MONTREAL — Shaare Zedek Congregation, a “traditional” Conservative synagogue, has become the first congregation of any denomination in Montreal to completely change over to the Koren Sacks Siddur, whose appearance is shaking up the English-language Jewish text publishing world.

The new prayerbook from Israel, with modern English translation, functional design and introduction and commentary by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the United Kingdom’s erudite chief rabbi, is aimed primarily at the modern Orthodox.

Koren Publishers, based in Jerusalem, is going head-to-head with Mesorah Publications of Brooklyn, N.Y., whose ArtScroll Siddur has dominated the market since it was first published in 1984. There’s hardly a mainstream Orthodox synagogue in North America that doesn’t use it.

Shaare Zedek’s Rabbi Alan Bright, who persuaded his congregants that the Koren Sacks was best for them, said the decision doesn’t mean that the congregation is becoming Orthodox.

“This is not a theological shift. Rather it solidifies where we have been for many years,” said Rabbi Bright, who has led Shaare Zedek since 2000. “The only difference between our services and those at any modern Orthodox synagogue is that we have mixed seating.”

But he concedes there was and continues to be some opposition. “There’s no question there were a few raised eyebrows and some people are bent out of shape, but I hope as soon as they start using it, they will realize this is a unique volume,” he said.

Shaare Zedek joins more than 100 congregations, mainly in the United States, in adopting the siddur since its launch in May 2009. One notable Canadian synagogue is the modern Orthodox Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in Toronto.

Shaare Zedek left the United Synagogue, the umbrella organization of Conservative congregations almost two years ago and now bills itself as “a traditional Conservative synagogue with a young modern flavour.”

Shaare Zedek had been using the Silverman Siddur, which was the standard in the Conservative movement from the 1950s and is now out of print.

It didn’t adopt the more recent Sim Shalom Siddur, used by many Conservative shuls today, for practical and ideological reasons. First, it comes in two volumes, and second, Rabbi Bright, who is Orthodox, could not accept its references to “matriarchs” on par with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and other “politically correct” gender neutrality.

After looking at a number of options, including the close second, the Authorized Daily Prayerbook used in his native Britain, Rabbi Bright became convinced that Koren Sacks was the right one for several reasons. The English translation reads well, Rabbi Sacks’ input is inspiring and its single volume comprises the entire prayer cycle for the year, including Shabbat, weekdays and holidays, as well as Torah readings and daily laws.

Equally important, this siddur explicitly recognizes and celebrates the State of Israel. There are prayers for its government and soldiers, as well as Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim.

The customized Shaare Zedek edition also includes a prayer for our government and, at Rabbi Bright’s insistence, a prayer for the safety of Canadian forces.

Of interest to women are prayers for after giving birth and for a newborn, which ArtScroll does not contain.

In June, Shaare Zedek took delivery of 1,000 volumes, replacing all of its prayerbooks. The congregation, located in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, has about 1,300 individual members.

However, the active membership is much smaller, with about 150 typically coming to Shabbat services. “We polled our regulars, our minyanaires, and they all loved it,” Rabbi Bright said.

One of them, Richard Davine and his wife Naomi bought the first 100 copies. The Men’s Club purchased another 800.

They are recognized in the edition, which also includes the synagogue’s name and new logo of a Torah unscrolled for the reading of Bereshit, or Genesis, symbolizing a beginning embossed on the cover. A colour photo of the sanctuary is on the inside cover.

On the other side is Hatikvah, in Hebrew script and transliteration and translation, and O Canada.

Still to come are 12 large-print editions for the rabbi, cantor and the sight-impaired and 35 pocket-size ones given to bnei and bnot mitzvah.

Fifty of the old prayerbooks will be donated to the Castel Royale Residence for Seniors and Congregation Beth-El has been offered as many as it wants.

Two people on the religious services committee were initially against Koren Sacks, Rabbi Bright said. One concession was the removal of the Orthodox Union logo from the cover, although it does appear in the preface of the version the Shaare Zedek is using.

The executive then unanimously approved the siddur and all of the board members, except one, did likewise.

“We are not defined by the book we use, but the philosophy we believe in… Those things that we have theological issues with, we won’t use them,” Rabbi Bright said. “Prayer is very personal.”

While Rabbi Bright insists the congregation is not going to identify with Orthodoxy, he does insist on compliance with Halachah. However, there is “absolutely” no plan to institute separate seating of men and women, because it may not be contrary to Jewish law, he said, mentioning certain modern Orthodox rabbis who have expressed that opinion.

Women play no role in ritual at Shaare Zedek, but that may change. Rabbi Bright is researching the expanding role of women at some Orthodox synagogues in the United States, and with a committee it will be decided if this can be introduced at Shaare Zedek. Egalitarianism, however, is not being considered, he said.

Becoming more traditional is the direction that the Montreal Jewish community seems to be going in, he added. “An increasing number of new members want it, especially young people who feel comfortable with that style, yet want family seating.”

Yet, Shaare Zedek – at Rabbi Bright’s initiative – has extended a hand to Jews who are openly gay or lesbian, again because he is following the guidance of certain traditional rabbis who believe this segment of the community must be fully accepted in the synagogue.

“When I first came to Montreal 10 years ago, I predicted that the Conservative movement would not survive another 25 years. I still stand by that. I don’t believe it will exist much longer in its current form.”

Shaare Zedek was Orthodox until 1963. The switch split the congregation and some members left.

Shaare Zedek is enjoying a “rebirth,” he said. “For the first time in many years, we are comfortably in the black and looking to the future.”

Asked if the NDG location limits its horizons, Rabbi Bright replied: “Our success will not be handicapped by anything. All possibilities are on the table.”