"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."

ABOUT MY PEOPLE'S PRAYER BOOK INTRODUCTION TO THE LITURGY: THE SHAPE OF THE DAILY SERVICE Lawrence A. Hoffman BLESSINGS AND STUDY: THE JEWISH WAY TO BEGIN A DAY Lawrence A. Hoffman ON GENTILES, SLAVES, AND WOMEN: THE BLESSINGS "WHO DID NOT MAKE ME" A. Historical Survey Yoel H. Kahn B. Halakhic Analysis. Daniel Landes THE HALAKHAH OF WAKING UP Daniel Landes INTRODUCTION TO THE COMMENTARIES: HOW TO LOOK FOR MEANING IN THE PRAYERS Lawrence A. Hoffman THE LITURGY 1. PREPARATION FOR PRAYER A. ENTERING THE SYNAGOGUE: MAH TOVU B. PUTTING ON THE TALLIT C. PUTTING ON T'FILLIN D. EXODUS 13:1-16 E. ADON OLAM F. YIGDAL 2. PRELIMINARY BLESSINGS 3. STUDY AND BLESSINGS 4. THE AKEDAH 5. THE SH'MA 6. KORBANOT: ("SACRIFICES") A. THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF RABBI ISHMAEL B. KADDISH D'RABBANAN ("RABBIS' KADDISH"). 7. DIVIDING KADDISH A. PSALM 30 B. MOURNER'S KADDISH. About the Contributors List of Abbreviations Glossary About Jewish Lights