2.3 : Prayer

Question 1

What is the purpose of prayer?

Answer 1

• To build up a relationship eith God
• To serve God with all your heart, obeying the commandment found in Deuteronomy
• To take the oppourtunity to speak directly to God, knowing he will listen and respond to prayers
• To feel closer to God
• To express your own thoughts and feelings to God
• To ask God for forgiveness and guidance

Question 2

What is private prayer like at home?

Answer 2

• When they wake up in the morning, Jews thank God for waking them before pouring water on their hands to purify themselves for the coming day.
• The day ends by praising God by saying the Shema
• The mezuzah is a constant reminder of G-d’s prescence - Jewish people touch the mezuzah and pray every time they pass it.
• Jewish people pray and bless God before eating, and bless him again once they have finished eating.

Question 3

What are the three daily prayers?

Answer 3

• Shacharit (morning prayer)
• Minchah (afternoon prayer)
• Arvit (evening prayer)

Question 4

What is the siddur

Answer 4

Jewish prayer book

Question 5

How are Orthodox different than Liberal/Reform Jews when praying?

Answer 5

• In Orthodox families, prayers are said in Hebrew, and males were their tefillin and tallit for shacharit prayers.
• In Liberal/Reform families, prayers are said in English, and tefillin and tallit are optional.

Question 6

What is the importance of having different forms of prayer?

Answer 6

• It stops prayer being ofcused on selfish concerns
• It gives the worshipper a sense of being part of Jewish history
• Gives the prayer a sense of community with Jews around the world
• It igves order and purpose to people’s religious life.

Question 7

SOWA : Psalm 55

Answer 7

* The Psalmsit says he prays morning, noon, and evening.
*Says that people should cast their cares on the Lord and he will sustain them

Question 8

Why is saying prayers in your own time important?

Answer 8

Saying prayers whenever you want in your own words is important because people cant have relationshio with God if they can’t:
* contact God whenever they want
* express their own thoughts and feelings to God
* ask God for help