Reddit Reddit reviews To Pray As A Jew: A Guide To The Prayer Book And The Synagogue Service

We found 8 Reddit comments about To Pray As A Jew: A Guide To The Prayer Book And The Synagogue Service. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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To Pray As A Jew: A Guide To The Prayer Book And The Synagogue Service
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8 Reddit comments about To Pray As A Jew: A Guide To The Prayer Book And The Synagogue Service:

u/gershonp · 2 pointsr/Judaism

For a very thorough (and Orthodox) perspective on everything to do with prayer try Donin, To Pray as a Jew. It helped me out back in the day and I think it will answer your questions.

u/juden-shikker · 2 pointsr/Judaism

What exactly are you looking for?

I'd recommend "To Pray as a Jew"

and

"To be a Jew"


Also a prayer book is essential. Artscroll makes a good Siddur, and I'm moving to it but I used the USCJ Sim Shalom one most of my life

u/PotassiumArsenic · 2 pointsr/Judaism

I think converts should read works from all across the Jewish perspective. Especially the "very different sort."

How else is anyone supposed to know what they believe if they don't know or understand what they don't? It's not an informed decision if you're not informed.

On that note...

Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Persepctive.

Choosing a Jewish Life (liberal, leaning Reform)

To Pray as a Jew (Orthodox)

OP: Go wild. Read across the spectrum. Read things you agree with and things you don't. Read stuff you don't understand yet. Ask questions about what you read. Read, read, read!

u/Zel606 · 2 pointsr/Judaism

'To pray as a Jew' teaches one how to pray, same author as 'to be a Jew,' which I also highly recommend for anyone toying with (or intent upon) becoming Jewish.

It's also required reading for many Beit dins.

u/Grapefruit__Juice · 2 pointsr/Judaism

To Pray as a Jew, by Hayim Donin. Concentrates on synagogue prayer/ritual, but very rich with information. I continually return to it.

u/avazah · 1 pointr/Judaism

Don't drive yourself too crazy about it. I went in full speed and spent many boring shabbos days by myself with nothing to do because I didn't live near a shul or other Jews. No reason to go in 100% at first, especially if you are a convert-to-be so there's no actual prohibition for you now. If you can go to a synagogue, do so! Don't stress about not knowing what is going on, just go and listen and absorb the atmosphere.

My recommendation is to focus on the spirit of Shabbat rather than the nitty-gritty, especially for the first time. Light your Shabbat candles at the right time, crack open a bottle of wine, have some bread, eat some dinner, and read read read. You are starting to observe Shabbat but aren't sure all of the details, so might I suggest a book about Shabbat observance? The Sabbath by Heschel is also a beautiful poetic book about Shabbat that may help you get into the spirit of it. To Be A Jew, To Pray as a Jew, and Becoming a Jew are all great beginner books, the last geared towards converts. They all explain various aspects and details of observance, including Shabbat observance. You say you've read all you can, but these books all include very detailed information on exactly the timeline of events.

Since I became observant with no synagogue nearby, I found my Shabbat mornings to be much more meaningful when I would go outside to pray (in whatever capacity I was able-- either in Hebrew or English or just from the heart). There is something lovely about the Californian sunshine in that regard, I guess! Shabbat days are really long and boring by yourself, and I'd have non-Jewish friends come visit me and we'd take walks or just hang out in the backyard. I wouldn't do anything I'm not allowed, and they would obviously do whatever. We just wouldn't pick our activities as anything electronic-based, money-based, etc.

I wouldn't worry too much about details like blessings unless you want to say them in English. I felt really awkward doing that at first, but maybe you won't. If you know something isn't allowed, try not to do it. If you know something isn't allowed but it's really a burden and taking away from the spirit of Shabbat this weekend (like you left your bedroom light on), deal with it, but acknowledge that when you are 100% shabbat observant you can't do that. No reason to be miserable your very first Shabbat, or maybe you'll get a bad impression :) It gets easier the more comfortable you are with it. Depending on how this week goes, next week, add one or two more observances.

To answer your question about specific dinners, well, my husband and I eat anything on Shabbat. We are not stringent to only eat meat or fish, so sometimes we eat dairy. To me, the food you have on Shabbat should be a delight, something you are excited to eat or something you don't eat often. We make very normal typical dinners, usually, and I never ever make cholent or most of the 'traditional' foods. This week (for just the 2 of us) I am making shredded chicken build-your-own tacos for dinner and a big pasta salad full of lots and lots of veggies and grilled chicken for lunch. When we have company, it would be more traditional a meat-starch-2 or 3 vegetable meal.

If you have any more specific questions, I'd be happy to answer as someone who has kind of been there and done that!

u/attitudegratitude · 0 pointsr/Judaism

> I've only been a handful of times but if I could go ever Shabbat I would!


That’s an awesome attitude. You absolutely should contact him then , I can’t imagine the Rabbi would say no.

Thank G-d for Artscroll! There is a book you might be interested in https://www.amazon.com/Pray-As-Jew-Synagogue-Service/dp/0465086330 which explains what’s going on during a service. I read it early on in BTing and it certainly made me more comfortable in the synagogue.