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A Guide to Jewish Prayer
One of the world's most famous and respected rabbis has given us the one guide we need to practice Jewish prayer and understand the prayer book.
From the origins and meaning of prayer to a step-by-step explanation of the daily services to the reason you're not supposed to chat with your friends during the service, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz answers many of the questions likely to arise about Jewish prayer. Here are chapters on daily prayer; Sabbath prayer; prayer services for the holidays; the yearly cycle of synagogue Bible readings; the history and make-up of the synagogue; the different prayer rites for Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Yemenites, and other cultural/geographic groupings; the role of the rabbi and the cantor in the synagogue; and the role of music in the service.
The book also contains a glossary, a bibliography, and biographical sketches of the rabbis who were instrumental in creating and ordering the prayers through the ages.
Rabbi Steinsaltz's guide is an essential volume both for the newcomer to Jewish prayer and for those who have been engaged in prayer for years.
From the origins and meaning of prayer to a step-by-step explanation of the daily services to the reason you're not supposed to chat with your friends during the service, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz answers many of the questions likely to arise about Jewish prayer. Here are chapters on daily prayer; Sabbath prayer; prayer services for the holidays; the yearly cycle of synagogue Bible readings; the history and make-up of the synagogue; the different prayer rites for Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Yemenites, and other cultural/geographic groupings; the role of the rabbi and the cantor in the synagogue; and the role of music in the service.
The book also contains a glossary, a bibliography, and biographical sketches of the rabbis who were instrumental in creating and ordering the prayers through the ages.
Rabbi Steinsaltz's guide is an essential volume both for the newcomer to Jewish prayer and for those who have been engaged in prayer for years.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 1, 2013
This was all halaḥah (all the whats, wheres, whens and hows). Trouble is I was looking for more the whys.
The historical background of the evolution of Jewish prayer and the small parts on the ritual objects and music were very interesting. However, the breaking apart of the various services was based on the assumption that you know what these prayers are to begin with. You would then have gotten more out of the variations between the different rites. However, there is a lot of this group does this and this group does that, but some also do this and others do another thing (much like learning French diction, so many rules and yet so many exceptions that the rules are meaningless). Text examples of the prayers would also have been helpful. Also the author would say things like "there are mystical reasons for this" and then would never elaborate on what those mystical reasons are, so it seemed to have a dismissive air at times.
But it was interesting enough, and good to have on the shelf for reference.
The historical background of the evolution of Jewish prayer and the small parts on the ritual objects and music were very interesting. However, the breaking apart of the various services was based on the assumption that you know what these prayers are to begin with. You would then have gotten more out of the variations between the different rites. However, there is a lot of this group does this and this group does that, but some also do this and others do another thing (much like learning French diction, so many rules and yet so many exceptions that the rules are meaningless). Text examples of the prayers would also have been helpful. Also the author would say things like "there are mystical reasons for this" and then would never elaborate on what those mystical reasons are, so it seemed to have a dismissive air at times.
But it was interesting enough, and good to have on the shelf for reference.
March 19, 2008
This is an excellent book for a hasidic understanding of prayer. The Introduction is worth the price of the book. For a straight guide to the siddur and Jewish synagogue ritual, I prefer Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin's To Pray as a Jew.
July 24, 2013
It was interesting, but a bit above my level. I felt at times that I needed a companion to give a beginner's level explanation. It was also a bit more in-depth in the minutiae than I would have liked.
April 19, 2007
steinsaltz's practical approach with explanation is invaluable to understanding jewish prayer.
October 20, 2013
A good reference for all as I think everyone can glean something from this book. Not a book I recommend reading cover to cover - but great to read in sections or for looking up topics of interest.
April 15, 2016
Insanely detailed.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews