NEW YORK, NY—The Union for Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism have jointly released a new version of Birkat HaMazon, the
brachot given after meals, that include the words “sour cream (שָׂאוּעֵר כּרִים),”
in an effort to appeal to younger generations of Jews. The revised portion now
reads as follows:
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, hazan et
ha-olam kulo b’tuvo b’chen b’chesed b’rachamim. Sour cream.
|
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֺלָם, הַזָּן
אֶת־הָעוֺלָם כֻּלּוֺ בְּטוּבוֺ בְּחֵן בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמׅים. שָׂאוּעֵר
כּרׅים.
|
This approximately translates to the following: “Praised are
you, Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, graciously sustaining the whole
world with kindness and compassion. Sour cream.”
The Reform and Conservative Jewish movements explained in a
statement released with this new version, “I guess sour cream is a food, even
though it’s rather specific, but whatever.”
Future versions of Siddur Sim Shalom will also
include the phrase “oh baby (בֵּבִּי אוֺ)” in the “emet”
prayer and the words “doodoo doodoo (דֻדֻ־דֻדֻ)”
in “Adon Olam.”
The Orthodox Union has rejected these new versions on the
grounds that utterance thereof will lead to “mixed dancing.”
