Prayer

Parashat Vayechi: Change begins with you

Anyone who truly wants change must begin with himself – to be better, more generous, more understanding, and more open to differing views.

|ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ
Jacob crossed his hands when blessing Ephraim and Manasseh
A mosaic of King David (illustartive)

Parashat Vayechi: King David's lesson in leadership

King David’s final words are not a farewell. They are a summons. A summons to responsibility, to faith and to moral resolve.

|ByMICHAEL FREUND
Israel to allow daytime Jewish prayer at Joseph’s Tomb for first time in 25 years

Israel to allow daylight pilgrimage at Joseph’s tomb for first time in 25 years

Until now, visits have taken place almost exclusively at night, coordinated by the Israeli military and conducted under heavy security escort.

|ByPESACH BENSON/TPS
One of the purposes of creation is that we establish a channel of relationship with the infinite divine, even when it defies rational understanding

Parashat Vayera: Abraham vs Social Darwinism 

Abraham believed in the power of his connection to God and in its ability to bring about true transformation – far more powerfully than any punishment, no matter how justified.

|ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ

After bomb threat interrupted Kol Nidre, this congregation kept praying on Manhattan street

Immediately after the call came in, the synagogue security guard alerted the congregants, prompting 400 people to exit the building.

OCTOBER 15, 2024ByJACKIE HAJDENBERG/JTA
The Town and Village Synagogue in New York's East Village.

1700 people join Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto for Yom Kippur prayers in Jerusalem

OCTOBER 14, 2024ByDAVID BERGER

I started AtoneNet, a space for public ritual confession; Here’s why I’m shutting it down - opinion

The purpose of the vidui is to have the entire community atone for its sins; you’re repenting not just for your own shortcomings, but for the shortcomings of the person sitting next to you.

OCTOBER 11, 2024ByDAVID ZVI KALMAN/JTA
Anonymous "confessions" posted to AtoneNet before it was shut down after 11 years.

Rosh Yehudi association cancels gender-separate prayers due to fears of disruption

The decision for this year's service followed conflicts last year at a service where tensions were high between those who wanted divided prayers and those who did not want to see division in public.

OCTOBER 10, 2024ByMAYA GUR ARIEH, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
AN EGALITARIAN prayer service takes place during public prayer at Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, Sunday.

My Word: In times like these, every song becomes a prayer - opinion

ISRAELI MUSIC is changing, in tune with the times. Elton John sings “Sad songs say so much...” but in Hebrew, sad songs have their own elevated status.

OCTOBER 2, 2024ByLIAT COLLINS
SOLDIERS DANCE at a concert by singer Idan Raichel at an army base in the South, last month. In these days of trauma and war there may be room for optimism, says the writer.

Rosh Hashanah -how to guarantee that our prayers will be answered

OCTOBER 1, 2024ByDAVID BERGER
Orthodox Jewish men pray at the Western Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

Sukkot: Your guide to Judaism's week-long fall holiday - explainer

A rundown on the Sukkot's history and meaning, differing customs, and rules and times for when Yom Tov begins and ends.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024ByAARON REICH
EXALTING IN Sukkot at the Western Wall

Rethinking prayer in the aftermath of Israel's most difficult year - opinion

This year’s challenges have tested our faith, but prayer remains a means for introspection and reassessing our priorities.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024ByDANIEL GOLDMAN

'Ana b'Koach': A powerful prayer for a New Year

“Ana b’Koach” is an especially appropriate prayer for the beginning of the year.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024ByMEIRA RAANAN, ESTHER CAMERON
‘ANA B’KOACH,’ acrylic on canvas, 130 x 100 cm., 2014.

Documentation: Rabbi Pinto strengthens the residents of sunny Isles Beach

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024ByDAVID BERGER