Jewish Prayerbooks
National Redemption
The blessings that conclude the Amidah's center section emphasize God's redemption of Israel.
The Amidah
Moving from praise to petition to thanksgiving, the Amidah inculcates a sense of connection to God.
The Blessings Around the Shema
The structure of these three blessings reflects the historical progress from creation to revelation to redemption.
Shema as a Love Story
The three paragraphs of the Shema can be interpreted allegorically by connecting each of the three paragraphs to a different stage of a growing, loving relationship.
Near and Far
The very structure of the normal Jewish blessing formula (Barukh Atah…) reflects the tension of recognizing and responding to God's immanence and transcendance.
Keva and Kavanah
How the balance of keva (routine) and kavanah (intention) inform Judaism and the thought of Abraham Joshua Heschel.
Kavanah, Or Intention
In the words of one sage, "Prayer without kavanah is like a body without a soul."
