My People's Prayer Book, Vol. 5 : 'Birkhot Hashachar' (Morning Blessings) Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1879045834 ISBN 13: 9781879045835

Publisher: Jewish Lights, 2001

Synopsis

"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."

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.

Framed with beautifully designed Talmud-style pages, commentaries from many of today's most respected Jewish scholars from all movements of Judaism examine Birkhot Hashachar from the perspectives of ancient Rabbis and modern theologians, as well as feminist, halakhic, Talmudic, linguistic, biblical, Chasidic, mystical, and historical perspectives.

This fifth volume in the series examines the complexities of personal and public prayer in Birkhot Hashachar, the blessings and readings surrounding each act of awakening. The Morning Blessings begin the daily service by establishing our right to stand before God in all our imperfect humanity. Vol. 5 helps us to understand how this collection of short prayers and a call to study recognizes each new day: we awaken as individuals but quickly affirm our role in the covenant with God.

Vol. 5―Birkhot Hashachar (Morning Blessings) features the traditional Hebrew text with a new translation that lets people know exactly what the prayers say. Introductions explain what to look for in the prayer service, and how to truly use the commentaries to find meaning in the prayer book. Commentaries from eminent scholars and teachers from all movements of Judaism examine Birkhot Hashachar from the viewpoints of ancient Rabbis and modern theologians, as well as a myriad of other perspectives.

Even those not yet familiar with the prayer book can appreciate the spiritual richness of Birkhot Hashachar. My People's Prayer Book enables all worshipers, of any denomination, to create their own connection to 3,000 years of Jewish experience with the world and with God.

Contributors include:

Marc Brettler · Elliot N. Dorff · David Ellenson · Ellen Frankel · Joel M. Hoffman · Lawrence A. Hoffman · Yoel H. Kahn · Lawrence Kushner · Daniel Landes · Nehemia Polen

About this title

About the Author:

Dr. Marc Zvi Brettler is the Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies at Brandeis University. He contributed to all volumes of the My People's Prayer Book: Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries series, winner of the National Jewish Book Award, and to My People's Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries; Who by Fire, Who by Water―Un'taneh Tokef; All These Vows―Kol Nidre; May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism―Yizkor; and We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism―Ashamnu and Al Chet (all Jewish Lights). He is coeditor of The Jewish Annotated New Testament and The Jewish Study Bible, which won the National Jewish Book Award; co-author of The Bible and the Believer; and author of How to Read the Jewish Bible, among other books and articles. He has also been interviewed on National Public Radio’s Fresh Air by Terry Gross.

Review:

"Wonderful.... Clear [and] easy to understand."
―Binghamton (NY) Reporter

About this edition

• Publisher: Jewish Lights
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1879045834
• ISBN 13: 9781879045835
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240
• Editor: Hoffman Lawrence A.