Learn About Services

Articles, Audios and Videos about Religious Services

A list complied by Rabbi Levin
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to ask the Rabbi. 
 

Articles

  • Kippah - Head Covering 
  • Tallit - The corner fringes on this ritual garment remind the wearer of all the commandments in the Torah.
  • The Spiritual Significance of the Tallit - The commandment to attach fringes to garments was invested with deep theological meaning. This both reflected and shaped a strong emotional attachment to this symbol.
  • Tefillin - Tefillin serve to distinguish Jews as people who keep God’s precepts constantly in mind.
  • The Spiritual Significance of Tefillin - The details of this precept, using powerful symbols of allegiance to divine law and of membership in the Jewish religious community, have been subject to many interpretations.
  • What is Jewish Liturgy? - It’s not just what you do in synagogue.
  • Jewish Prayer Book - Is the siddur a holy text or crib notes for a conversation with God?
  • What is in the Siddur? Shabbat and Holiday Liturgy - This description of the Shabbat and holiday morning service includes most of the elements that appear in weekday services as well.
  • Kavvanah and Intention - The rabbis disagreed as to how important one’s state of mind is with regard to fulfilling the commandments in general and prayer in particular.
  • Preliminary Blessings and Psalms - With introductory blessings and psalms, the creators of the Jewish prayer service created a model that allowed for spiritual preparation prior to the main section of the morning service.
  • The Blessings Around the Shema - The structure of these three blessings reflects both the historical progress from creation to revelation to redemption and the religious conception that each of these “events” is actually a process.
  • The Shema - Three biblical passages work together to create a model for remaining faithful to a belief in God and in God’s unity.
  • The Amidah - Moving from praise to petition to thanksgiving, the Amidah inculcates a sense of connection to God.
  • The Torah Service - The drama of the service draws upon imagery from Israel’s history of wandering in the Sinai wilderness to the worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. 

Audio

Books

Videos