Q&A: Clarifying the Prayer Book
Clarifying the Prayer Book
Question
Hello, a few months ago I spoke with you about a process of repentance that I’m going through, and in recent days I’ve taken a few fairly significant steps, mainly opening the prayer book in my house and making an effort to understand the order of things.
When it comes to washing the hands, Grace After Meals, Shacharit, Mincha, Ma’ariv, tefillin, and tzitzit, I think I’ve grasped the basics.
My question is whether you could give me some clarification regarding the prayers that are customary on days that are not weekdays (the Sabbath, holidays, and the intermediate days of the festivals)?
Answer
It’s hard to give guidance in this kind of format. The best thing would be to drop in once at a synagogue near you and ask for an explanation. I’m sure anyone there would be happy to help you. Even if you go there on a weekday, in the morning or evening, I assume you’ll find someone who can explain about the Sabbath.
Discussion on Answer
Thank you
In general, it’s worthwhile to pray in a synagogue regularly so as to stay in the loop. The people who pray in synagogue are believing Jews, even if they aren’t great saints; they have a tradition of how to pray and what to do, and it’s better to join them than to reinvent the wheel.
In this context, I heard that one of the problems in Europe is that because there are no deeply rooted Jewish communities, converts sometimes create for themselves a community of converts without tradition and without knowledge of things that are passed down orally.
Also, the book Peninei Halakha: Prayer (available free in a browser or in the Peninei Halakha phone app) explains it excellently.