This extensively revised third edition, now compatible with Mishkan T'filah, offers many voices and unique, contemporary perspectives on our siddur, the order of the service, and the meaning of individual prayers. It reflects on the ways in which our prayer practices continue to evolve. This is an essential educational resource and is indispensable for bar/bat mitzvah and confirmation preparation, as well as for Introduction to Judaism courses and general adult education.
Publisher’s Note, Third Edition
Foreword, Third Edition
Introduction, Original Edition, 1975
Some Words of Thanks, Second Edition, 2001
Introduction, Third Edition: About B’chol L’vavacha
Creating New Prayers: Fixed Prayer versus Spontaneous Prayer
Seder HaT’filah—The Order of the Service
Section One—B’rachot: Blessings
Section Two—Kabbalat Shabbat
The Opening Kabbalat Shabbat Psalms
L’chah Dodi
Psalms 92 and 93 29
Section Three—Kippah, Tallit, T’fillin:
How Do We Dress for Prayer?
Wearing a Kippah
Wearing a Tallit
Laying T’fillin
Section Four—Birchot HaShachar and P’sukei D’zimrah:
The Morning Blessings and Verses of Praise
Birchot HaShachar: The Morning Blessings
Modeh/Modah Ani: Gratitude on Waking Each Morning
Mah Tovu: Sanctifying Our Sacred Space
Asher Yatzar: The Blessing of the Body
Elohai N’shamah: The Blessing of the Soul
Nisim B’chol Yom: Miracles Every Day
Birkat HaTorah: A Blessing for Engaging with Words of Torah
P’sukei D’zimrah: Verses of Praise
Baruch She-amar: Praised Is the One Who Spoke
Psalm 100, for Weekdays
Psalm 92, for Shabbat
Ashrei
Psalm 150
Nishmat: The Soul of Everything That Lives (Shabbat)
Yishtabach: The Conclusion of Praise (Every Day)
Section Five—The Sh’ma
Bar’chu: The Call to Worship
Yotzeir: Creator of Light (for Morning Services)
Maariv Aravim: Creator of the Night (for Evening Services)
Ahavah Rabbah: God’s Love for Us (for Morning Services) and Ahavat Olam: God’s Love for Us (for Evening Services)
Sh’ma: Hear, O Israel
V ’ahavta: You Shall Love
Emet V ’Yatziv: Redemption (for Morning Services) and Emet Ve-Emunah: Redemption (for Evening Services)
Hashkiveinu: God as Our Protector (for Evening Services
V ’shamru and Yism’chu: Marking Shabbat (for Evening Services)
Section Six—The Amidah
The First Three Blessings of the Amidah
Avot v’Imahot: Fathers and Mothers
G’vurot: God’s Power
K’dushah: Sanctification
K’dushat HaYom: Sanctification of the Day (Shabbat)
Amidah L’Chol: The Thirteen Middle Blessings of the Amidah for Weekday Services—Petitions
The Last Three Blessings of the Amidah
Avodah: Worship
Hodaah: Thanksgiving
Birkat Shalom: Blessing of Peace
Elohai N’tzor L’shoni Meira: My God, Guard My Speech
Hallel for Festivals
Section Seven—K’riat HaTorah: The Reading of Torah
At the Ark
Taking the Torah from the Ark
Aliyah and the Torah Service
Mi Shebeirach
The Haftarah Blessings
Rosh Chodesh: The New Month
Honoring the Torah
Section Eight—Siyum HaAvodah: The Conclusion of the Service
Aleinu
Kaddish
Adon Olam: You Are the Eternal God
Ein Keiloheinu: There Is None Like God
Section Nine—Kiddush
Kiddush for Friday Night
Kiddush for Shabbat Day
Section Ten—Havdalah
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
Sources and Permissions
About the Authors
