How to Spice Up Friday Nights

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Elana Seaton

How many people feel deeply alienated by long prayer services in a language they do not understand?

Noted author and scholar Rabbi Chaim Miller has recently published the new and exciting “Friday Night Companion,” which Rabbi Miller says will bring a new and fresh meaning to the Shabbat prayer.

Over the last few months many Chabad houses both in the United States and Europe have vigorously embraced this new prayer companion and have begun to run special “Kabbalistic Shabbat prayers” around it.

“This new Prayer book has given me a whole new meaning as to what Shabbat is,” wrote a student from the University of Berlin.

Ari Goldman, long-time New York Times writer and Professor at Colombia University, has recently been enjoying the new companion as well.

“I can think of no better companion for entering the Sabbath,” he wrote in praise.

“Rabbi Chaim Miller has transformed the Friday night prayer book, keeping the traditional text, but enriching it with vivid graphics, wise commentary and profound meditations.”

The companion was also a finalist in the 2012 Benjamin Franklin awards in two categories: best new book on religion and best interior design.

The judges were extremely impressed with the book, remarking: “The tone throughout was approachable and warm. I could see families and friends gathering together and learning and growing from sharing their faith via this current, yet timeless, book.”

Photos: Promotional set of Birmingham University students using the new book on a weekday.