25 Years of ArtScroll Publication: A Critical Review

As Martin Lockshin puts it: “the most surprising Jewish publication success of the 20th century: the ArtScroll takeover.” Link here. Lockshin’s sharp critical comments are carefully motivated.

The first thing you will want to do after reading the review is pre-order the about-to-be-published KorenSacks siddur, a great alternative to ArtScroll provincialism. I fail to see how one can read Lockshin’s comments without taking that step, if one cares to daven with all one’s mind, soul, and strength. To be sure, I find Sacks’ apologetics and rhetorical strategy sappy-sweet and unconvincing often enough. But it is not nearly as mind-numbing as ArtScroll’s approach tends to be. With Sacks’ siddur in one hand and Tabory’s JPS Commentary to the Haggadah (great price here) in the other, I will soon be in seventh heaven.

Someone may ask, who knows that I am a Christian: isn't there something in a siddur you cannot pray?

My answer: point it out to me. I'm still looking. Am I supposed to be offended by something in the service for Shabbat Zachor? For Purim? Am I supposed to be unable to savor Kabbalat Shabbat? Ridiculous thoughts, if you ask me.

Comments

[Michael P.]

I have seen a trial-copy of the Koren siddur and it is simply beautiful. It is extremely elegant and pleasing to the eye. See another review of the siddur here. I highly recommend Josh Kulp's commentary on the haggadah. I think that it is better than Tabory's and it comes with dozens of beatiful reproductions from mss. and early printed haggadot. You can even get it from Amazon.

[JohnFH]

Michael,

Thanks for the great tips.

[Paul Daniel]

As a Christian you may find "birkat minim" from the amidah problematic since it is quite possibly directed against defectors to Christ. That being said I do love the Siddur, and though it's often a bit over my head I also find your blog enjoyable.
PD

[S.]

Alenu? ;)

[JohnFH]

I like the version of Aleinu with the disputed verse included.

Christians are supposed to believe that the gifts and calling of the Jewish people are irrevocable. Paul affirms that in the New Testament.

Part of that calling surely is to keep Christians honest. Aleinu helps in that regard. In other ways, so does reading Fackenheim, Rosenzweig, Heschel, Soloveitchik, and Levinas.