A little help from the Jews please...?

Question

Okay, so I'm Jewish, but I'm not religious- I mean, I don't do Shabbat, or pray, and didn't have an official Bat Mitzvah. Need some help- I need to know, seriously, how do you pray...? [I know it's stupid, but please answer it]. Do you have to speak Hebrew, or what? Thanks.

All of you are wonderful! Thank you so much. I don't think I can even choose a best answer! :] By the way, do you have to go to synangogue every Saturday?

Answer 1

Yeah I don't know what mangaman is talking about either.

Alright, there are basically two forms of prayer. The first time is the ancient traditional Hebrew type, which can be very fulfilling and connect you with your history as a Jew. I myself find it very beautiful and moving, especially in synagogue surrounded by other Jews, swaying and nodding with the words and the invisible music....

But it's not really important. Important, yes, but many rabbis will tell you that the siddur is just a guide, and the best form of prayer is what is meaningful to you. You don't have to do or say anything special--just talk to G-d. Praise Him, thank Him, ask Him favors--or you can just talk. I know I do it a lot, especially when I'm having a hard time in life.

However, if you do want to learn how to pray the other, more traditional way with the chanting and singing, first step is to buy a siddur. Are you Ashkenazi or Sephardi? The pronunciations are different in each culture, depending on how you were raised. If you were raised secular, it doesn't matter as much. Anyways. So, get a nice siddur, one with Hebrew and English (even if you can't read Hebrew, it's nice to have and you may want to learn some day! Besides, they give the English transliterations in there--I recommend the Artscroll. Anything put out by Artscroll or JPS [Jewish Publication Society] is pretty safe) The second step is to explore the siddur. There are instructions there, when to bow, when to cover your eyes, etc. Third step, lose yourself in the prayer! Whether it's the English form or the transliterated part or, in a few years, the Hebrew part, it's a beautiful thing to do, lose yourself in the prayers your people have been praying for thousands of years.

Always remember though, the siddur is like a guide. What is important is your personal relationship with G-d.

B'Shalom

Oh and as a Modern Orthodox Jew, I would say yes you have to go to synagogue every Saturday...but by law, not you particularly. You are female and are exempt from Jewish laws that have a time limit. So no, you don't have to, but it is a very beautiful experience if you choose to!

Answer 2

Textual prayer is actually an innovation dating over 2000 years old, at least for set daily prayers. What is more important in the purpose of praying is to connect with God, praise and thank him, ask for your needs or that of others and come to recognize what he does for mankind and in a personal sense. This is a deeply personal thing. With time our ability to compose meaningful statements lessened and the rabbis established the prayer service (what we know as the amidah - the highlight of prayer services). With time more things were added, much being based on other Jewish texts.

Since it matter more what you mean that say, you should be sure to understand what you are saying and forget about saying anything in Hebrew until you appreciate the English first - this is perfectly fine and know of tons of people who are first timer worshippers to pray in English.

Today you can find various Hebrew-English prayerbooks available by ArtScroll publishing. The best for you would be transliterated, which has Hebrew, English and the Hebrew words spelled out in English.

In case you don't know, Jews actually pray 3 times a day, not just on Shabbat.

To be completely serious, since you expressed unfamiliarity with prayer. I would recommend warming up to prayer. Try praying every morning, or every Shabbat morning. If before you go to bed is better then that is also great. Sit on your bed on anywhere else you feel comfortable to pray and start praying (see above for things or e.g. Dear God, I'd like to thank you for making sure I got to school on time just please next time let me at least pass one test"). If you like close your eyes; just don't go down on your knees on the ground, that's something Jews don't do (another talk for another time). Now, whenever you're up to it, get the prayer book I recommended and add bit by bit to what you will say in your prayers. Don't worry, even in the set prayer service there is a an area for personal prayers.

As always, Orthodox rabbis are great guides in these matters and could show you around the prayer service as well explain more about prayer.

Answer 3

No, you don't have to learn Hebrew, but as a recently-converted Jew-by-choice, I want to learn everything! If you attend services, you will learn that the prayers are mostly quotes from the Bible and eventually you will memorize them because we sing our prayers. It is such an exhilarating experience to be studying the Torah when we read one of our prayers and everyone suddenly breaks into song because they know the words. The earliest portions of the Bible are in poetry. When reading the section about crossing the Sea of Reeds, you can almost hear the pounding of the horses' hooves.

Another time we break into song is when reading the portion about Shabbat being a covenant between God and His people.

When Jews pray, we praise Him listing all the things He does for us, while at the same time reminding ourselves that He wants us to do those same things for others! We don't ask God to do things for us, we ask what we can do for Him.

Sooooo much to learn. Find a rabbi and study, study, study!!!! You have a wonderful heritage! Don't go by what you've learned from Christians -- they only know the Christian version of Judaism. Unfortunately, many Jews only know the Christian version as well. :(

You don't ever *have* to go to synagogue!!!! Most Reform congregations go on Friday evenings. Our congregation also has Torah study and a longer service on Saturday mornings when we read directly from the Torah scroll in Hebrew. It's not too late for a Bat Mitzva... Do it!!!

Don't know where mangaman is coming from. I've never seen a Jew kneel. Once a year the rabbi prostrates himself, but that's all!

BEWARE the messianic *jews* They are Christians masquerading as Jews in order to convert us. Make sure Jeshua is not mentioned. Perhaps that is why mangaman talks about kneeling.
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Answer 4

I was raised jewish and learned to read hebrew (but not understand much of it) and learned to make all the foreign sounds with my mouth. Doing this 3 times a day seemed to be called praying. I understood the ritual part of it, but most of the prayers were lauding the glory of the lord in 20 different ways. Seemed rather silly.

The answer to you question all depends on what kind of jew you talk to. Some may restrict you to reciting anceint prayers in hebrew. Others have a different relationship with god.

as a good Jew- I should answer a question with a question. What kind of praying do you want to do?

Answer 5

im sorta in the same boat as you....not sure how old you are, but im in my early twenties and im 100% jewish but i never had a bar mitzvah and havent been to a synagogue since i was a toddler.

I graduated college not too long ago, and ive become really interested in learning about my roots and jewish culture and religion, for some direction in my life. I applied to go on Israel Birthright this summer which is a free trip to Israel for any jew btwn 18-26 years old. If you are between those ages and want more info, go here:

http://www.birthrightisrael.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=HomePage

If you want some info on jewish prayer, check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_prayer


Hope this helps

Answer 6

So you're a Yom Kipper type of Jew! Mazoltov sweety! So are about every other Jew you meet these days. But enough of the history and sociology(or theology I should say) lesson already. First off, when you pray to G-D, you talk to Him, not some recording device on the other end of the phone line. You actually talk to Him as if He were right there with you and you're kneeling(hey, you're talking to G-D, of course you're going to kneel!) there going "oh, and then I thought that maybe I should just talk to YOU about it all and so here I am." That kind of praying. Putting a heavy amount of humble-pie into your diet BEFORE addressing the Almighty, and you've got the perfect prayer! Hey, no one said being human was easy, yet then again, not a lot of people remember to ask G-D for advise and help as often as they used to too! Shalom!

Answer 7

There's no right or wrong way to pray.

Some (Orthodox?) Jews pray while kind of nodding or bowing repeatedly, and usually pray in Hebrew- the original/traditional ancient language of the Jews (aka the Hebrews). You can pray in any language.

God will hear you, however you pray.

Answer 8

Just talk to God.

Look at the Psalms. David is having a conversation with God - telling him everything from his sorrows to his joy.

There are prayers in Hebrew, including the Shema, which I believe ever Jew says upon waking. But these are not necessary for praying to God. God will hear and understand you by just talking to him. That is a prayer in itself.

Answer 9

Prayer is not for G-D's benefit, but our own. Prayer is meant to transform us and affect us and change us, as individuals AND as a people

How should we seek transformation? Obedience to the Torah, doing teshuva, helping others to do so, too. Our faith transforms us when we live it, do it, eat it and breathe it.

Prayer is part of it. Prayer keeps us centered and focused when the world around us is chaos. Formal prayer is like powerful meditation and spontaneous prayer is like the voice of our soul.

Answer 10

Prayer is simply talking to God...for praise, petition, guidance, thanksgiving,whatever is on your heart. Remember that He is your creator, He knows you better than you know yourself, that He has a plan for your life and that He loves you. Talk to Him as you would to a most trusted,loyal friend. He does not desire that we pray using a set formula or certain fancy words. He does desire that we come to Him with sincerity, love, truth and trust.