Get Your Copy To Pray As A Jew Illustrated By Hayim Halevy Donin Published As Interactive Edition

Pray As A Jew: A Guide To The Prayer Book And The Synagogue Service by Hayim H.
DoninA very detailed account of prayer choreography, wording, and timing,
While I don't necessarily like or agree with everything, it has expanded my knowledge, Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin is an amazingly talented author and teacher, His books on Judaism rival other modern greats, such as Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and Rabbi Harold Kushner, This book teaches us the basic prayer service, order of the siddur, and the why in addition to the how.
When read together with his book To Be a Jew, there seems to be more to learn than I can take in.
I recommend reading this book, putting it down, then coming back to see how much more you can learn.
This book was exactly what I was looking for in terms of background and explanations of all the prayers.
But it was so much information, Ill definitely need to go back and consult it at times, I also think that a lot of this is best learned through doing, so while Im glad to have the background, Im sure a lot of it wont fully click until I experience it.
His frame of reference didnt match mine, but I enjoy learning across all branches of Judaism, and I honestly find it more helpful to learn from traditional perspectives.
I found this

a very interesting and helpful book that helped me understand synagogue services a bit better, and that has helped me understand more about different prayers said at different occasions.
A definite recommendation for those interested in Jewish prayer, the Hebrew words of prayers, and the goingson in synagogues.
Judaism plays a major part in most of my novels, and surely in A FLOOD OF EVIL and the sequel I am currently writing.
I have reached a point where an understanding of Jewish prayer has become important both for my Jewish character Anna Gorska and for the Catholic character Berthold Becker, as they struggle against the enclosing evil of Hitler's persecution of the Jews.


I am going to try to express their pursuit of a connection with God through three of the prayers in the Shemoneh Esrei.


Here are extracts from Donin's marvelous book on the Shemoneh Esrai and those three prayers, . .

The Shemoneh Esrei is the heart of every Jewish service it is recited at each of the three daily prayer services composed in theth c BCE bymen of the Great Assembly Almost every phrase has its source in the Bible.
. . when saying the Shemoneh Esrei a Jew addresses God directly

, . . Shemoneh Esreith prayer knowledge, . . "Thou grantest knowledge to man, and teachest understanding to humans from thine own self, favor us with knowledge, understanding, and sense.
Blessed art Thou, Lord, giver of knowledge, " the sages say: if there is no understanding, how can there be prayer true piety, the kind not based on superstition, presupposes an understanding of the nature of the world and a knowledge of what God requires of us.
. . the giving of knowledge and wisdom to man is an act of Divine grace, for by doing so God graciously shares with man one of His own Divine qualities

Shemoneh Esreith prayer repentance.
. . "Return us, our Father, to thy Torah, and draw us closer, our King, to Thy worship, And bring us back before Thee in complete repentance, Blessed art Thou, Lord, who desires repentance, " this prayer expresses the Jewish belief that God is not anxious to punish, . . Judaism seeks the rehabilitation of those who violate God's law

Shemoneh Esreith prayer forgiveness, . . "Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned, Pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed, for Thou art a pardoner and forgiver, Blessed art Thous, Lord, Gracious One who forgives abundantly God sets no limit to His pardoning grace, One should therefore never despair about earning Divine forgiveness, very useful book for those who willing to know the basics about Jewish lifestyle, worth to read. I don't know if I'll ever be "done" reading this one, I'm going to have to return it to the library and buy my own copy, I think, Great book, explained Jewish prayer in depth while remaining engaging throughout, Its from an Orthodox perspective, which I liked because my own experience is with liberal Judaism, Answered every question I could have thought to ask, I will say that I highly recommend general familiarity with the prayer services before trying to get through this.
I loved it for explaining the rationale behind rituals I was already familiar with and imagine it would be difficult to follow for someone who cant already at least follow along in shul.
A great howto for learning the prayer service, though here and there written from an Orthodox perspective, I read this book in hopes of being able to follow an Orthodox synagogue service from start to finish.
Instead, the book focuses on the prayers themselves their history and meaning and less on the order, which apparently can vary from synagogue to synagogue.
The information, however, is easy to follow and indepth, An excellent place to start for anyone wanting to familiarize themselves with traditional Jewish prayers, This should be required reading! Though I am a practicing Reform Jew, I converted Orthodox long story, This book offers an understanding of the elements of an Orthodox service, which still the basis for all Jewish services.
Another resource to be read and reread and pondered for a lifetime,

Rabbi Donin provides explanation, historical and Scriptural background, as well as etiquette for the center of Jewish life:prayer and our relationship with Gd.
The synagogue service explained

Comprehensive explanation of all the various aspects of the synagogue service and its variations that occur at different times and holidays.
It provides great insight into the hows and whys of Jewish observance, Why do Jews pray What is the role of prayer in their lives From how to comport oneself on entering a synagogue to the most profound comments on the prayers themselves, Rabbi Donin's guide to Jewish prayer leads the reader through the entire course of Jewish liturgy.
Unsurpassed for beginners as well as the religiously observant, this book is an indispensable guide to a fuller comprehension of the ritual practices and to the vast treasure embedded in Jewish tradition.
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