Wednesday, December 10, 2025

New Edition of Siddur

 I just bought the new Hirsch Siddur. They did a terrific job. The width is a bit less than the thick paper version so easier to carry, but the pages are thick enough to turn, unlike the thinner paper version. Most importantly, the font is bigger. The font on the Hirsch Siddur that I have been using for the past 4 decades strains the eyes. The commentary is even smaller so I have read less of it than I'd like to, over the years. The new font is noticeably larger. In a few sections like the end of Amidah, the font is tiny. I would have preferred that it all be kept the same. 

I  appreciate the occasional Minhag Ashkenaz instructions.

The cover is attractive too. 




So what you have here finally is an English language siddur that approximates German minhag that isn't such a strain on the eyes or fingers. For example, tallis and tefillin are before korbonos where they belong. As for birchos hatorah being there too, there's a note that tells you so, so there's a bit of page flipping. If i recall correctly the phrase concerning lishmah does not appear by birchos hatorah as it shouldn't. Baruch shimei is shown as being only in some communities, etc. There's many changes from true German minhag of course, such as the bracha concerning heretics. But this is the closest I have seen yet to a siddur in English that can be used by Minhag Ashkenaz people. 


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