How the Transliterated Siddur Got Started

Siddur Ba-eir Hei-teiv --- The Transliterated Siddur

Written by Jordan Lee Wagner

Tuesday, 04 February 1997 19:00

Jordan Lee Wagner, Author of The Synagogue Survival Kit

It may also interest non-Jews that participate in some of the life-cycle events of their Jewish friends. It enables them to appreciate what they witness in a synagogue. A detailed description of that book and an author profile is available on the Web. "The Synagogue Survival Kit" can be found in local bookstores, or ordered from on-line bookstores, or ordered directly.

My publisher decided not to incorporate my Transliterated Siddur into The Synagogue Survival Kit. So I have converted the Transliterated Siddur to web pages and here it is! Individuals may print or download my transliterations and use them as a companion to The Synagogue Survival Kit, or as a companion to your Hebrew-English Siddur, or you can just visit this site for occasional reference. I hope it is helpful.

If the spirit moves you, feel free to make a donation "in appreciation for The Transliterated Siddur" to my synagogue: The Adams Street Synagogue, 168 Adams Street, P.O. Box 600371, Newtonville MA 02460 (U.S.A.).

Please do not redistribute or modify my transliterations, nor remove my copyright notices, nor incorporate the transliterations into another work. For permission to do these things, see my Special Publishing Agreements and Distribution Agreements.

Click here for a peculiarly Jewish perspective on these restrictions and permissions.

There is a Torah prohibition called hasagath gvul ( literally: "moving a [ neighboring farmer's ] boundary marker" --- found at Deuteronomy 27:17 ). This commandment is understood and applied very broadly by the sages of our shared tradition, such that Judaism prohibits using or citing the intellectual efforts of another person without giving them credit.

There is also a Jewish legal principle called dina d'malchut dina ( literally: "the law of the king is the Law" ) which makes adherance to some portions of secular law --- including secular copyright law --- mandatory under Jewish Law.

The classic Talmudic example used to demonstrate that a mitzvah may not be performed via a transgression is the example of someone praying in stolen t'fillin. This legal principle may also apply to using the transliterations without permission. Thank you for respecting my copyright.