Prayer Musings

If we lack powers of wisdom and discernment, no other request of God really matters.

This series of blessings are a beautiful expression of gratitude for the opportunity of experiencing another day.

One of the most daring prayers in the daily Jewish liturgy has been frequently rewritten to reflect modern sensibilities. Here's another approach.

When Prayer Fails Us

Tisha B'Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, is testament to the failure of prayer to avert national catastrophe.

Why does the holiest day of the Jewish year begin with a dry legal formula renouncing vows?

The simple words of this traditional morning blessing draw us back to the dawn of our mythic creation.

Jewish tradition calls for the washing of hands every morning, which serves as a reminder to use them for holy purposes.

Starting the day with gratefulness opens the heart to the blessing of wonder.

The High Holiday prayer that asks us to consider our mortality is an urgent call to examine our lives.

From the depths of uncertainty, this High Holiday prayer invites us to call out the steadfast faith we wish we felt.

This famous psalm is read on the eve of Tisha B'Av and sets the tone for an emotionally challenging holiday.

The prayer Eilu Devarim reflects the seeming paradox that focusing on others more than ourselves makes us happier.

This blessing, traditionally recited for firsts, can be said anytime -- since every moment is new and unprecedented.

Judaism's foundational prayer calls on us not merely to listen, but to remember that there is one force of connection uniting us all.

The Rosh Hashanah Musaf is the core of the service — and where we find its most iconic prayers and resonant themes.