God whispered to Moses, “Ehyeh asher ehyeh: I will become more; yet I am born from what already is.” Jewish prayer is ancient, yet it must become more. Though we daven to a cadence and melody of tradition, spiritually, we seek harmony. How often have the words of worship barred an “other” in our midst? Worship has integrity when it embraces each person present.
The vision of Mishkan T’filah began here: the language and offering of Jewish prayer should let us soar without intellectual gymnastics. Develop a siddur that would open doors rather than close them. A vision or a dream? A dream lies ahead, out of reach. Vision is what truly can be.
There was one very dark time when I questioned my intelligence, my sensitivity, my vision. Two verses from the Bratslaver spoke to me over and over again: “Every new opportunity requires that you open a new door.” “The whole world is a narrow bridge. The key? Not to be afraid.”
I already had blessings of courage and fortitude. I learned humility. Perhaps most important, I learned to listen more attentively to what I had not heard before. My “becoming” required an understanding and acceptance of those with whom I disagreed – without compromising the vision.
Mishkan T’filah was completed, and I will be ever grateful for the opportunity. I have grown because of the lessons granted me. Change can be extraordinarily difficult, particularly when we seek it not just for ourselves but for family or community or even a people. We resist for so many reasons. But my certainty in the ability to effect positive change is absolute. Each of us can become more. Im tirzu, ayn zo agada: If you will it, it is no dream. It is vision.
Rabbi Elyse Frishman is the editor of the new Reform prayer book, Mishkan T’filah. www.barnerttemple.org
