Judaism 101

Learn the basics and gain confidence about Jewish holidays and traditions.

Structure of a Jewish Prayer Service

By Wendi Geffen

Your step-by-step guide

Are you attending a Jewish service for the first time or just need a refresher? While prayer services vary widely from temple to temple, there are some standard prayers and rituals that most temples practice. From the warm up prayer (pesukai d’zimra) to the sermon (d’var Torah), this video guides you through all the different sections of a typical Jewish service.

This video was created by Rabbi Wendi Geffen and animated by Stu Hershey Sufrin at the Chicago Rabbinic Writers Lab, a program where 10 rabbis wrote Introduction to Tefillah videos in chevruta as a group. This series breaks down and explains major Jewish prayers so you can feel more knowledgeable and comfortable while attending a Jewish service. This is the first in that series, rolling out over spring of 2018.

“Never having written for YouTube before, the process of creating this video was challenging and engaging. It was a thrill to consider relating a message and a lesson not just through spoken word but also through visual messaging as well. The ability to collaborate with colleagues in message and design was a real highlight.” – Rabbi Wendi Geffen

Find more videos about Jewish prayers and blessings here.

For more great ways to learn about this subject, check out these resources.

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