from the Kedusha – stay tuned for an episode about this section of the Amidah!
(8:42) Learn more about JTS – Jewish Theological Seminary – here.
(12:07) The Zohar is a central work of Jewish mysticism. Learn more here.
(14:02) Kehillah – קהילה – community. Learn more about Orthodox Judaism here.
(14:34) Daven – a Yiddish word for the act of praying.
(15:27) Shatnez – שטנץ – a Biblical prohibition against wearing wool and linen in the same garment. Learn more here.
(18:20) Learn more about Rabbi David Hartman here.
(18:29) Siddur – סידור – prayer book.
(19:25) Learn more about the Cairo Geniza here.
(21:09) Baruch atah adonai rofeh cholei amo yisrael – ברוך אתה יהוה רופא חולי עמו ישראל – Blessed are You who heals His people Israel (Rabbi Sager’s translation). Learn more about Jewish prayers for healing here.
(22:27) Unetaneh tokef kedushat hayom – וּנְתַנֶּה תֹּקֶף קְדֻשַּׁת הַיּוֹם – We declare the awesomeness of this day. This is a central prayer in the Yom Kippur liturgy – learn more here.
(23:13) Bat mitzvah – בת מצווה – coming of age ceremony. Learn more here.
(23:42) Parasha – פרשה – weekly Torah portion. Learn more here.
(25:35) You can find A Book That Was Lost: And Other Stories, edited by Alan Mintz and Anne Golomb Hoffman, here.
(26:32) Listen to our episode about Hanukkah here!
(27:45) Shemoneh Esrei – שמונה עשרה – the entire Amidah.
(28:16) Kriah – קריאה – Torah reading.
(29:10) Magein avraham u’foked sarah – מגן אברהם ופוקד שרה – Shield of Abraham and protector of Sarah.
Magein avraham – מגן אברהם – Shield of Abraham.
Elohei avraham elohei yitzchak v’elohei ya’akov – אלהי אברהם אלהי יצחק ואלהי יעקב – G?d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Listen to Episode 13 to learn more about this!
(29:38) Eliyahu Hanavi – אליהו הנביא – Elijah the Prophet.
(29:39) Beit Midrash – בית מדרש – Study house.
(29:43) Yehuda HaNasi was the editor of the Mishna. Learn more here.
(29:50) Rosh Chodesh – ראש חודש – the celebration of the lunar new month. Learn more here.
(29:57) Minyan – מנין – prayer group.
(32:13) Learn more about Yehuda Amichai here.
(36:06) Shaliach tzibur – שליח ציבור – prayer leader.
(36:29) Kiddush – קידוש – a prayer over wine. In this context, it also refers to a time after prayers when people spend time together.
(41:06) Halacha – הלכה – Jewish law.
(43:53) Baruch atah adonai oseh ma’aseh bershit – ברוך אתה יהוה עושה מעשה בראשית – Overflowing are You author of the works of creation (Rabbi Sager’s translation).
According to Mishnah Berachot 9:2, this is a blessing we say over extraordinary natural sites.
(45:50) Machloket – מחלוקת – sacred argument.
(49:39) This story is from Brachot 7a:3