Well, after all these years of meeting with couples before the chuppah and telling them not to worry, that it's way more fun being married than getting everything organized to get married--it turns out it's also way more fun having a published prayer book than it is getting all the requisite ducks lined up actually to publish one. (And there were a lot of ducks to line up, let me tell you!) Now, though, that the gala is behind us, and all that duck-lining-up, and the books actually exist and are in use, I'm finding myself slightly overwhelmed by my own feelings. It was a labor of love, that's for sure. But who ever thought that it would end up with the books actually in the pews? In retrospect, I suppose that must sound like a strange question, or at least a rhetorical one. But as the months wore on and the list of details to attend to seemed to grow longer no matter how many things I crossed off the list once they were done, I had moments when I wondered if this would ever come to pass. And now the books really do exist...and I'm slightly amazed, slightly thrilled, slightly--actually, immensely--proud. All of those things...and also very pleased!

And now we're on to new things and new projects. I would like to create a special edition of Siddur Tzur Yisrael for use in shiva houses. I'm already thinking about how to do this, and I have an idea what kind of text I would like to create for the margins. Something fresh, written especially for this edition of the Siddur...but also something inspiring and encouraging, something that people in mourning would find comforting and reassuring and wise. We will make it happen. I'll keep you all posted!

I also have the idea of our shul creating a book about the commandments of the Torah for the children in our religious school. There are plenty of books out there that attempt to explain to kids how to do this or that mitzvah or what they're all about, or what they symbolize, but I don't know of any book written for ten to twelve year olds that attempt to put forward a theory children could understand (and, even, enjoy understanding) about what the larger system is all about, what Judaism itself actually is. It's a tall order. But I began work on such a manuscript last year when there was a long lull in Siddur work while the typesetters were doing their thing, and I hope to see it through to completion.

There are all sorts of things for us to do as a congregation--books to publish, teaching materials to create and disseminate, new versions and iterations of Siddur Tzur Yisrael to bring to the marketplace. As I said last week, I'm very proud to serve a congregation of creative, industrious people who, like me, take such great pleasure in dreaming up new ways to be of service to our people and our faith, and then in making them happen.

Now we're having fun!

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Martin S. Cohen