Table of Contents
Preface xiii
Chronology of Ages in Jewish History xxi
Key to Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in Citations xxiii
Contemporary Works Mentioned in Citations xxvii
Key to Pronunciation of Transliterated Words xxix
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 The Quest for Spirituality 9
In the Beginning 9
Ma'amadot: Forerunner of the Synagogue Service 12
The Merit of Communal Worship 15
Hebrew: The Preferred Language for Jewish Prayer 18
Kavanah: It's the Spirit That Counts 21
Song: An Aid to Kavanah 23
Cantillations: The Scriptural Chant 24
Nusah: The Musical Motif 24
Chapter 2 To Feel at Home in the Synagogue: Knowing What to Do 27
When Entering a Synagogue 28
Proper Dress for a Synagogue 28
Finding a Seat 30
Getting a Prayer Book (Siddur) and Bible (Humash) 31
Finding One's Way in the Siddur: How the Services Are Arranged 32
Putting on a Tallit 35
Putting on Tetillin 39
Postures at Prayer: Sitting, Standing, Bowing, Prostrating, Swaying 45
Kissing: An Act of Religious Devotion 50
The Charity Box at Daily Services 51
What to Do When Asked to Open the Ark 52
What to Do When Called Up for an Aliyah 58
The Maftir Aliyah 63
What to Do When Called Up for Hagbah and Glilah 64
What to Do After Receiving a Synagogue Honor 67
What to Do If You Are a Kohen or a Levite 68
What to Tell Non-Jews Visiting the Synagogue 69
The Language of the Synagogue: Words with Ancient Echoes 71
The Major Liturgical Traditions: Nusah Ashkenaz, Nusah Sephard, and Others 75
The Hebrew Blessing: Its Distinctive Features 76
Chapter 3 The Shemoneh Esrei: The Amidah of "Eighteen" Blessings 81
The Order of the Prayers Within Each Service 80
Laws and Customs Relating to Its Recitation 83
The Structure of the Shemoneh Esrei 85
The Introductory (Three) Blessings: Praise of God 90
The Middle (Thirteen) Blessings: Petitioning God 95
The Concluding (Three) Blessings: Thanking God 114
The Condensed Shemoneh Esrei: Havineinu 124
The Short Prayer 126
Chapter 4 The Amidah for the Sabbath and Festivals 127
Variations Within the Sabbath Amidah 129
The Musaf Amidah 135
The Musaf Amidah of Rosh Hashanah 140
Chapter 5 Kedushah and Other Additions to the Amidah 143
Kedushah 143
Significance of the Kedushah 145
The Invitation to Say Kedushah 149
The Connecting Verses in Kedushah 151
Rules Relating to Kedushah 151
Ya'aleh V'yavo 152
The Priestly Blessing: Birkat Kohanim 155
Al Hanisim: For the Miracles 160
Atah Honantanu: The Declaration of Havdalah 161
Aneinu: Answer Us, O Lord 164
Nahem: Comfort Us, O Lord 164
For the Ten Days of Repentance 166
Chapter 6 The Shema and Its Blessings 169
The Meaning of the Shema 174
The Blessings Accompanying the Shema 183
Borkhu: The Call to Prayer 194
Chapter 7 The Verses of Song-Pesukei d'Zimra (The Introductory Prayers) 197
The Six Psalms and Their Blessings 198
The Preface to Ashrei: Yehi Kh'vod 203
The Song at the Sea: Shirat Ha Yam 204
The Thanksgiving Songs: Hodu and Mizmor L'Todah 205
Psalm 30: The Bridge 207
Additional Psalms for Sabbaths and Festivals 210
The Blessing of Song: Nishmat 213
Chapter 8 The Morning Blessings-Birkhot HaShahar (The Preliminary Prayers) 215
The Blessing for Washing Hands: Al Netilat Yadayim 217
The Blessing for Creating Man: Asher Yatzar 218
The Blessing for Restoring Man's Soul: Elohai Neshamah 219
The Torah Study Blessings: Birkhot Hatorah 221
Torah Study Passages 222
The Blessings Upon Arising 224
The Three Blessings of "Who Has Not Made Me" 227
The Woman's Blessing 230
The Personal Prayer of Rabbi Judah: Yehi Ratzon 232
The Binding of Isaac: The Akedah 232
Inspirational and Penitential: L'Olam Yehei Adam 233
The Sacrificial Readings: A Second Torah Study Section 234
Other Prayers 235
Chapter 9 Supplications and Other Supplementary Prayers 237
Tahanun 237
The Long V'hu Rahum 241
When Tahanun Is Not Said, and Why 243
Prayers Concluding the Service 247
Chapter 10 The Kaddish 255
The Rabbinical Kaddish 259
The Whole Kaddish 260
Why Mourners Say Kaddish 261
The Great Kaddish 264
Rules Relating to Saying Kaddish 265
Chapter 11 Responses in Prayer 267
Amen 267
Other Responses 268
Rules for Saying "Amen" 270
Chapter 12 The Torah Reading Service 273
The Torah Scroll-From and to the Holy Ark 277
The Torah Blessings 283
Hagbah: Raising the Torah Scroll 284
Haftarah: Reading from the Prophets 285
Maftir: The Torah Reading Preceding the Haftarah 286
The Haftarah Blessings 287
The Gabbaim and Their Duties 292
The Father's Blessing at a Son's Bar-Mitzvah 293
The Blessing of "Gomel" 294
Mi She'beirakh: A Prayer for All Occasions 297
Upon Completing One of the Five Books of Moses: Hazak, Hazak! 300
Chapter 13 Welcoming the Sabbath: Kabbalat Shabbat 303
The Six Psalms 305
The Hymn of Lekhah Dodi 306
Psalm 92: A Song for the Sabbath Day 308
Bameh Madlikin: With What May We Light? 309
When the Sabbath Coincides with a Festival 311
Chapter 14 Prayers for Special Occasions 313
Hallel: Hymns of Praise 313
Yizkor and Other Memorial Prayers 320
Announcing the New Month: Birkat HaHodesh 322
The Blessing on the Moon's Reappearance: Birkat Levanah 327
Counting the Omer 330
Avinu Malkeinu: Father and King 331
Piyyut: Religious Poetry 333
Chapter 15 The Grace After Meals: Birkat Hamazon 337
Prayers in the Home 337
A Torah Commandment 339
The Four Blessings of Birkat Hamazon 341
The Concluding Harahaman Petitions 351
The Guest's Prayer 352
The Summons to Say Grace: Zimun 353
The Introductory Psalms 356
When the Full Grace Is Said 357
Shorter Forms of Grace After Meals 359
Chapter 16 The Blessings Before Eating: Birkhot Hanehenin 361
The Food Blessings: A Classification 363
L'Hayim: The Classic Jewish Toast 367
The Seven Marriage Blessings: Sheva Berakhot 367
Chapter 17 Home Prayers for Sabbaths and Festivals 377
Kiddush: The Prayer of Sanctification 377
Havdalah: The Prayer of Separation 387
The Blessings for Lighting Candles 394
Chapter 18 Rules Relating to the Prayer Service 397
The Times for Prayer 397
An Explanation of the "Variable Hour" (Sha-ah Zemanit) 398
The Time for Shaharit 399
The Time for Minha 399
The Time for Maariv 401
The Time for Musaf 402
The Time for Shema 402
When Coming in Late: How to Join in the Service 403
Rules Pertaining to the Repetition of the Amidah 406
What to Do If One Forgets to Say… 408
The Order of Precedence for Getting an Aliyah 412
The Order of Precedence for Leading the Service 415
When a Service Is Conducted in a House of Mourning 417
Epilogue - The Ethical Dimension of Jewish Prayer 421
Appendix - Table of Torah and Haftarah Readings for the Festivals and Other Special Occasions 427
Index to Jewish Values and Principles of Faith 431
Index 435
