Ki Savo 5770Volume 7 · Issue 3

Yearning for Perfection

Torah each Sabbath and to read sequentially from the Torah and complete it, but without any time limit. Indeed, there was a custom in Israel to complete the Torah once in three years (Megillah 29b; Rambam Hilchos Tefillah 13:1).

In Days of Repentance · Chapter 15View Sefer

Pekudei-Shekalim 5774Volume 10 · Issue 25

Communal Offerings

The Rambam (Hilchos Tefillah 8:4) calls the leader’s repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer the prayer of the community, whereas the Evening Prayer, for example, he calls prayer with the community.

Ki Seitzei 5774Volume 11 · Issue 2

Awakening to the Self

In the wording of the Rambam (Hilchos Tefillah 13:19; see also Seder HaTefillah): “The plain custom is to read the Haphtaros from the consolations of Yeshayahu from after the Ninth of Av until Rosh Hashanah.”

Chayei Sarah 5757Volume 18 · Issue 9

Owner of All

Powerful in Prayer

Vayechi 5767Volume 3 · Issue 17

Hope for Deliverance

The first part of the Aleinu Prayer, instituted by Yehoshua bin Nun, concludes, “True is our King and there is nothing beside Him as it says in His Torah (Devarim 4:39), “Know today and bring it into your heart that God is the Lord in the heavens above

In On the Torah II · Chapter 69View Sefer

Nitzavim-Vayelech 5767Volume 4 · Issue 4

Amongst My People I Dwell

Thus, both R’ Eliezer and R’ Yehoshua had the same version of the prayer, but each recited it in keeping with his opinion. R’ Eliezer said it because creation truly occurred in Tishri and R’ Yehoshua said it because the initial thought of creation was in Tishri, and since the very concept of thought

In Days of Repentance · Chapter 21View Sefer

Balak 5770Volume 6 · Issue 32

Source of Blessing

R’ Yochanan said (Sanhedrin 105b), “From the blessings of that wicked man, you can infer what was in his heart. He sought to say that they not have houses of prayer and study, “How good are your tents, Yaakov,” that the Divine Presence not dwell among them, “Your dwellings, Israel,” that their kingship not continue, “Like streams, they are extended….”

In On the Torah V · Chapter 170View Sefer

Vayeitzei 5773Volume 9 · Issue 11

Impede No More

In other words, Yishmael was named after prayer that is accepted. The angel had told his mother Hagar (Bereshis 16:11), “You shall name him Yishmael because God has heard your affliction.” Meaning the Creator of the World has heard your prayer and you shall therefore name

In Sabbath & Prayer · Chapter 37View Sefer

Sukkos 5746Volume 13 · Issue 5

Journey to Sukkos

The conclusion of the Talmud (Berachos 4b) is that also by the Evening Prayer, it is necessary to juxtapose the blessing of redemption with the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer.

In Days of Repentance · Chapter 41View Sefer

Naso 5757Volume 18 · Issue 32

Song of the Soul

Why is the prayer of Nishmas not included on Hoshana Raba, when the Verses of Praise that end with it are identical to the Sabbath and Festivals? The chapter of Psalms for the offering of thanks is added because it would technically be added

Haazinu 5757Volume 18 · Issue 5

Days of Repentance

The Rambam writes (Hilchos Teshuvah 2:6), “Although repentance and prayer are always beneficial, they are even more beneficial during the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when they are accepted immediately, as it says (Yeshayahu 55:6), “Search out God when he is found.”

Shoftim 5759Volume 20 · Issue 1

Seeking Refuge

He cites from the Geonim that for these prayers, the people rise early and the leader begins with Ashrei and Kaddish, followed by prayers of grace, and concludes with verses and Kaddish. It is the standard order of prayer, similar to the Afternoon Prayer.

Vayeira 5754Volume 16 · Issue 7

Cry of Woe

Hearing Prayer

In On the Torah I · Chapter 25View Sefer

Vayeishev 5769Volume 5 · Issue 10

Unified in Diversity

…ing with the Creator. He speaks to us in Torah, and we speak to him in prayer. Prayer is also speech—when we pray, we address Him and we request of Him, we address Him and praise Him, we address Him and thank Him,…

Ki Seitzei 5775Volume 12 · Issue 2

Honest Expression

In the Rosh Hashanah prayer book, ten reasons are listed from Rabbeinu Saadiah Gaon for the commandment of sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. The organizers of the prayers, however, mention only one. In the Musaf Prayer of Rosh Hashanah, the portrayal focuses exclusively

Nitzavim 5775Volume 12 · Issue 4

Wondrous Gift

The Talmud cites the wording of the Rosh Hashanah prayer, “This day is the beginning of Your works, the remembrance of the first day.” The Talmud asks whom it follows and concludes that it follows Rabbi Eliezer who maintains that the world was created in Tishri. This means that

Balak 5750Volume 14 · Issue 34

Multifaceted Engraving

The Talmud states (Sanhedrin 105b), “Rabbi Yochanan said, “From the blessing of that wicked man, you learn what was in his heart. He sought to say that they not have houses of prayer and houses of learning, but he said (Bamidbar 24:5), “How great are your tents, Yaakov.” He sought to say that the Divine Presence should not dwell upon them, but he said (ibid.), “…your dwellings Israel.” He sought to say that their kingship

In The Three Weeks · Chapter 7View Sefer

Pinchas 5750Volume 14 · Issue 35

Firm Roots

On this note, the Maharal (ibid.) adds to the aforementioned passage of the sages and states that for this reason, the prayer of Ashrei whose verses begin with sequential letters of the Aleph Beis has no verse beginning with the letter Nunn.

In On the Torah V · Chapter 177View Sefer

Tetzaveh 5752Volume 15 · Issue 22

Holy Persistence

Beyond Prayer

Chayei Sarah 5752Volume 15 · Issue 9

Revelation Perception Connection

existence is the mystery of the Written Torah and its true perception is the mystery of the Oral Torah, then the bond between the One Who Originated it and the one who receives it is the mystery of prayer in all its facets.