Customer Reviews

Art Of Jewish Prayer

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to admit, I at first purchased this book because the author had the same last name as mine! After reading it, though, I found much of the content extremely enlightening. As an orthodox Jew, I pray a lot--three times a day to be exact! Having literature that focuses on the sheer art of prayer is tremendously helpful. All too often we say words bereft of any meaning or clearity. This book examines the seemingly "mundane" verses by uncovering their historical and cultural significance. I recommend this book not only to fellow synagogue attenders but to anyone curious about the Jewish religion.

This work centers on the central part of Jewish prayer,the Shmoneh Esreh, or Amidah. These are eighteen actually nineteen blessings said in the three daily prayers of the weekday service. The authors provide a clear and insightful description of the meaning of each of the blessings. They discuss the meaning of the words, the relation of each blessing to others, the theme of the prayer, and its historical background.
This an outstanding introductory guide.
For me the test of any Jewish ' sefer' of this kind is whether it is possible to not simply increase one's learning through reading it, but also strenghten one's sense of the meaning and depth of the Jewish tradition.
This Sefer handily passes the test.

Although the book arrived in proper time (and therefore the four stars) the book itself is not very good. For the rational thinking mind I would not recommend it. The author makes many unfound statements