The Movement for Reform Judaism

At an early stage we assumed we would retain the synagogue woodcuts that had been a special feature of the 1977 edition, with their quiet testimony to pre-war Jewish communities. But as the book and its layout evolved we explored new ideas. In response to concerns about the use of transliteration,we decided to encourage people to learn Hebrew and hence to use calligraphy as the basis for the illustrations. While the previous book looked at the Jewish past in Europe we searched for artists from European communities rebuilt or created since the war, pointing to the post-war renaissance of Jewish life.      

A teaching engagement in Amsterdam produced a couple of names of Dutch artists. A visit to Paris to the inauguration of a new synagogue led to artists from France and Belgium. A chance meeting with Rabbi Michael Farbman at Heathrow led to contact with a young woman from Moscow. Memories of my time as a guest professor in Oldenburg led, via the Jewish community, to artists from Germany and Switzerland. 

A poster bought some years ago in the Venice Jewish Ghetto, and a one-time sight of a Spanish Jewish catalogue, also bore fruit. An internet hunt for calligraphers, and personal recommendations, produced two more from Israel and a third who responded to an analysis of the internal structure of Psalm 150 to create a striking image.   

A favourite photo on the wall of a colleague’s flat brought an image from America. Our own UK communities provided three contributors and one special family is represent by two generations of artists. A few non-calligraphic contributions were either offered or simply begged to be included when they caught the editor’s eye.

Despite all this we were reluctant to say goodbye to the Synagogues of the previous edition and so we have included them as endpapers within the new Siddur. The merits of the individual pieces will be debated, since judgements in this area are very subjective, but they do represent a testimony to life renewed and a future for Jewish society throughout Europe.

To order your copy, please contact your synagogue office. The Siddur is also available to people who are not members of synagogues. To place your order, please call 0208 349 9484 or click here to buy on-line.