The Nonverbal Language of Prayer: A New Approach of Jewish Liturgy

by Uri Ehrlich

Uri Ehrlich addresses a relatively neglected but central component of the act of its nonverbal aspects, represented by such features as the worshiper's gestures, attire and shoes, and vocal expression. In the first part of this book, the author engages in a two-tiered examination of nine nonverbal elements integral to the rabbinic Amidah a detailed historical-geographical consideration of their development, followed by an analysis of each gesture's signification, the crux of this study. Of all the possible models, it was the realm of interpersonal communication which had the strongest impact on this consideration of the rabbinic Amidah gesture system. The concluding chapters explore the broader rabbinic conception of prayer embodied in these nonverbal modes of expression. Unlike mainstream prayer studies, which concentrate on the textual and spoken facets of prayer, the holistic approach taken here views prayer as a complex of verbal, physical, spiritual and other attributes.

303 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2004

Reviews

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating research, well-layered out study. This academic text primarily focuses on nine “gestures” associated with the Amidah, the central standing prayer, and how they were developed during the tannic period in Judaism.