“The decision of which siddur a congregation should use is both a significant choice for any congregation, and a choice whose importance should not be exaggerated”

The decision of which siddur a congregation should use is both a significant choice for any congregation, and a choice whose importance should not be exaggerated. Purchasing a new siddur is a significant expense for a shul, and the choice should not be made lightly. The  siddurim on our shelves is one of the first ways a visitor learns about a shul, its values, and religious priorities. Congregations should make these decisions with the hope and expectation that the siddurim that they purchase will be used for the next decade or more by hundreds and thousands of worshippers, including children who are not yet born!

The energy invested in selecting the right siddur must be balanced by an even greater investment into learning how to use it, alongside a commitment to take advantage of the occasions on which we come together as a community as opportunities for transcendence and sanctity.

Rabbi David Wolkenfeld, “How Should a Diverse Urban Congregation Select a Siddur?”, The Lehrhaus (23 September 2019) [https://www.thelehrhaus.com/commentary/how-should-a-diverse-urban-congregation-select-a-siddur]