Israel's Facebook

Kitah Zayin and Het studetns created a "Facebook page" for Israel in honor of Yom Yerushalayim. 

Below are some of the "friends" who appeared on the page. . .

Whom would you choose as "The Face of Israel" and why? 

Describing God as a "Man of War" - Good, Bad or Neutral?

We saw that in Shirat Ha-Yam (the Song of the Sea), which is recited daily during Shacharit, God is described as a "Man of War" (Ish Milhamah).  

How do you relate to this description in the prayer book?  Do you agree with it?  Do you find it inspiring?  Does it bother you? 

Matriarchs in the Amidah - To Add or Not to Add?

We compared the text of the Amidah in several siddurim, and highlighted some of the major differences among the Movements (Conservative, Orthodox, etc.). 

Some Conservative schools and synagogues add the Imahot into the beginning of the Amidah, and others do not.  Some choose to add the Imahot on certain occasions such as Rosh Hodesh. 

We listed the "pros" and "cons" of changing the original text of the liturgy by adding the Imahot into the prayer.  Which arguments on both sides did you find compelling?  Do you (or would you) prefer to include the Imahot in your own Amidah?  Why or why not?

To view the Teshuva by Rabbi Golinkin, who advises inserting a "piyut" (liturgical poem) about the Imahot into the Amidah instead of changing the original text, click here: http://www.schechter.edu/responsa.aspx?ID=35

Piyut for the Imahot