JBI announces the first-ever braille edition of “Siddur Lev Shalem for Shabbat and Festivals,” commonly used in Conservative/Masorti communities.

JBI, the nonprofit enabling access to Jewish life for individuals who are blind, have visual impairments or print disabilities, announces the first-ever braille transcription of the seminal text, the Rabbinical Assembly (RA) Siddur Lev Shalem for Shabbat and Festivals, commonly used in Conservative/Masorti communities. Completed in partnership with the RA, the siddur is widely recognized as an exceptional presentation of traditional and contemporary liturgy. In its new and long-awaited accessible format, the brailled version is available free of charge for individuals, enabling full participation and learning from this important work by people who are blind or visually impaired.

JBI executive director Livia Thompson noted, “One of the most meaningful and powerful experiences we have as Jews is reading together and praying together. We are thrilled that our brailled version of Siddur Lev Shalem will now make that experience a possibility for all. We are also so grateful to our partners at the Rabbinical Assembly, consultant Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, as well as to the individual donors and congregations who made this project so many years in the making possible.”

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover, director of publication and digital engagement at the RA, added, “Bringing this project to fruition has been an important goal of ours over the past two years. As we continue to help communities create houses of ‘prayer for everyone,’ our partnership with JBI means that we have reliable and caring partners who understand needs and find a way to meet them. Lev Shalem is truly one of the great works in contemporary Jewish liturgy, and we are thrilled to be able to expand its reach.”  

The braille siddur was transcribed, proofed, embossed and then bound. As braille books require thicker paper and wider-spaced characters, each edition is larger than those for sighted readers. Each siddur contains 12 volumes, broken up to make their weight manageable for readers. JBI is also making available upon request a digital BRF file to those who want to use the siddur on an electronic braille display.

As with all JBI materials, the siddur is available to individuals with visual impairment free of charge and to synagogues and schools for a modest fee to cover the cost of production. Synagogues and nonprofits based in New York City, however, may be eligible to receive a set free of charge through a grant from the New York Community Trust to enhance inclusion and foster equal access for all New Yorkers.

With the completion of the braille siddur, JBI and RA will begin to transcribe the Machzor Lev Shalem, which will include prayers for the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

To learn more about the Machzor Lev transcription or to support this project, contact Beth Rudich, director of development and engagement, at [email protected] or 212-812-2773; or Rabbi Mordechai Rackover, director of publications and digital engagement, at [email protected].