The Shema
The central declaration of Jewish faith — recited twice daily and at the moment of death.
Prayer & Liturgy
The siddur, the services, and how Jews speak to God
Your First Siddur
A siddur is the New Jew’s most-used Jewish book. Buy one with English translation, transliteration, and clear instructions.
Continue reading →The Amidah (Shemoneh Esrei)
The central prayer of every service — eighteen (now nineteen) benedictions said standing, silently, facing Jerusalem.
Morning Blessings (Birkot HaShachar)
The blessings on first arising — gratitude for the body, the soul, the senses, and the day.
Birkat Hamazon: The Grace After Meals
The only prayer commanded explicitly in the Torah — a substantial blessing of God for food, land, Jerusalem, and the goodness of creation.
Kaddish
The Aramaic prayer that punctuates every Jewish service — and that mourners recite for the deceased.
The Three Daily Services
Shacharit, Mincha, Ma’ariv — the three daily prayer services and their architecture.