From the Cantor - November 2005

Recently I read a commentary on prayer from iTorah, a study email study list from URJ and NFTY, which posed this question: "Do you have the stomach for prayer or just the intent to pray with all your soul?" The idea behind the question was to encourage thinking about t'filah, or prayer, beyond food blessings. In another recent study session with Kindergarten parents we discussed the sometimes uncomfortable nature of teaching our children how to pray. The quote above, which we sing together every Shabbat morning, refers to prayer as our way of praising God. Learning about prayer and understanding how to pray is a continuing process for all of us.

There are many opportunities at Congregation Albert to develop our prayer skills. Many of these seem designed for one group or another, but all are intended to be inclusive of anyone who may choose to attend. Family T'filah, which takes place at 9:30 am every Religious School Sunday, is not limited to just families. Perhaps you are planning to attend a Brotherhood or Sisterhood breakfast. Come into the Beit T'filah (sanctuary) and join together to pray and learn about prayer as a community. Through Limmud Hat'filah, our fourth, fifth and sixth grade students and their families can develop their prayer skills on select Shabbat mornings at 9:00 am in the Beit Midrash (chapel). Although this is designed primarily for our Hebrew School families, it is good for anyone who wants to learn more about the structure of the service. Our Machon students and families join together for t'filah at 7:45 pm each Wednesday. By attending Shabbat and Festival worship we learn to pray as a congregational community.

We will also have the opportunity to join in prayer with other faith communities when we participate in the annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service on November 23 at 7:00 pm here at Congregation Albert. I invite and encourage you to find an opportunity to join us in prayer.

May we all be thankful for the many opportunities we have to learn and pray together.

B'shira,
Cantor Barbara R. Finn

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