Testimonials
Here is what
about The Hidden Poetry of the Jewish Prayerbook series:
Authorities
 |
"Reuven Kimelman is quite simply one of the great scholars and teachers of Judaism and of prayer of our time. It is a privilege and extraordinary opportunity for anyone, from any background and level of knowledge, to study with Professor Kimelman. Until now, you had to be a student at Brandeis University to have this chance. Now it is available to everyone. Run to take this course!"
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Jewish Literacy and A Code of Jewish Ethics |
 |
“This set of CDs by Reuven Kimelman is amazing. Dr. Kimelman works from a basic understanding that each prayer has an argument to make—and if you understand its core addition to your life, all of the language, metaphors, and references in the prayer come clearly into focus. The material is rich, the mindmaps amazingly helpful, and understandings thick. This is the best way I know to learn about how the Siddur functions inside you and has the capacity to change you.”
Joel Lurie Grishaver, Creative Chair, Torah Aura Productions |
 |
“The Hidden Poetry of the Jewish Prayerbook constitutes an indispensable addition to the literature on Jewish liturgy. [These lectures] are the educational creation of a foremost scholar of Jewish prayer as well as a recognized master teacher. They will enrich the comprehension and meaning of the prayer experience for all who study this work, and will be especially significant to Reform rabbis, educators, cantors, and laypeople as the contemporary American Reform Movement adopts Mishkan T’filah and engages in the ongoing renewal of Jewish worship.”
Rabbi Dr. David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion |
 |
"Professor Reuven Kimelman offers an intellectual and spiritual feast in this series of lectures on the Siddur / liturgy. First and foremost, this is a superb synthesis of psychological, theological, literary and historical approaches to the prayers to give the users maximum insights. Kimelman illuminates countless individual passages; uniquely, he uncovers the Rabbis’ pedagogy of prayer in the structures of the prayer service and the choice of tefillot as well. There is an extraordinary bonus in studying these recordings: listeners’ personal prayers and spiritual journeys will be enriched by Kimelman’s remarkable combination of knowledge and wisdom." Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, Ph.D., Former President of Jewish Life Network / Steinhardt Foundation, Founding President of CLAL – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership |
 |
“After a decade of growth, Boston’s revolution in adult Jewish learning has helped to prepare the ground for yet another high quality resource for Jewish learners everywhere. Professor Reuven Kimelman’s recent audio coursebook on the main texts of the Siddur gives teachers and learners alike a uniquely new modality for study and understanding. This new audio-visual resource will be useful to teachers who want to bring together experienced and novice learners of all denominations to explore the meaning of liturgy with one of America’s most brilliant and clear Jewish thinkers and scholars. This will also be important for learners of all kinds. Liturgy and prayer are actually the most difficult and least accessible parts of our tradition for most Jews. These audio coursebooks are one of the best ways I know of to understand and feel the power of prayer and its meaning in our lives. What a wonderful way to connect to the words of the liturgy through today’s media!” Barry Shrage, President of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston |
 |
"These CDs of Reuven Kimelman should help people appreciate the Siddur and become more concerned with the prayers they offer." Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Horowitz, The Bostoner Rebbe |
 |
“Reuven Kimelman's insights into the structure and format of the Prayerbook open a new world for the listener regardless of background. His grasp of the material and the scope of his knowledge are equaled only by the clarity and appeal of his presentation. To be able to partake of this liturgical treat in the comfort of one's home or the privacy of one's automobile is an opportunity you should not neglect. One can only anticipate future recordings dealing with other aspects of Jewish thought and practice of this quality."
Rabbi Sanford ("Sandy") Seltzer, Director of the Interreligious Center on Public Life at Hebrew College |
 |
“Many who have seen this coursebook and heard the CDs believe that this project could revolutionize Adult Jewish Learning in North America and beyond in the next 5-10 years. It’s really exciting and I am proud that the Synagogue Council has partnered with Our Learning Company to make it happen.”
Alan Teperow, Executive Director of the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts and the Managing Director of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis |
Customers
| “I think that your first course on the poetry of the liturgy […] is wonderful. I appreciate the depth of the study as well as your very insightful outlines, which make the material easy to follow and look back on afterward. I also appreciate the organization of the CDs themselves, so that if I want to review or clarify a certain point, it is easy to find. I do not find the cost exorbitant for what is provided. I used the course for chevrutah study – we can get together at our leisure and pause the CD for further discussion as often as we like. The material has added a wonderful new dimension to my own teaching and understanding of the liturgical texts.”
Cantor Ellen Dreskin, Director of Jewish Lifelong Learning, Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative |
 |
| “Let me begin by saying that the set is wonderful. I tend to be on the run much of the time so the shorter lectures work better for me since the longer ones (e.g. Shema) require more concentration and actually, sitting and taking notes, to really grasp the concepts. I prefer to listen while walking, driving or working in my house. The morning tefillot lecture is fabulous and has changed the way that a daven (and I do so regularly). The packaging is beautiful and elegant. I have shared the CDs with my family, who also enjoyed them and have said that they would like to hear more of the less technical lectures as well. Thank you.”
Irene Gottesman, Englewood, New Jersey |
|
| “Reuven Kimelman's course on the hidden poetry of the Siddur is superb. Not only have I learned from it, but a lay leader whom I gifted a copy reported that this CD course has changed the way he looks at a prayer book. He regularly listens to one of the sessions before he goes to bed. Thanks for your pioneering efforts.”
Rabbi Mark Bisman, Har Zion Congregation, Scottsdale, Arizona |
 |
| “I just received the program, and listened to the Introduction and the discussion of Mah Tovu. Unfortunately, I listened in the evening and I was so stimulated and taken by the discussion that I couldn’t sleep for hours! It was amazing! I will be more careful as to when I listen to the next parts.”
Daniel Deykin, Brookline, Massachusetts |
|
|
“I find [this course] very clear, well organized, and easy to listen to. Often I have to go back and repeat sections because they are so densely packed with material.” Rabbi Michelle Missagieh, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Los Angeles, California |
 |
|
"I do want to thank both you and Professor Kimelman for this wonderful opportunity to in-depth and meaningful study. I am very isolated out here in Wyoming, and these CDs added a lot to the High Holidays for me. I felt I understand the prayers 100% more than before, and it made the Yom Kippur service make sense for me for the first time. This was really a gift!" Karin McQuillan, Jackson Hole, Wyoming |
|
|
"I found “The Hidden Poetry of the Jewish Prayerbook” by Reuven Kimelman to be a very knowledgeable, sophisticated, broad based and detailed product. It is carefully researched and documented, being much more than a historic overview of t’fillah. This audio course represents the equivalent of an advanced collegiate class in understanding the layered, interwoven complexity of Jewish liturgy. It would make a wonderful community based learning experience that could be synagogue, temple, JCC, Me’ah or Melton-based. I found the format purposefully repetitive and thoughtfully matching the audio to the schematics, which I found to be reinforcing the audio, as if you are in the classroom. The color coding in the text schematic works very nicely. The numerical designation and italics for the text verses were invaluable. The vocal quality was generally good. Initially, I reacted to the interlude music … but it grew on me. The Learning Company’s moderator role was a nice touch, breaking Professor Kimelman’s cadence. Initially, I thought the introductory CD was too wordy and charts were too comprehensive. So, I re-listened to that CD and carefully followed the schematics in the following audio lectures, and on reflection my take took a 180 degree turn." Myra Kraft, Chair of the Board, Combined Jewish Philantropies, Boston, Massachusetts |
 |
|
"Just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying the CDs. I had listened to the whole set last year, but I had forgotten just how good they were until I played them again this week." Bob Perlman, Newton Centre, Massachusetts |
|
|
“I have found the materials to be an invaluable source in my own preparation to teach the tefillot. The charts that are a part of the package have been most helpful in following the discussions.” Rabbi Steven J. Rubenstein, Temple B’nai Abraham, Beverly, Massachusetts |
 a |
|
“Reuven Kimelman is excellent and I find his interpretations and style very engaging and thought provoking. I listen on my iPod while I'm exercising so I don't have the benefit of following along with the maps, but I have reviewed them in a cursory way afterwards. The maps have a clarity that is easy for me to follow, and in that respect they help me to remember what I listened to.” Terry Rosenberg, Newton, Massachusetts |
|
|
“I have very much enjoyed listening to the CD’s by Professor Reuven Kimelman. I feel that it enriches my personal knowledge of the Siddur how impressive the presentation of the material is and its various prayers. I also want to mention in the book with all of its parts, including the CD’s. In other words the “packaging” was immediately impressive to me when I received it.” Miriam Brunn Ruberg, Director of Jewish Learning, JCC, Virginia Beach, Virginia |
 |
Customers
 Standard Podcast [1:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Standard Podcast [2:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Standard Podcast [1:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download |
Esther Weiss, Deerfield, June Schechner, Short Hills, Debbie Hafetz, Miami, |
The Press
- Inspired by Shavuot by Mordechai Ben-Dat, Canadian Jewish News, May 2007
- New & Noteworthy, Our Town Brookline, January 2006
- Learn all things Jewish in 10 CDs by Ed Symkus, Newton TAB, November 2005
- A New Way To Deliver Jewish Education by Rabbi Jack Riemer, November 2005
Leave a Comment