Prayer Lesson 160 – Tzur Yisrael (“Rock of Israel”)
The blessings of the Shema come to a crescendo just before the [...]
Prayer Lesson 159 “The Devil You Say!” (or not). The strange history of one of the siddur’s most controversial phrases
In the evening service, we add a prayer—Hashkeveynu—for a safe [...]
Prayer Lesson 158 – “G-d is a man of war, G-d is His name” (Ex. 15:8)
The Song of the Sea is probably the oldest poem [...]
Prayer Lesson 157- The Peculiar History of Simchat Torah
There is something quite odd about Simchat Torah. It makes [...]
Prayer Lesson 156 – The Hoshanah for Shabbat
During Sukkot, we circle the sanctuary in a processional, carrying [...]
Prayer Lesson 155 – The Vidui confessional: Chozek Yad, Exercising Power Against the Weak
The Yom Kippur liturgy is intentionally repetitive. In compelling us [...]
Prayer Lesson 154 – “Oh no, not another Kaddish!”
A casual observer of a High Holy Day service (indeed, [...]
Prayer Lesson 153: Remember Us for Life!
On the High Holy Days we add certain phrases to [...]
Prayer Lesson 152: The Psalm for the Season of Awe (Psalm 27)
Every evening and morning throughout the fall holiday season we [...]
Prayer lesson 151: It is a Tree of Life
When we put the Torah away, we sing “etz chayim [...]