Only In Israel #4: The Artscroll Eretz Yisrael Adaptor Pamphlet
It is well known that Artscroll has a virtual monopoly on siddurim used in shuls throughout North America. What is less known (certainly among American Jews) is that that are actually lots of shuls that are not in North America. Several of them are actually located in Eretz Yisrael. And while Artscroll may be the siddur of choice in the good ole US of A it is most certainly not in Israel. The Artscroll siddur is extremely unpopular here for several reasons. It’s overpriced (much more expensive than other siddurim.) It’s printed in Chutz La’Areretz. It’s wrong for Eretz Yisrael. Yep – it’s just not accurate for the teffilos that are said here.
Now I hope this stays this way. Artscroll certainly does not need the Eretz Yisrael market and there are many holy Jews in Eretz Yisrael that make their parnussah printing some fine quality “Eretz Yisrael” siddurim. It should stay that way. But what if you are just addicted to Artscroll? You like having a siddur with an English translation. You like the clear computer font they use.
Well, I found “The Artscroll Eretz Yisrael Adaptor Pamphlet” lying around in a shul in the predominately American Olim neighborhood of Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph. As it clearly states it’s not printed by Artscroll but by privately by someone who wants to help people "acclimate to the different customs of Eretz Yisrael" – because there are lots of differences aside from the well known one that we duchan everyday here.
Click on each image to enlarge. (Page 1 is on top.)
Labels: Only In Israel
Pinchas pointed at 4:33 PM
4 Comments:
Since Marcg 2006, Artscroll now has a new Eretz Yisrael version called 'Ner Naftali'. Hebrew-only and ashkenaz. Sefarad version coming soon.
They have a monopoly because their siddur is simply the best 'all-around' on the market. In North America, Feldheim and Birnbaum never even bothered to step up and try to compete with the artscroll all-inclusive siddurs. In Israel, their is virtually no competition either - the two most widely-used siddurs don't come close. The only market that artscroll will have a hard time getting into is the 'edot mizrach' which simply have too many different demands per community and rabbi.
Well they ain't using it at the "edos chariedos" GRA shul, I'll tell you that!
Anyway thank you "Josh," Mr. Artscroll spokesperson.
the eretz yisrael artscroll doesn't have the prayer of the medinah or soldiers in it, so maybe you will see it there after all.
Spokesman? I figured nothing less than PR wiz.
BTW in the GRA shul they DO make a mishabarach.
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