Minhag Ami: Our Diary of Prayer Across the Centuries
Lawrence A. Hoffman
Introduction to the Liturgy: What to Look for in the Service
Introduction to the Commentaries: How to Look for Meaning in the
Prayers
The Liturgy
1. Bar'khu
Call to Prayer
2. Yotser
Blessing on Creation
3. Birkat Hatorah
Blessing on Revelation
4. Sh’ma
A. "Accepting the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven" (Deuteronomy
6:4–8)
B. “Accepting the Yoke of the Commandments” (Deuteronomy
11:13–21)
C. “The Section on Tassels” (Numbers 15:37–41)
5. G’ullah
Blessing on Redemption
About the Commentators
List of Abbreviations
Glossary
Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, has served for more than three
decades as professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish
Institute of Religion in New York. He is a world-renowned liturgist
and holder of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair in Liturgy,
Worship and Ritual. His work combines research in Jewish ritual,
worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal
of contemporary Judaism.
His many books, written and edited, include seven volumes in the
Prayers of Awe series: Who by Fire, Who by Water—Un'taneh Tokef;
All These Vows—Kol Nidre; We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in
Judaism—Ashamnu and Al Chet; May God Remember: Memory and
Memorializing in Judaism—Yizkor; All the World: Universalism,
Particularism and the High Holy Days; Naming God: Avinu
Malkeinu—Our Father, Our King; and Encountering God: El Rachum
V'chanun—God Merciful and Gracious. Hoffman also edited the
ten-volume series My People’s Prayer Book: Traditional Prayers,
Modern Commentaries, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; and
coedited My People’s Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern
Commentaries, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award (all
Jewish Lights).
Rabbi Hoffman cofounded and developed Synagogue 2/3000, a
transdenominational project to envision and implement the ideal
synagogue of the spirit for the twenty-first century. In that
capacity, he wrote Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for
Congregational Life (Jewish Lights).
"Add[s] a great deal to the understanding of the prayers.... [Will]
appeal to an American Jewry searching for a deepened spirituality
without compromising pluralism."
—Jewish Book World
"By juxtaposing ... different commentaries, we get some sense of
how rich, how suggestive, and how alive the words of the Shema
are.... Enlightening.... [Introduces] us to the world of Jewish
thought that centers around these six inexhaustible words."
—Jewish Book World
"Lucidly reviews prayer's development and current structure."
—Hadassah
"Beautifully produced ... will provide insight to the prayer
service to anyone, whether an accomplished scholar or a novice
seeking meaning in the prayers. The translations, which are new for
this series, are quite meaningful.... A useful addition to the
library of anyone who desires to find more meaning in their
davenning."
—Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs Torchlight
"Thorough."
—Reform Judaism
"[An] outstanding guide to the siddur.... Engages the mind and
heart ... [and] demonstrates the joy that can be found in the study
of Jewish texts. And it challenges oneÂ’s assumptions at whatever
level of understanding one brings to the text. What more could one
ask of a book?"
—Houston Jewish Herald-Voice
"A remarkable achievement.... The caliber of the commentaries and
the beautiful format of the book make this an exceptional
work."
—Conservative Judaism Quarterly
"The first [prayerbook], in any language, deliberately to
acknowledge and exploit the rich variety of ways in which modern
Jews approach their liturgy.... Represents an important step in ...
creating the tools for English-speaking JewsÂ’ greater spiritual
engagement with their liturgical heritage."
—CCAR Reform Jewish Quarterly
"Christian readers will be enriched by this exploration of Jewish
prayer as the oldest and deepest roots of Christian prayer....
Rich."
—Celebration
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