I once took a class on how to explain our services to novices. The class began by the teacher, without explanation, passing out a book in Japanese, chanting an unfamiliar tune in Japanese, and standing and sitting for no apparent reason.

“That,” she explained, after a few bewildering minutes, “is how it feels for a newcomer to a Jewish service.”

As a corrective to our many discussions of individual prayers, here’s a quick and easy summary of what a morning prayer service looks like.

  1. Preliminary blessings (Birkot Hashachar)
  2. Psalms and songs (P’sukei d’zimrah)
  3. Core of service (Matbeah shel t’fillah)
    1. Sh’ma and its blessings
    2. Amidah
  4. Torah reading (K’riat hatorah) (note: on certain days only)
  5. Additional Amidah (Musaf) (note: on shabbat and holidays only)
  6. Concluding prayers (and pre-kiddush salivation)

Please note: rambling sermon and endless announcements keeping us from lunch or donuts optional (very).

These, of course, are bare bones descriptions of the sections of the service. But what’s really going on? It looks like this:

  1. Preliminary blessings: Noting that I’m alive, Jewish, haven’t read my name in the obituaries, and ready to move on/up
  2. Psalms and songs: Showing gratitude (the most important thing we can do for our mental and spiritual health)
  3. Core of service: Getting to what really matters
    1. Witnessing for G-d
    2. Praying for the redemption of Israel
  4. Torah reading: Hearing the word of G-d (at least three times a week, if not more)
  5. Additional Amidah: Taking note of special times as a gift from G-d
  6. Concluding prayers: Getting ready to reenter the real world after a temporary, and hopefully inspiring, interlude

And when all is said and done, what do we take away from our davening? A story is told of the Rizhiner Rebbe. One day, he was late coming out of his room. When his followers peeked through the keyhole, they saw him standing there just saying “Oy oy oy.” When he finally came out, his followers asked what the problem was. He said, “I got up to say Modeh ani lefanecha” (“I give thanks before You”). When I started, I said “I give thanks” without any problem, but then when I looked at the lefanecha (“before You”) I saw how far apart they were! Oy oy oy!”

By davening, we can close that gap, just by a little.

And that is a very big deal.