Hiddur Siddur

Yesterday morning, fifth graders and their families from all 3 tracks gathered together in the Social Hall to celebrate a very important occasion. Each fifth grader received his/her own Mishkan T'fila siddur (prayer book), a gift from Anshei Isaiah.

Rabbi Greninger welcomed everyone, and as she showed everyone a copy of the siddur, she explained that it was a combination of the Weekday and Festival siddur and Shabbat Siddur, thus making it very practical for the students to use it during our weekday and Sunday tefillah sessions, as well as during Shabbat services.

Immediately following the introduction, teachers of the three tracks plus my own T.A., Nathan, presented a skit which explained the origin of the name of our workshop, "Hiddur Siddur" going back to a Talmudic declaration that we should "glorify God" by performing "hiddur mitzvah."  Today's workshop focused on providing the families an opportunity to perform "Hiddur Siddur" by decorating covers for the siddurim.

Tables were set up around the perimeter of the Social Hall, with the bookcovers and basic art supplies on each. One table was set up with additional art supplies which the families might choose to use: Hebrew and English letter stencils, Jewish holiday and ritual symbol stencils, construction paper, etc.

It didn't take long for students and parents to find what they needed and enjoy the art activity together.

While the families decorated, teachers and T.A.'s circulated providing help when it was needed (how do you write my name in Hebrew? was a frequently-asked question!). We also photographed the proceedings for documentation purposes (yours truly is photographing students and parents above, and also captured Rabbi Greninger snapping a photo from the opposite side of the table).

During the art activity, parents helped their students, and also had time to connect with each other.

With only half an hour allotted to the activity, students lost no time decorating both sides of the book jacket, and writing their name on the spine of the cover.

Many participants brought a family photograph from home, to glue onto the cover; some also wrote a dedication at home which they glued into the inside cover of the siddur. The intent was to create an heirloom which will be passed down to future generations in the family.

Once the book covers were decorated, Rabbi Greninger and Cantor Korn gathered all the students on the stage and, with the help of teachers and T.A.'s distributed the new siddurim to the students. Once each student had a siddur in hand, Cantor Korn led us in chanting the "Shehecheyanu" blessing which is recited whenever we experience something for the first time in our lives or in the season, or receive something new.

Then it was time for the students to go back to their seats and put on the newly-decorated book covers onto the new siddurim. The results most certainly fulfill the mitzvah of hiddur siddur!

At this point, students went with the teachers and T.A.'s into the Oneg Room to play a game, while the parents stayed in the Social Hall to learn more details about the B'nei Mitzvah process at Temple Isaiah and get information about planning a celebration after the ceremony.

As soon as all the students were in the Oneg Room, Maimone gathered them around and gave instructions for a game called "Murder" which allowed the students to interact with each other as they were trying to figure out who the "murderer" was!

How many games can get the students to keep their eyes closed for about 1-2 minutes (while Maimone chose the murderer) and then have them shaking hands with each other (or, in several other iterations of the game, winking and blinking to each other!)!? There was certainly a lot of interaction going on!

When the workshop was over, parents and children joined teachers and clergy in the Sanctuary for a very special tefillah session. Josh Nelson, an amazing musician and singer visiting our campus this past weekend, treated us all to a wonderful concert of his own liturgical compositions. He had us joining him in singing some...

...and performed for us as well:

The decorated siddurim have already been brought down to the Beit Knesset where the fifth graders will be using them beginning tomorrow and Wednesday.