Book details

  • Genre:religion
  • Sub-genre:Judaism / Rituals & Practice
  • Language:English
  • Pages:380
  • Hardcover ISBN:9798317808679

Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh, Siddur Etz Chaim

By Dr Rabbi Ben Levy and Rabbi Shmuel Polin

Overview

In Rabbi Polin's words, Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh embodies the "continuity of nature from one Rabbi to the next" and stands as "a compilation of liturgical choices made over years." One of Rabbi Polin's most cherished memories from his rabbinic training is rooted in Dr. Richard Sarason's Creative Liturgy course at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati in 2020. This formative experience frequently came to mind during the early years of his rabbinate. Inspired by the wisdom and creativity of his rabbinic predecessors, Rabbi Polin was grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Rabbi Levy and the Ritual Committee of Congregation Etz Chaim. Together, they crafted something uniquely suited to the needs of the community: Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh, Siddur Etz Chaim.
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Description

The Zohar, the primary text of Jewish mysticism addresses issues of holiness by contrasting iturata dileila, "stirring from above," with iturata diltata, "stirring from below," and expounding upon the relationship between these two paradigms of religious experience. The theophany on Mount Sinai constitutes the classic example of an iturata dileila, a "stirring from above:" The Eternal bends the Heavens to call upon humanity from Mount Sinai to declare the six-hundred and thirteen commandments of the Torah. However, sometimes holiness originates, not in the Heavens, but here on earth amongst humanity, an iturata diltata, a "stirring from below." The Zohar assures that human beings can create sacred practices and holy occasions that will move the Divine. In the parlance of the Zohar (III, 88a), "Through [human] mercy a 'stirring from above' will be aroused." Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh: A Siddur for Congregation Etz Chaim constitutes an iturata diltata, a "stirring from below" designed to arouse a Divine iturata dileila, a "stirring from above." This prayerbook emerges from the Reform Jewish tradition of Divine service and in particular the practice of study and worship such as has evolved in Congregation Etz Chaim over the years. The siddur results from the long-term devotion of our community, the contributions of its Ritual Committee, and the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Shmuel Polin and his predecessor, Rabbi Emeritus Ben Levy, DHL. We hope that this prayerbook's user-friendly design, layout, artwork, photography, technical apparatus, translations, transliterations, stage directions, and commentaries will inspire the iturata diltata, the "stirring from below" that will engender the iturata dileila, "stirring from above," that will lift us all to a higher plain of holiness!
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About The Author

Born in Queens, New York, Rabbi Ben Levy, DHL came to Monroe Township, NJ from Chappaqua, NY as where he served as Assistant Rabbi to Rabbi Chaim Stern, the editor of the Reform prayerbook, the Gates of Prayer. In his twenty-five years as the Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim-Monroe Township Jewish Center Rabbi Levy built upon the foundations laid by his predecessor, Rabbi Shira Stern (no relation) in establishing distinctive programs of worship and Torah study. Rabbi levy is grateful to the community's Board of Trustees for conferring upon him the title of Rabbi Emeritus. He is especially proud to collaborate with the congregation's Ritual Committee and with his able successor, Rabbi Shmuel Polin in the publication of Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh: A Siddur for Congregation Etz Chaim. Rabbi Levy holds a BFA in Drama from New York University, a master's in secondary special education from Hunter College of the City University of New York, a Master of Hebrew Letters and Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Technology. Most recently Rabbi Levy earned a doctorate in Midrash from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City under the tutelage of Rabbi Burt Visotzky and published "Idealized Others" in Midrashic Literature: What They Say About Rabbinic Identity. Rabbi Levy lives in Monroe Township, NJ with his wife, Evelyn, and near his sons, Eli and Reuven, daughter-in-law, Ellie, and grandchildren Deliah Shoshanah and Asher Shalom. Rabbi Polin was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and grew up in Central New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia suburbs. After high school, he immigrated to Israel, before returning to the United States for college at American University. Rabbi Polin graduated with a B.A. and double major in International Relations and Jewish Studies. After completing his undergraduate degree, he returned to Israel and worked for Israeli non-governmental organizations and in public policy. After living a few more years in Israel, Rabbi Polin enrolled in Gratz College of Philadelphia and completed two master's degrees, one in Jewish Studies and the other in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. After completing both master's programs, Rabbi Polin enrolled in Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, where Rabbi Polin attained his third master's degree in Hebrew Letters and also his Rabbinical Ordination (S'micha). In addition, in Rabbi Polin's final year of rabbinical school, he founded the Opening the Ark Project of Cincinnati. The non-profit rebuilt the twenty-foot Torah Ark of Sidra, Poland, that was destroyed in the Holocaust. The reconstructed Torah ark has since been on exhibit across the United States, and Rabbi Polin's academic research on Torah Arks from Poland has been published in Poland, featured in Muzeum Ziemi Nadnotckiej and broadcasted upon in TLV Trzcianka Polish television. Rabbi Polin joined Congregation Etz Chaim - Monroe Township Jewish Center in 2022. Since Rabbi Polin has begun at Congregation Etz Chaim - Monroe Township Jewish Center, Rabbi Polin joined the Board of Rabbis of Princeton, Mercer, Bucks. In addition to these accolades, Rabbi Polin is a trustee of Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County and he was part of the Stephen Wise, Amplify Israel Fellowship of Rabbis 2025-2026. Rabbi Polin lives in Windsor, New Jersey with his family and is proud to be serving the community.
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