To Pray As A Jew: A Guide To The Prayer Book And The Synagogue Service (Paperback)

by Hayim H. Donin (Author) "FROM the dawn of human history, the sacrificial offering was the basis of divine worship..." (more)
Key Phrases: hol hamoed, most prayer books, observing yahrzeit, Prayer Leader, Shemoneh Esrei, Eretz Yisrael (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The Jewish prayer book, or siddur, remains the standard text from which children in Jewish schools learn to read. Yet many adult Jews are unfamiliar with the siddur and are confused by prayer services. Other know the prayer book's Hebrew texts by rote but do not really comprehend them. Writing for both kinds of readers in this classic devotional guide, Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin reviews the basic shape of a Jewish prayer service and then begins his survey of prayers (all of which are quoted here in both Hebrew and English) with the Shemoneh Esrei, the core of every service. One of the most appealing qualities of the book is the author's penchant for reminding readers to be mindful of the practical dimension of prayer life: "Unless prayer is also accompanied by the traits of character and ethical behavior that Judaism demands, prayer is no indication of piety at all. One need only stop to consider that in real life, evil men pray too." --Michael Joseph Gross

From Publishers Weekly
To Pray As a Jew, Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin's companion to his classic work To Be a Jew, will be reissued in September by Basic Books. The book functions as an accessible guide to the prayer book and the synagogue service, covering every detail of Jewish prayer and ritual. Donin answers such specific questions as: What religious objects are kissed before use? What are the 18 blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei? What are the roles of the gabbaim during the service? This definitive guide to the siddur, published just in time for the High Holy Days, will be deeply appreciated by a new generation of readers.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (October 10, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465086330
• ISBN-13: 978-0465086337
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,187 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An essential resource for anyone wanting to learn to pray., November 17, 1997

By A Customer

There are few books as easy to read as "To Pray as a Jew." You will find all the essentials ... from preparing to attend synagogue to what to do when you leave and thereafter. If you desire to learn how to make prayer an effective part of your everyday life, then you MUST read this book. It is a "how to", "when to", "what to", "what else" manual. You will certainly wear this book out!

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference, March 17, 2003

By	Gregory Olsen "renaissance man" (San Ramon, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is book is a classic. The book delivers exactly what is promised - a guide to the siddur. It is by an orthodox rabbi and therefore does not conform necessarily to practices in other liberal movements in Judaism. The translations, as noted by other reviewers, are excellent.

Other reviewers have commented on the minutae that bog down the book. There is not necessarily a way to simplify such a complex subject. I think the organization of the book is practical.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Introduction to the Halachah and Meaning of Jewish Prayer, July 9, 2004

By	dougrhon "dougrhon" - See all my reviews

Even for observant and committed Jews, the liturgy of the daily and Shabbat prayer service can be daunting. For the less educated Jew, merely entering a Synagogue can be most intimidating. Numerous books have been written in an effort to help the Jewish layman understand the prayer service and feel comfortable in Synagogue. In my opinion, this one is the best. Rabbi Donin divides the service into its component parts and explains both the origin and meaning of each. For example, we learn how the Amidah came to be a substitute for the daily sacrifices of the Temple period and therefore, how its structure parallels the various types of sacrifice. But he does more than explain the background and meaning of the prayers. He shows how Jewish prayer, like all of Jewish practice, is a system with rules. For example when the reader or Chazzan chants a blessing (or "bracha"), a response of "amen" by a congregant will impart the saying of the bracha to the congregant. Whether or not one feels bound by the halacha (Jewish law), I think it is very interesting to see how every aspect of the prayer service has a correct way. For the beginner who is unfamiliar with the rituals and practices of the synagogue service, such as when to stand, the rules pertaining to tallit and tefilin, and what to do when given honors or an aliyah, this book explains it. A Jew, completely lost at Shul will feel comfortable after reading this book. Of course it is written from a traditional Orthodox perspective. It describes what happens in a traditional service. But aside from its emphasis on gender separation, a feature of Orthodox Judaism, the Conservative Jew will recognize his or her own service as being largely identical. Reform and Reconstructionist services are substantially different so this book is not for those attending such services. I think this book ought to be in the Judaica collection of every Jew interested in traditional Judaism. It is a good companion to Donin's "To Pray as a Jew." You don't need to be Orthodox to appreciate it.