Let Us Learn In Order to Do: A Study Program For Worship/Ritual Committees
The advance readings are preparatory material
for each of the program's seventeen sessions. Many of the advance readings are
available here. Some, however, have not been provided and are from books that
must be purchased or obtained separately. For your convenience, we have
provided information links for purchasing the books.
SESSION 1 Prayer? Let's Start by Getting Personal No advance reading
The 1885, 1937, 1976, and 1999 "platforms" of the Reform Movement
SESSION 4 The History of the Reform Movement: 150 Years of Liturgical Change
A. Stanley Dreyus, "The Gates Liturgies: Reform Judaism Reforms Its Worship", The Changing Face of Jewish and Christian Worship in North America, Paul F. Bradshaw and Lawrence A. Hoffman, eds., Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame Press, 1991.
Lawrence A. Hoffman, "The Roots of the Siddur," Keeping Posted 22:6 (March 1977), pp. 78, 17. Reprinted in Journey Through Judaism: The Best of Keeping Posted, Alan D. Bennet, ed. (New York: URJ Press), 1991, pp. 123126.
SESSION 7 Becoming Familiar with the Service: Shabbat Shacharit Worship
SESSION 10 Looking at the Big Picture: From Liturgy to Worship
Lawrence A. Hoffman, "The Sacred Cat" and "The Script of Prayer: Words Spoken," The Art of Public Prayer: Not for Clergy Only(Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Paths Publishing), 1999, p. 38 and pp. 144170.
SESSION 11 Understanding Worship As a System: Worship Space and the "Players"
Lawrence A. Hoffman, "Mistaking the Code, Mixing Messages, and Managing Change," and "Sacred Space: The Message of Design," The Art of Public Prayer: Not for Clergy Only (Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Paths Publishing), 1999, pp. 101107 and pp. 201234.
Jeffrey K. Salkin, "Rites and Wrongs of Passage: Putting the Party in Perspective," Putting God on the Guest List(Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing), 1992, pp. 5764.
Wade Clark Roof, "Mollie's Quest," A Generation of Seekers: The Spiritual Journeys of the Baby-Boom Generation (San Francisco: Harper Collins Publishers), 1994