The Vision
Tefilah Transformed Initiative aims to revitalize prayer and connect more Jews to community by creating homegrown, thrillingly musical, participatory, services.
The Challenge
Many suburban and rural congregations are unaware of this musically-infused, inclusion-based prayer model, which is predominantly seen in independent prayer circles in large urban Jewish populations. Young, unengaged Jews seek empowered, grassroots ways to become involved while many synagogues still cling to their top-down, antiquated models of prayer. Jews across the religious and generational spectrum still believe in God yet many seek a spiritual outlet outside synagogue walls. The diminishing numbers and increased age of congregants highlight the dire need to give prayer life in established shuls a spiritual jolt. |
The Idea
TTI will bring uplifting, participatory prayer to congregations throughout the country, spark their interest, and equip them to run it themselves. A prayer team would come to lead a rockin’ Kabbalat Shabbat in communities that have communicated interest in TTI. Community members will be offered training to lead services in a similar way. They would be provided with one-on-one tutoring sessions, workshops, curriculum, and online classes, videos, and music databases. Assisting communities to enhance the musical quality of their services will make singing and Hebrew more accessible, generate a compelling spiritual outlet for individuals, and build impassioned, tight-knit community. |
The Team
Rabbi Jonathan Bubis- is the Assistant Rabbi of Shomrei Torah Synagogue and a passionate prayer leader who for years has led musically stirring services in congregations and minyanim throughout the country. Shomrei Torah Synagogue is the fiscal sponsor of and incubator for TTI. Without a full-time cantor, STS prides itself on lay-led services and musical experimentation |
The Wish List
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