Product Description

The first book in a momentous 7-volume series...Opens up the traditional Jewish prayer book as a spiritual resource.The synagogue service is the most familiar aspect of faith for most Jewish people. At the same time, it is often baffling to many worshipers, who have no understanding of the prayer book's history, structure, logic, evolution, and ideas. Instead of providing inspiration, the prayer book is often a barrier to prayer.This momentous new work is truly a people's prayer book, one which provides a diverse and exciting commentary to the traditional liturgy. It will help millions of modern men and women find new wisdom and guidance in Jewish prayer, and bring the liturgy into their lives.Vol. 1-the Sh'ma and Its Blessings launches this seven-volume work. The seven major sections of the prayer book are each covered in separate volumes, to be released semiannually; the series will be completed in the year 2000.My People's Prayer Book provides* The authentic traditional Hebrew text.* A modern translation (designed to let people know exactly what the prayers actually say).* 10 commentators from all perspectives of the Jewish world, among the world's most respected Jewish scholars, cover the prayer book's connections to the Bible, history, halachah (traditional Jewish law), Kabbalistic and Hasidic wisdom, feminism, modern developments, and much more.This stunning work, an important expression of the spiritual revival of our times, enables all worshipers to claim their connection to the heritage of the traditional Jewish prayer book. It rejuvenates Jewish worship in today's world, and makes its power accessible to all.Contributors: Marc Brettler, Elliot Dorff, Susan Einbinder, David Ellenson, Joel Hoffman, Lawrence Hoffman, Lawrence Kushner, Daniel Landes, Judith Plaskow, Nehemiah Polen.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #549952 in Books
• Published on: 1997-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 149 pages

Language Notes
Text: English, Hebrew (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew

About the Author

Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, is widely recognized as a world-renowned liturgist and a leader in bringing spiritual innovation into modern Jewish life and worship. He is a regular contributor to Jewish Week and lectures widely to Jewish and Christian audiences. He is the co-author of What Is a Jew? (Collier) and Israel-A Spiritual Travel Guide as well as many scholarly works.

Customer Reviews

just what i was looking for
i like this book. i wanted something to simplify the service for me and also to translate the prayers into poetic english instead of the stilted hard to read translation in the artscroll siddur. i also liked the volume 2 of the series, about the amidah.

An outstanding commentary on the Sh'ma
This is an excellent resource for someone that is not satisfied with just rote repitition of the Sh'ma and it's blessings. This book will give you a history of where the prayers are coming from and an excellent english translation. The use of commentators from various Jewish backgrounds adds to the flavor of the book. You are not just exposed to one opinion or another but are given a wide range of views. I look forward to reading all of the books in this series.

Excellent Prayer Book Information
It takes a bit of time to get used to its "talmudic" page setup approach. It contains a decent set of prayer commentatires by both Reform, Conservative, and Feminist viewpoints. It also has Halachic reviews, I believe they are conservative rather than orthodox.
Its really an enjoyable book to use for those who like me see prayer as an important and a uniquely positioned mechanism for expressing and deepening our faith.