As for Me- My Prayer: A Commentary on the Daily Prayers

by Nissan Mindel

This volume is not a translation of the prayer book, but rather a commentary and an exposition.

Our daily prayers consist almost entirely of selections and readings from our sacred literature, our Holy Bible and the Talmud. The selection and order of these prayers are the creation of our Divinely-inspired Prophets and Sages. Thus, our prayers echo the eternal and infinite word of G-d. We address ourselves to G-d in His own words, inasmuch as human language is too poor and too limited to convey the sublime.

In arranging the structure of our daily prayers, our Prophets and Sages of old were mindful to select Biblical and talmudic passages which would evoke our deepest religious feelings and inspire our soulful attachment to our Father in Heaven. They clearly intended the prayer book to be both inspirational and instructive.

Human nature, unfortunately, is such that the repetition of these prayers tends to reduce their influence and meaning. This then is the main purpose of the present commentary: To bring out and expound a deeper understanding of our daily prayers.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1972

About the author

RABBI DR. NISSAN MINDEL was born in Riga, Latvia in 1912 and was educated in European yeshivos, among them the prestigious Torah V’Derech Eretz - of the Shamshon Rafael Hirsch tradition. He received his rabbinic ordination from noted Rabbonim in Manchester, England and served there as associate Rabbi in the Holy Law Congregation.

He studied law and economics at the University of Manchester in England, which he graduated with B.A. and M.A. and also received a degree in Semitic languages. In 1962 he earned a PHD in philosophy from Columbia University in New York, with his groundbreaking translation of the Tanya to English.

Dr. Mindel was associated with the Chabad Lubavitch movement from 1938-1999. During these very productive six decades he merited to serve the two Rabbeim – Sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson and his successor and Seventh Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson – as personal secretary responsible for their correspondence in several languages, as their emissary on numerous missions and as prolific writer of Chassidic literature for young and old. He was also a founding member of the three pillers of Chabad - Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, Machaneh Yisrael and Agudas Chassidei Chabad.

His writings have spanned the gamut from children’s magazines which he edited for forty seven years to Chabad philosophy for the serious scholar.

Dr. Mindel is perhaps best known for his translation of the Tanya kaddisha to English, an extraordinary achievement which opened the study of chassidus to the world at large. Another translation of his was the Memoirs of the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson. Among his many writings are included: monthly children’s magazines - Talks and Tales (English) and Shmuessen Mit Kinder (Yiddish), the Complete Story of Tishrei and the Festival Series, My Prayer, The Storyteller Series, Our People Series (history of the Jewish People), Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi – Biography & Philosophy of Chabad. His works have been translated to many languages and have enjoyed many printings and wide acclaim.

Dr. Mindel’s elegant and lucid writing on many vital topics of Jewish interest has earned him universal appeal and a respected place among the Jewish writers of the twentieth century.

Reviews

[Almog Hovav · Rating 5 out of 5]

every Jew should read this at least once

[adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. Provides a lot of in-depth secular history on the prayers we read 3 times a day. Where they come from, who wrote them, why certain words are here or there. Highly recommend if you want to get a better grasp on the Siddur.