The Siddur: The Jewish Prayer Book

The Siddur: The Jewish Prayer Book

The siddur (סִדּוּר, "order") is the prayer book containing the Jewish liturgy for weekdays and Shabbat. For festivals, the machzor (מחזור, "cycle") is used. The siddur is perhaps the most used book in Jewish homes and synagogues.

Historical Development

The basic prayers — the Shema and the Amidah — were fixed by the sages of the Great Assembly and the tannaim. However, for centuries the liturgy was transmitted orally. The first printed siddur was Rashi's Siddur (11th century), although earlier manuscripts existed such as Siddur Saadia Gaon (10th century). The invention of printing (15th century) standardized the texts. Today countless editions exist with translations, commentaries, and adaptations for every stream of Judaism.

Structure of Daily Prayer

The daily liturgy follows a fixed structure:

1. Pesukei Dezimra (Verses of Praise): psalms and preparatory blessings that elevate the soul toward prayer.
2. Blessings of the Shema: blessings surrounding the Shema (Yotzer Or in the morning, Ahavat Olam in the evening).
3. Shema: the central declaration of faith.
4. Amidah: the silent standing prayer, with 19 blessings (18 original plus one).
5. Tachanun (Supplication): prayer of confession and petition for forgiveness (omitted on Shabbat and festivals).
6. Aleinu: concluding hymn proclaiming God's sovereignty over all the earth.

Differences Among Nusach (Traditions)

Jewish liturgy varies by tradition (nusach, נוסח):

• Nusach Ashkenaz: used by Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. It is the most widespread tradition in North America.
• Nusach Sefard: used by Sephardic Jews (Spain, Portugal, North Africa, Ottoman Empire), with influence from Lurianic Kabbalah. It is also the tradition of Hasidim (though differing in some details).
• Nusach Edot Mizrach: used by Middle Eastern Jews (Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Persia), with unique melodies and poems (pizmonim, baqashot).
• Nusach Italki: tradition of Italian Jews, the closest to the original liturgy of the Talmud Yerushalmi.

The differences are mainly in the order of certain blessings, liturgical poems (piyutim), and melodies.

Siddurim for Modern Movements

• Orthodox: The Complete Artscroll Siddur (with translation and commentary); Siddur Tefilat Kol Peh (classic editions).
• Conservative: Siddur Sim Shalom (Hebrew, transliteration, and English; includes the matriarchs in the Amidah).
• Reform: Mishkan Tefiliah (inclusive language, alternative prayer options, English and Hebrew texts).
• Reconstructionist: Kol Haneshamah (egalitarian and poetic language).
• Jewish Humanist: siddur without mention of God, focused on Jewish culture and history.

The Machzor

For Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the machzor is used. It contains the complete High Holy Day liturgy, including liturgical poems (piyutim) such as Unetaneh Tokef ("Let us give power to the holiness of this day") and the confession Ashamnu.

Recommended reading: The History of the Siddur (Ismar Elbogen); The Siddur: Text, History, and Theology (Reuven Hammer). The introductions of modern siddurim (Artscroll, Sim Shalom, Mishkan Tefiliah) contain excellent historical summaries.