transliteration, cantorial stuff

[cellio]

We ended up talking a little bit about the Hebrew/English balance at services and the use of transliteration in the siddur. Some rabbis apparently hold the view that transliteration is a crutch that keeps people from actually learning Hebrew. I suspect that's not quite right.

I dislike reading from transliteration, and avoid it except when urgent even if it means I won't be able to say every word (due to being slow). On the other hand, when I was just starting to attend services and didn't know anything yet, I was really grateful to have it. I was able to use it to jump-start my participation, yet I did not lose my motivation to learn to read for real. I commented on this to my rabbi, who said something like "yeah, but you taught yourself trope too -- you're not typical". Actually, though, I suspect I am typical among that subset of the population that will learn to read anyway. It's just that most people will apparently settle for transliteration -- but if it weren't there they'd sit in silence, not say "gee, I'm not getting any help here; I better learn the language". Or so I theorize. (Data welcome.)

The real issue there, I guess, is that most people don't want to learn to read a foreign alphabet at speed. I'd rather give them some tools for participation than write them off. (And just to clarify, I'm pretty sure my rabbi shares that view. He's not the one who said transliteration should be eliminated.)

But I'd also be thrilled if I, personally, never had to rely on transliteration again. :-)

- - - - - - - -

In other news, I met with our cantorial soloist last night to discuss that service at the end of July. She is quite happy to have me doing most of the music, with other committee members doing some, and she said she would like to see more of this. So we'll be sort of a test case or something, to see how the congregation reacts. The subs are already mostly lined up for her maternity leave (which is going to be very short, because she wants to be back before the high holy days), but she pointed out that next summer there will be an opportunity to do more. No, she's not planning another kid (or if she is, she didn't share that information), but the congregation has managed to clear next summer of b'nei mitzvot, so services during the summer can be less formal and more experimental. (Next year's class is small, so we are taking the opportunity to do some sanctuary renovations.) I'd love to see more lay people being more involved in things like this.

We also talked about the trope class I want us to have in the fall or winter, and she's going to do what she can to make it happen. The lines of responsibility are a little fuzzy here, and we both want to make sure it doesn't fall through the cracks.

Comments

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

When it comes to things like this, everyone is different. As soon as I could sound out the Hebrew words, I stopped using transliterations. However, when I daavened, I daavened in English. At that point, it was more important to me that I knew what I was saying than I used the "right" language. (Also, of course, I didn't lead daavening and that one is permitted to pray in any language one understands as well as Hebrew.)

Eventually, I found the English to be a crutch, so I started praying out of an all-Hebrew siddur. I'm not saying I understand each word, but I'm now familiar enough with the prayers that I know what I am saying.

But that's *my* developement and needs. There is no one right way in this case.

[ichur72.livejournal.com]

>> When it comes to things like this, everyone is different.

I've got to agree with you there. You got me thinking about the fact that everybody seems to have their own taste in terms of siddur format. I know plenty of people who adore Metsudah and have met people who like the older Birnbaum siddurim. My husband likes the GR"A siddur. I happen to be quite fond of Artscroll -- the regular kind, not the transliterated stuff. (I started out using Hebrew/English and have now switched to an all-Hebrew format.) I know people who appreciate/enjoy the transliteration, but I find it very hard on the eyes, very distracting.

[jonbaker.livejournal.com]

Which GR"A siddur? There are several. The new Eizor Eliyohu is nice, and has good textual comments. The old one with the commentaries from the Gra's students is, well, awkward, in the old "don't print any prayer more than once" school. Lots of flipping back and forth. The commentaries are good, but I find it awkward for actual davening.

[ichur72.livejournal.com]

Not sure -- it just says "Siddur Vilna" on the spine and the title page. He's told me he likes it partly b/c the pages were typeset digitally or somesuch -- he says the font is very clear. Me, I like my Artscroll.