How to Pray: Basic Guide to Jewish Prayer

How to Pray: Basic Guide to Jewish Prayer

Jewish prayer (tefilah) is a dialogue with God established by the patriarchs and structured by the sages of the Great Assembly. More than a petition for needs, tefilah is an act of service of the heart (avodah shebalev) that connects us with the divine presence and with the community of Israel.

The Minyan

The minyan is the quorum of ten Jewish adults required to recite certain prayers:

• Barechu (the call to bless God)
• Kaddish
• Repetition of the Amidah
• Torah reading

In Orthodox tradition, the minyan consists of ten men. In Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements, both men and women are counted (egalitarian minyan). A person celebrating bar/bat mitzvah may be counted from their age of majority.

Structure of the Daily Service

There are three daily services:

Shacharit (morning): The longest and most complete service. Includes:

• Birkot HaShachar (morning blessings)
• Pesukei D'zimrah (verses of praise)
• Barechu
• Shema Israel (with its blessings)
• Amidah (silent standing prayer)
• Tachanun (supplication)
• Torah reading (Monday, Thursday, Shabbat, and festivals)
• Aleinu

Minchah (afternoon): Brief service. Includes Ashrei, Amidah, Tachanun, and Aleinu.

Arvit/Maariv (evening): Includes Shema, Amidah, and Aleinu.

The Amidah — The Standing Prayer

The Amidah (also called Shemoneh Esreh, "eighteen") is the central prayer of the service. It is recited standing, in silence, with feet together (like the angels in Ezekiel 1). It contains:

• Praise (first 3 blessings): Avot (patriarchs), Gevurot (divine power), Kedushat Hashem (holiness of God)
• Petitions (13 central blessings): Wisdom, repentance, forgiveness, redemption, health, agricultural blessing, gathering of exiles, justice, heretics, righteous, Jerusalem, Mashiach, hearing of prayer
• Thanksgiving (last 3): Avodah (Temple service), Hoda'ah (thanksgiving), Sim Shalom (peace)

On Shabbat and festivals, the Amidah has only 7 blessings (the 3 praises, a central blessing about the day, and the 3 of thanksgiving).

Kedushah

During the repetition of the Amidah, the Kedushah is recited: "Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, Adonai Tzeva'ot..." (Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts). The community rises in holiness, joining the angels in divine praise.

The Shema

The Shema Israel is the central declaration of Jewish faith: "Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad" ("Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"). It is recited twice daily (morning and evening). Tradition teaches that the last letters of Shema and Echad form the word "Ed" (witness).

Tallit and Tefillin

The tallit (prayer shawl) is worn during the morning service. Its fringes (tzitzit) recall the 613 commandments. Tefillin are worn only on weekdays. Both prepare the body and spirit for prayer.

Kavanah — Intention

Kavanah is the intention of the heart in prayer. The Talmud teaches that "prayers are only heard when recited with kavanah." It is better to recite less with intention than more without it.

Hebrew vs Vernacular

Traditionally, prayer is in Hebrew. The Conservative movement maintains Hebrew but allows more vernacular. The Reform movement uses primarily the local language with selections in Hebrew. Orthodoxy is almost exclusively in Hebrew and Aramaic.

Women's Prayer

In Orthodoxy, women are exempt from time-bound communal prayer but obligated to pray daily. In egalitarian movements, women have the same obligations and participate fully in leading the service.

"Know before whom you stand" (Talmud, Berakhot 28b) — inscribed above the ark in many synagogues.