Siddur Sim Shalom : a prayerbook for Shabbat, festivals, and weekdays [Hardcover]

Jules Harlow (Other Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Hebrew

Product Details

• Hardcover: 880 pages
• Publisher: Rabbinical Assembly (January 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916219011
• ISBN-13: 978-0916219017
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tradition Jewish prayerbookfor the 20th century Jew., September 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Siddur Sim Shalom : a prayerbook for Shabbat, festivals, and weekdays (Hardcover)

"Siddur Sim Shalom" is a traditional Jewish prayerbook, which contains prayers for weekdays, Shabbat, and the festivals. It also contains services for other events such as Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals). This is the official Siddur of the Conservative movement. The text is nearly the same as that of Orthodox siddurim, but the references to the Temple and animal sacrifices have been changed, so that the text recalls the glory of the ancient Temple service, yet stresses that in our day it is ethical living, following the will of God, and repentance that bring salvation, not animal sacrifice. Its extensive introduction explains what changes exist, and the rationale behind them. In my mind, this may well be the best prayerbook available by any of the Jewish movements. As Rabbi Petuchowski wrote about it "It works for me in a way that no other Siddur does".

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Adequate, August 28, 2001

By 

Rob C. (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Siddur Sim Shalom : a prayerbook for Shabbat, festivals, and weekdays (Hardcover)

Currently the official Siddur of the Conservative Movement, the Siddur Sim Shalom is a very competent prayer book for home and synagogue use. Clearly written in very legible type with very helpful notations for both reader and congregation, it is pleasant if not slightly complicated to use. The prompts and strategically located, English transliterations are most helpful to non or novice Hebrew readers. They also help one to find their place in the service if they arrive late or lose themselves at any point. The foreward and information at the beginning of the Siddur lave something to be desired in the explanation of Jewish prayer and service ritual, though there is an excellent section at the end of the Siddur that is truly enlightening and an exceptional bonus. Still, some of the practice one might encounter in a Conservative shul is neglected by this version and likely can only be found in the Artscroll Siddur, today. Most daily readers of this work will be used to the section jumping nature of its layout, however this will prove a subtle annoyance to those who utilize it less often. Not ideal, but suitable for daily use and festivals, Siddur Sim Shalom exceeds in what it needs to be but falls short of what it could have been.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than most., May 20, 2002

By 

Joseph Cohen (Buchanan, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Siddur Sim Shalom : a prayerbook for Shabbat, festivals, and weekdays (Hardcover)

The first edition of Siddur Sim Shalom provides a one siddur answer to Shabbat, Festival and weekday needs. It also takes care of home ritual needs in a reader friendly manner, and works well for minyans at a shiva house.
I believe that because it doesn't have all of the feminist egalitarian changes, (even though the Conservative Movement's position is for a more egalitarian Siddur), it is far superior to the second edition, in that it keeps the original text of the prayers.
On the downside, it is a fairly heavy book to hold and the prayers sometimes run into each other, making it a little more difficult for the novice to navigate.
Overall it is a great improvement (translation wise) over the Silverman Siddur (although I miss the layout of the prayers in Silverman).
I would recommend this siddur to all.