The Making of a Reform Jewish Prayer Book

Abstract In 1977 the UK Movement for Reform Judaism published the first postwar edition of ‘Forms of Prayer’, its Sabbath and daily prayer book, edited by Rabbis Lionel Blue and Jonathan Magonet, graduates of the newly founded Leo Baeck College. It was highly successful, strengthening the identity of the movement within the Anglo-Jewish scene. Some thirty years on, in response to changes in Jewish society, including the ordination of women rabbis, the need was felt for major revisions, under the editorship of Jonathan Magonet. These included the use of inclusive language, the introduction of transliteration for people without access to Hebrew, greater flexibility in the forms of services, a new page layout and more study resources. This major reworking required considerable consultation with the individual congregations and part of the process included publishing an occasional ‘diary’ by the Editor addressing new issues and concerns as they arose and were debated.