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September 12, 2008
1,000 Prep To Celebrate ‘Praying with Fire’
Maayan Jaffe
Staff Reporter
More than 1,000 people and 24 local synagogues are expected to celebrate the completion of a joint reading of the book “Praying With Fire” (Artscroll Mesorah) next Tuesday, Sept. 16.
The festivities, which begin at 8 p.m. at Congregation Shomrei Emunah at 6221 Greenspring Ave., will include speeches from three prominent rabbis, including the book’s author, Rabbi Heshy Kleinman.
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, co-rosh yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, and Rabbi Mordechai Willig, a rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University in New York, will also speak at the event.
“This really speaks to the power and the beauty of the Jewish community,” said Dr. Michael Elman, who initially proposed the idea of a joint learning of “Praying With Fire” in honor of his late mother’s yartzheit. “We tend to come together in times of crisis, but it’s rare in any part of the Jewish community that diverse groups do something together. … It’s been gratifying and satisfying.”
“Praying With Fire” is meant to increase awareness of the importance and power of prayer. It is divided into five-minute daily lessons dealing with the subject.
Shomrei Emunah’s Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb, with lay leaders, contacted all of the Orthodox synagogues across the Baltimore metropolitan area to see if they were interested in joining his congregation in group learning. Twenty-four synagogues accepted, each learning a passage a day –– two on Shabbat.
The books were sold to congregants at a discounted price, for between $3 and $5, as opposed to the retail price of around $20. Each synagogue found a sponsor or sponsors to help offset the cost.
The study was supplemented by e-mailed Torah essays from Rabbi Kleinman, as well as from local rabbis, including Rabbi Gottlieb, Rabbi Menachem Goldberger, Rabbi Dovid Heber, Rabbi Jonathan Seidemann and Rabbi Mordechai Shuchatowitz.
Rabbi Gottlieb said the book itself worked well for the project and its main goal: building unity. He said “Praying With Fire” has a known track record for stimulating and impacting readers, and appeals to people with various levels of knowledge and time.
Rabbi Kleinman is a world-renowned author and lecturer. “Praying With Fire” is being translated into several languages. He runs a non-profit foundation called “V’Ani Tefillah Foundation (VAT),” which provides education, inspiration and tools for more sincere and effective prayer. All proceeds from the book benefit the foundation.
In a phone conversation with the BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES, Rabbi Kleinman said VAT is working on adapting the book for a non-Orthodox audience.
“When people cooperate, it leverages the power of the Jewish people,” said Dr. Elman. He noted that he would like to see synagogues of all denominations host a similar project.
“God is the God of all the Jewish people, not just one segment.” Dr. Elman said. “God hears everyone, if we just bother to talk to Him.”
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