For readers who wish to learn about Jewish prayer, A Guide to Jewish Prayer is the first book to read, and the one that will be the cornerstone of any collection of books on the subject. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, a world- renowned scholar of Judaic studies and the editor and translator of Random House's 22-volume edition of the Talmud, has written this Guide in order to "open the gates of Jewish prayer for those who want to know and comprehend both its essence and its structure, and the numerous details concerning the various prayer services." Beginning with magisterial essays on the nature of prayer and the history of the Siddur (the common Jewish prayer book), Steinsaltz then moves to a detailed description of the prayer services conducted over the course of the Jewish year, and ends with a series of essays about communal prayer, including chapters on the synagogue, prayer accessories, and the music of prayer. With a comprehensive glossary and short biographies of the many rabbis who have influenced the history of Jewish prayer, Steinsaltz's Guide provides every necessary resource for understanding prayer, for every conceivable reader--from the curious gentile to the devoted Jew. -- Michael Joseph Gross


From Publishers Weekly
Steinsaltz, one of this era's most influential rabbis (Simple Words), turns his attention to prayer, marrying straightforward how-to tips with reflections on the nature and meaning of Jewish prayer. The book opens with a discussion of individual versus communal prayer, with Steinsaltz explaining that although Jewish prayer heavily emphasizes community, there is a place in Judaism for individual prayer. Communal prayer expresses the needs and hopes of the entire nation of Israel, but individuals can and should still pray alone, with or without liturgy, in times of personal need. He also tackles gender. Men and women, he explains, are both obligated to pray (although women are not legally obligated to participate in the thrice-daily minyan). Steinsaltz offers a concise history of the Jewish prayer book, tracing the development of prayers from the Second Temple period to 20th-century prayers commemorating the Holocaust and Israeli Independence Day. In the book's valuable how-to section, he carefully examines weekdays, Sabbaths and holidays, explaining which prayers are said when and why. He introduces readers to "prayer accessories" such as the tallith (prayer shawl) and tefillin (phylacteries). The book concludes with a rousing discussion of Jewish music and its relation to prayer traditions. This guide will help both novices and experienced Jews to deepen their understanding of prayer. One caution: it is decidedly Orthodox in outlook. Non-Orthodox readers will find much of interest, but they will not find discussions of, for example, feminist language for God. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Beliefnet
Scholars and students of Judaism and prayer will welcome this long-awaited compilation of the core ideas behind Jewish prayer, by one of today's greatest scholars of Talmud and Jewish thought and practice. Not for many decades, perhaps since Elbogen's masterful work "Jewish Liturgy," has a scholar of Steinsaltz's stature attempted to address Jewish prayer in a single volume. This new volume will surely take its place on the shelves of every library and Jewish household. (Beliefnet, Sept. 2000)


Review
No book is closer to the heart of the Jew than the Siddur; none has had such a profound influence [or been] so uniquely able to penetrate to the very depths of the soul.

For generations, the Siddur was the first book the Jewish child learned to read, and through the struggle to grasp the combinations of letters, he repeated and learned to recite its phrases by heart. This bond with the prayer book engendered a great intimacy between the Jew and the Siddur in both the emotional and intellectual spheres. But the bond is not only a primary, intimate one; it is an ongoing, lifelong process. While other books are used only as study texts which, once mastered, need not be read again, or are reread only after a long period, the Siddur accompanies the Jew throughout life. . . .

No other Jewish book contains the entirety of Judaism.  The Siddur is like a garland, intertwining all the strands of  Judaism and encompassing all fields of Jewish creativity in all their variegated forms. It includes sections that reflect the fundamentals of Jewish faith, and those relating to the field of  religious law. . . . [It] contains sections of exalted poetry, and matters of ritual procedure. There are prayers that deal with the most intimate details of individual needs and problems, supplications reflecting the sorrows and aspirations of the nation, and prayers that touch upon the entire cosmos.
--From A Guide to Jewish Prayer


From the Hardcover edition.


Review
No book is closer to the heart of the Jew than the Siddur; none has had such a profound influence [or been] so uniquely able to penetrate to the very depths of the soul.

For generations, the Siddur was the first book the Jewish child learned to read, and through the struggle to grasp the combinations of letters, he repeated and learned to recite its phrases by heart. This bond with the prayer book engendered a great intimacy between the Jew and the Siddur in both the emotional and intellectual spheres. But the bond is not only a primary, intimate one; it is an ongoing, lifelong process. While other books are used only as study texts which, once mastered, need not be read again, or are reread only after a long period, the Siddur accompanies the Jew throughout life. . . .

No other Jewish book contains the entirety of Judaism.  The Siddur is like a garland, intertwining all the strands of  Judaism and encompassing all fields of Jewish creativity in all their variegated forms. It includes sections that reflect the fundamentals of Jewish faith, and those relating to the field of  religious law. . . . [It] contains sections of exalted poetry, and matters of ritual procedure. There are prayers that deal with the most intimate details of individual needs and problems, supplications reflecting the sorrows and aspirations of the nation, and prayers that touch upon the entire cosmos.
--From A Guide to Jewish Prayer


From the Hardcover edition.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Our Review
Don't Forget Your Prayers
In the Jewish tradition, the Siddur, or Book of Prayers, is a vital collection of religious text, ranking next in importance to the Bible. Yet it is also largely undervalued, which is why Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, a respected scholar best known for his English translation of the Talmud, feels it necessary to fill a gap. "No book is closer to the heart of the Jew than the Siddur, and none has such profound influence," says Steinsaltz, who has brought together an engaging overview of Jewish prayer -- its history and meaning -- to prove his point.

If history and law are the foundations of Judaism, prayer acts as the glue that holds hold it together. Jewish prayer, Steinsaltz tells us, is essentially communal -- "Its structure, contents and wording are geared to the needs, hopes and sense of gratitude of the community," he writes -- although the communal aspect is not meant to negate the importance of the individual. With the destruction of the Temple in 587 B.C.E., the nature of Judaism began to change. Some of the Psalms originally sung by an enthusiastic group of worshipers on their way to services in the great Temple are now recited by Jews the world over. However, as Judaism transformed itself through the ages, the prayers, too, evolved. Unlike the unchanging Bible, there is no one Siddur. Just as there are various styles of Judaism, each Jewish sect (and that number is growing!) collects its own combination of prayers, although much of the basic content is the same for all.

"Tradition!," the answer that placated Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof," no longer satisfies; people want to know more about what brings them to participate in their faith. This book blends history with theological explanations, providing interesting background for many of the liturgical aspects (there is even a chapter on the music of prayer). This contribution to Jewish scholarship will be appreciated both by readers engaging in Jewish prayer for the first time and by longtime practitioners. A Guide to Jewish Prayer addresses the basic need for meaning that sits at the heart of contemporary discussions about maintaining and transforming ritual practices. It should be read by anyone looking to learn about what it means to practice Judaism through prayer, as told by a respected teacher who is also a clear, enjoyable writer.

Royce Froehlich is an audio engineer by trade and a drummer by inclination> He is currently completing a dual degree in divinity and social work at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University. In his spare time he is working on a Ph.D. in communications at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

For both the novice and for those who have been engaged in prayer for years, here is the one guide needed to practice Jewish prayer and understand the prayer book, from one of the world's most famous and respected rabbis.

From the origins and meaning of worship to a step-by-step explanation of the daily prayers to the reason you're not supposed to chat with your friends during services, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz answers many of the questions likely to arise about Jewish prayer. Here are chapters on daily prayer; Sabbath prayer; prayer services for the holidays; the yearly cycle of synagogue Bible readings; the history and makeup of the synagogue; the different prayer rites for Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Yemenites, and other cultural/geographic groupings; the role of the rabbi and the cantor in the synagogue; and the role of music in the service.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Steinsaltz, one of this era's most influential rabbis (Simple Words), turns his attention to prayer, marrying straightforward how-to tips with reflections on the nature and meaning of Jewish prayer. The book opens with a discussion of individual versus communal prayer, with Steinsaltz explaining that although Jewish prayer heavily emphasizes community, there is a place in Judaism for individual prayer. Communal prayer expresses the needs and hopes of the entire nation of Israel, but individuals can and should still pray alone, with or without liturgy, in times of personal need. He also tackles gender. Men and women, he explains, are both obligated to pray (although women are not legally obligated to participate in the thrice-daily minyan). Steinsaltz offers a concise history of the Jewish prayer book, tracing the development of prayers from the Second Temple period to 20th-century prayers commemorating the Holocaust and Israeli Independence Day. In the book's valuable how-to section, he carefully examines weekdays, Sabbaths and holidays, explaining which prayers are said when and why. He introduces readers to "prayer accessories" such as the tallith (prayer shawl) and tefillin (phylacteries). The book concludes with a rousing discussion of Jewish music and its relation to prayer traditions. This guide will help both novices and experienced Jews to deepen their understanding of prayer. One caution: it is decidedly Orthodox in outlook. Non-Orthodox readers will find much of interest, but they will not find discussions of, for example, feminist language for God. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

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