jewish prayer

• shema: recited in every synagogue service, placed in small box called mezuzah, bound on head and arm during prayer, recited before bed, last words jews speak before dying
• shema:

  "let them serve as a symbol on your forehead" (deut 6:4-9)
• amidah prayer- series of 19 ancient set prayers which the congregation pray privately and quietly
• jews pray the amidah on weekdays: morning (shacharit), afternoon (mincha) and evening (ma'ariv)
• mizrah- it's placed on the east wall to indicate the direction of jerusalem for private prayers at home
• importance of shema- expresses belief in singularity of g-d, g-d's oneness and incomparability
• importance of morning, afternoon and evening prayer- each service was instituted parallel to a sacrificial act in the temple in jerusalem - offerings!!!
• importance of grace after meals- expresses gratefulness for the food, binds the participants to their people
• jews teach their children how to pray because one of the most essential tools that a jew needs to live his/her life in a meaningful way - connect with g-d at a young age
• four types of prayer in judaism:

  • praise
  • thanksgiving
  • supplication and intercession
  • confession
• importance of each of the four prayers:

  • glorifying g-d
  • highest expression of gratitude
  • asking g-d for mercy or blessings on oneself and others
  • acknowledging sins before g-d
• spontaneous prayer? importance?

  often private or at home - helps person build a personal connection with g-d as prayer is said from the heart
• private prayer? importance?

  set prayers - can be helpful as they teach people the right way to pray
• tallit - prayer shawl worn by men with fringes (tzitzit) to symbolise the 613 mitzvot and is worn during morning prayer
• tefillin - leather boxes containing passages from the torah attached to head and arm
• kippah - small cap worn during worship only by me, on head as it symbolises their is someone above us and it shows respect for g-d