Shavei Israel publishes new prayer book in Portuguese
New prayerbook for Jews in Brazil
Shavei Israel has published a new daily siddur (prayer book) intended for use by the Brazilian Jewish communities in Belem, Manaus and other towns in the northern part of the country. The siddur will also be distributed to those Bnei Anousim (people whose Jewish ancestors in Spain and Portugal were compelled to convert to Catholicism) who fled to Brazil hundreds of years ago.
The siddur includes the original Hebrew prayers on the right side with a phonetic translation into Portuguese on the left. There is also a Portuguese-language translation to enhance comprehension by the local population.
Entitled “Ner Tamid,” the new siddur is the third in a series of prayer books produced by Shavei Israel. The others cover the prayers for Shabbat, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The new siddur is intended for weekday prayers and can also be used for joyous occasions – such as a bar mitzvah, brit mila (ritual circumcision) or wedding – as well as for the holidays of Hanukah and Purim.
The “Ner Tamid” siddur is unique in that it reflects the distinctive customs and rites that were brought to Brazil in the 19th century by Jews from North Africa, and especially Morocco, and which were handed down from generation to generation. The siddur was compiled by Rabbi Moses Elmescany, the chief rabbi of the 1,500-member Jewish community of Belem, and Shavei Israel’s David Salgado, a trained cantor.
We hope that the latest in the line of “Ner Tamid” prayer books will inspire those who use it and we pray that, through the merit of serving G-d with joy, we shall soon witness the ingathering of all the dispersed of Israel to our Land, reunited again as one in Zion.