A year ago, almost exactly to the date, we began the process of acquiring new siddurim for our synagogue. It was an exciting process and one that has greatly enhanced our davening as a community, especially with the siddur’s beautiful translations, explanations, and commentaries. We offered our old siddurim to the people who had dedicated them, and then to any community members that wanted one for their home library. Next, we found some smaller communities that might want them. One batch went to a start-up for young adults living in Chicago, and the other went to an independent minyan in Philadelphia. The final 100 siddurim (of about 400 total) have been sitting on shelves in my office.
This week, a colleague posted on Facebook that he’s been working with a correctional facility in upstate New York, and they have at least 2-minyanim worth of individuals seeking siddurim in order to conduct services. They currently have none. They preferred siddurim in good condition that were all the same so they could follow along together in a service.
I immediately responded saying that I have plenty of siddurim in good condition to send, and this coming week I’ll be shipping them to the correctional facility. And today, a year after this process began for our community, I reflect on the ripples this process continues to make, not just in Memphis, but all the way in Chicago, Philadelphia, and upstate New York. These aren’t communities getting our leftovers; our own spiritual development enables their ability to create meaningful prayer spaces. And in the case of this correctional facility, I hope that our spiritual enhancement allows for someone else’s spiritual solace.
These worlds are not just connected due to Facebook, rabbinic networks, or Jewish geography, but our spiritual lives are intertwined. The prayer books that we held and prayed from are now the spiritual tools of someone else who will hold them and pray from them. Our prayers meld with theirs; our hopes and pains and tears and dreams reaching the same heavens. And this coming Shabbat, even though we pray from a different siddur, I’m reminded that the words of our prayers will be the same as those davening in Chicago, Philly, and New York. We are connected in ways beyond my comprehension. May the heavens, and our own hearts, be moved by this connection.
