Jewish Liturgical Texts
How to Choose a Siddur, or Jewish Prayer Book
It helps to know what lies behind the muted bindings and the denominational labels of today's wide array of possibilities.
Ashrei: Psalm 145
The internal and external structure of this carefully-crafted Psalm serves to reinforce its theme of praising God as the caring, divine ruler of all creation.
Dramatizing the Torah
The Torah reading in most synagogues is inaccessible, the author says, and needs to be "livened up" through the use of drama and performance art.
The Torah Service
The Torah is taken out during prayer services on Shabbat, Mondays and Thursdays.
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.
