Why Pray? (Class)
$75.00
Prayer has always been a pillar of the Jewish tradition. It is often wondered: if Judaism most values action, what is the significance of uttering liturgy composed thousands of years ago, several times a day?
(includes 30 pages of supplementary material)
Part I in a Series
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Paper Type | Research Paper |
| Pages | 30 |
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שהחיינו וקיימנו לזמן הזה. בירור מקיף ויסודי אחר תקנת ברכת שהחיינו. מדוע נהוג לברכה על פרי חדש לעומת אירועים משמחים שאינו נהוג לברכה? מהם כללי היסוד הקובע את אמירתה? סקירה הלכתית ומגוונת מממקרים ושאלות רלוונטיות. ראה זה חדש.
A digest of the philosophy behind communal prayer. What makes it so valuable? What purpose does it serve? Does the prayer of the individual not achieve the same as the prayers of a congregation? A look at the deeper meaning of tefilah b’tzibbur.
Table of Contents
Who is obligated to bless the moon? What is
the meaning behind its prayers and rituals? Discover why the moon hangs high in
Jewish thought in this review of its laws and customs.
Ana Bechoach is an ancient and mystical Jewish prayer and spells the names
of G-d acrostically. What is the meaning of this prayer?
The recitation of Kaddish is a central Jewish mourning rite. Mourners recite Kaddish for eleven months following the death of a loved one. What is the meaning of the prayer and the details of its observance? Why is it recited for specifically eleven months?
Find out what is required of one who prays when it comes to focusing one’s mind on the Almighty. To what degree is kavanah really necessary? Are there any techniques that provide a shortcut to healthy kavanah?
Part IV in a Series
What defines a “dangerous scenario” for which one must recite birkas hagomel? This paper addresses the questions and challenges introduced by air travel, and defines the types of illnesses and levels of recovery that require the gomel blessing.
The Shul generally davens Nusach Ashkenaz and their Chabad Rav has been serving as shliach tzibur for Ne’ilah for over thirty years. Instead of repeating the Yud Gimmel Midos seven times, he only recites them three times, and has done so for over three decades. Has the Rabbi deviated from a well-established norm dating back over a millennium, or is the congregation blissfully unaware of the genesis of this practice? This paper highlights all available original sources on the matter and allows the reader to draw his own conclusion.
If Birkat Kohanim is one of Judaism’s most cherished blessings, why outside of Israel today is it so rarely recited? Why in Jerusalem is it sung daily, but only seldom in the Diaspora? Why do we seem to disregard how Shulchan Aruch regulates Birkat Kohanim?
Familiarize yourself with the background of the various components that comprise the davening. The repetition of the Amida, the appropriate direction for prayer, who is fit to lead the service, the procedures of Krias HaTorah and much more.
Part III in a Series
.
Table of Contents
The greatest cantorial pieces call for the
repetition of certain words. When is this allowed? What is the issue? And what
role, if any, does the Chazzan play in Chabad philosophy?
![Identifying the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy (Sources) [New!]](https://catalog.myjli.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SAMSTAM-350x448.png)
One of the focal points of the High-Holiday prayers is the recital of the “Thirteen Attributes of Mercy” revealed by G-d to Moshe as key to arousing divine mercy (Shemot 34:6-7).
The Rishonim labored to identify the precise words of the verse that represent each of the thirteen attributes, yielding multiple interpretations.
Understanding the meaning of these attributes according to the Kabbalistic tradition of the Zohar and Arizal provides for a slightly different division of the words in the verse.
This collection provides some background on the significance of the Yud Gimmel Midos HaRachamim and its mystical meaning.