Overview

""The prayer book is our Jewish diary of the centuries, a collection of prayers composed by generations of those who came before us, as they endeavored to express the meaning of their lives and their relationship to God. The prayer book is the essence of the Jewish soul."" My People's Prayer Book provides diverse and exciting commentaries to the traditional liturgy, written by some of today's most respected scholars and teachers from all perspectives of the Jewish world. They explore the text from the perspectives of ancient Rabbis and modern theologians, as well as feminist, halakhic, medieval, linguistic, biblical, Chasidic, mystical, and historical perspectives. This stunning work, an empowering entryway to the spiritual revival of our times, enables all of us to claim our connection to the heritage of the traditional Jewish prayer book. It helps rejuvenate Jewish worship in today's world, and makes its power accessible to all. The My People's Prayer Book series belongs on the library shelf of every home, every synagogue—every sanctuary of prayer. Introductions tell the reader what to look for in the prayer service, as well as how to truly use the commentaries, to search for—and find—meaning in the prayer book

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9781683362098

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Reviews

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 oneA 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 JewsA 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

Author Information

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).

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