Preparing for the comingHigh Holy Days, I opened myMachzor RuachChadashah, saw it was
publishedin 2003, andwas amazedto realise andthat this yearwill be the13th year of itsuse. How timeflies and where have the years vanishedsince, as a newly ordained rabbi, I joinedthe committee to edit its predecessorGate of Repentance, which was originallypublished in 1973?

The first Liberal Jewish Prayer BookVolume II (for High Holy Days) waspublished by our founding Rabbi Dr IsraelMattuck in 1923-and was used for 51years. I wonder how long our currentmachzor will last? Will it need revisingonce our new siddur appears, wheneverthat will be? Intriguing how a year endingin three seems to mark the publishing ofour High Holy Days prayer books.

I have been honoured each year, alongwith Rabbi Dr Charles H Middleburgh, mycoeditor of Machzor Ruach Chadashah, to submit an essay to Rabbi Laurence AHoffman's volumes on aspects of HighHoly Days liturgy.

As well as good for our ego, for amongthe other contributors are names farmore well-known internationally thanours, we would like to think that it hasbeen an opportunity to make known toa wide readership the creativity of theBritish Liberal Jewish liturgy. This year'svolume, the sixth, has over 40 essays, allon just one prayer-Avinu Malkeinu.

You might be thinking: how could somuch be written on just one prayer? Mostof the essays seek to solve the problem ofthe opening words; how could a modernnon-Orthodox Jew appeal to "Our Father, Our King"?

Charles and I explain how weconsidered various alternatives to thatliteral translation. We rejected theeasy way out of just transliterating theHebrew, as some have done, making theopening verse "Avinu Malkeinu, we havesinned before you."

An easy change was from 'King' to'Sovereign'. After all, as we write, welive "in a country whose head of state isour Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth II".An alternative for 'Father' was not quiteas easy. We chose 'Creator', based onthe fact that both parents have a part increating us, but we have to admit that itdoes not quite convey the aspect of Godas the close and caring parent.

I wonder how Liberal Jews will feelthese High Holy Days, after 13 years ofuse? Did we get it right, or do they missthe literal translation? Do they preferthe alternative formula we have added"Shechina Mekor Chayyeynu-DivinePresence, Source of our lives"?

Several essays in Hoffman's bookcome to the conclusion that moreimportant than the actual words is themelody to which they are sung. Think ofKol Nidrey ... the traditional words areunacceptable to a Liberal Jew with itsclaim that just by reciting the formula ourpromises in the year past are cancelled.We happily use an alternative-which Isuspect few read through-but changethe music and so many would object.

As you prepare for the High HolyDays, please think about what is mostimportant for YOU: the intellectual thoughts, the traditional words, thecreative themes, the music? Whichprayer works best for you, which troublesyou the most?

The Hebrew word "machzor" conveysthe idea of a book that keeps cominground and round, just like the festivals.I hope that Machzor Ruach Chadashahand the services you attend help you findmeaning in these High Holy Days and Iwish you a good, healthy and successfulNew Year.

- Naming God: Avinu Malkeinu-OurFather, Our King, by Rabbi Lawrence A.Hoffman is available now from JewishLights Publishing.