JL;DR

This episode of Unorthodox features discussions with Rabbi Sandra Lawson about her innovative approaches to engaging the Jewish community, particularly throu...

The Yaaleh ve-Yavo prayer recited during Jewish holidays and Rosh Chodesh serves as a substitute for the Temple sacrifices and invokes ancestral virtues and ...

In "Tasting the World to Come: A Novel Interpretation of Tzidkatkha Tzedek" by Noam Stadlan, the author challenges the traditional association of the Tzidkat...

In the essay "Song of the Sea: Making a Space for Joy and Sorrow" by Zach Truboff, the author reflects on his personal experience of loss and grief after his...

Dr. Joseph Maroon, a neurosurgeon, and medical director for the Pittsburgh Steelers, emphasizes the calming effect of prayer on patients before surgery, citi...

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a significant Jewish holiday that involves fasting from sundown to sundown, accompanied by prayer and reflection. The ex...

Jerusalem's deputy mayor, Dov Kalmanovich, attributed the recent falling of a 220-pound boulder from the Western Wall near an egalitarian prayer site to what...

In the 1960s, being a Jewish student meant diverse expressions of Jewish identity, from countercultural activism to celebrating Israel's victories. Havurat S...

Prayer in an Age of Distraction discusses the challenges of maintaining focus during prayer, particularly in an era of constant digital distractions. It high...

In this essay, Yaakov Jaffe discusses the disconnect between the traditional rabbinic guidance on when to begin morning prayers and the current practices of ...

In examining the beliefs and practices of Modern Orthodox Jews, there is a discussion around their comfort level with mysticism and anthropomorphism in Judai...

The author, Leslie, used to find great meaning in attending shul on Yom Kippur, with its emotional highs and routines, feeling a sense of doing the right thi...

On Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and prayer, many struggle with food cravings despite the solemnity of the occasion. The Forward staff shared their Yom Kippur...

"U-netaneh Tokef, a central prayer of the High Holy Days attributed to Rabbi Amnon of Mainz, focuses on themes of God's judgment, human powerlessness, and th...

The text delves into the significance of the U-netaneh Tokef prayer in the High Holy Days liturgy, focusing on the phrase "ki-halom yauf" (like a fleeting dr...

Rafi Eis discusses the challenges in teaching tefillah (prayer) effectively in Jewish education, emphasizing the need to address not only human aspects but a...

Rabbi Binyomin Eisenberger discusses with Moishe (Mark) Bane the challenges of prayer, emphasizing how tefillah reflects our connection to Hashem and the imp...

Rabbi Binyomin Eisenberger and Moishe Bane discuss the challenges of prayer, emphasizing that the essence of prayer is developing a deep connection to Hashem...

NCSY has introduced a groundbreaking siddur designed to engage and inspire teenagers in prayer, featuring stories, questions, and images to help them connect...

In "Gates of Prayer: The Ten Terms of Tefillah," authored by Shimshon Dov Pincus and reviewed by Gil Student, the focus is on understanding and appreciating ...

The article provides a list of recommended books on prayer that have been found helpful for personal prayer life and teaching, focusing on works from the pas...

The text discusses the different ways individuals approach prayer, highlighting two main modalities: avodah shebalev, where one connects emotionally and inte...

In this discussion on the state of prayer ("tefillah"), Daniel Korobkin explores the concept of prayer with intention ("kavanah") versus the recitation of pr...

Chaim David Berson discusses the significance of music in prayer, mentioning how the right melody or musical theme can enhance the emotional connection durin...

In a discussion responding to concerns about ideological alignment in ritual texts used by Modern Orthodox Jews, Yaakov Jaffe deliberates on the preference f...

The author recounts a night when they got lost in the woods during a camp sleepover, leading them to seek solace in reciting Psalms, particularly Psalm 23, f...

Rabbi Jonathan Muskat engages in a thoughtful response to Professor Jonathan Sarna's discussion on the traditional prayer for the government, specifically fo...

Rabbi Jonathan Muskat suggests revising the traditional prayer for the government to focus on invoking blessings upon the country and its citizens rather tha...

The text discusses a series of dialogues involving Rav Hisda, Abaye, and others, reflecting on themes of self-doubt, imperfection, and prayer. Rav Hisda expr...

In this reflection by Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, he delves into the concept of prayer, expressing doubts about its nature and efficacy. He recounts a personal ...

The new books from OU Press include "The Mesorat HaRav Birkon" edited by Rabbi David Hellman, offering insights into Jewish liturgy and the teachings of Rabb...

The text discusses the significance of the Kotel compromise, a historic agreement reached after intense negotiations between Orthodox, Reform, and Conservati...

In "Inconceivable," the authors of Midrash Tanchuma explore why the matriarchs were initially barren, suggesting that it was to elicit their prayers and subm...

The author recounts how the death of their beloved dachshund, Ginger, brought them back to Judaism. Despite a secular upbringing and being agnostic, they fou...

A Jewish man living in Israel describes his commute on the train from Beit Shemesh to Tel Aviv where a group of men create a moving minyan to pray the Shacha...

The text describes the author's experiences and reflections on Yom Kippur in various settings, from a synagogue in Jerusalem to a small gathering in a suburb...

The author recounts their personal struggle with reciting the prayer Unetaneh Tokef after the tragic death of their mother, feeling conflicted by its percept...

In Rabbi Elchanan Adler's book "Yerach Tov: Birkat HaChodesh in Jewish Law and Liturgy," he delves into the intricate details of the prayer for the new month...

Shelley Richman Cohen recounts her journey of mourning her son Nathaniel, who passed away at 21 due to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. She reflects on the meani...

Philip Birnbaum, known for his Siddur published in 1977, is a Polish-born translator and editor who aimed to make Jewish liturgy more accessible for an Ameri...

The text discusses the independence in prayer in the Jewish community, particularly focusing on funding and critique of the independent minyan movement. One ...

Abraham Joshua Heschel's 1953 speech highlighting the need for more meaningful prayer experiences serves as a backdrop for the rise of over sixty independent...

The Koren Siddur, a new Hebrew-English prayer book by Koren Publishers edited by Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, competes with the ArtScroll Siddur and offer...

The author reflects on the completion of the mourning period and the final recitation of the Kaddish for his mother. He shares memories of her kindness, resi...

The text explores the power and relevance of prayer in Judaism, emphasizing the importance of speaking to God in one's own words to feel His presence in dail...

The Mishnah teaches that it is futile to pray to change past events, emphasizing the importance of accepting what has already transpired. The discussion on t...

In a discussion of Jewish poetry, two prominent poets, Philip Levine and Hank Lazer, are compared. Levine, known for his clarity, tells real-life stories in ...

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, occurring on September 27-28 in 2020, where Jews fast, repent, and seek forgiveness for sins. It is the most significant ...