About This Course
This course will examine the character and composition of the Jewish prayer ritual, and how it can both facilitate and hinder deep Prayer Experience. We will look at elements of the conceptual framework for Jewish prayer; its history and development; select prayer texts; and the experiential
Course Objectives
Making a distinction between Prayer as experience and Prayers as the script for our ritual prayer practice, so that we can examine the complex relationship between them.
- Exploring the development of our liturgy to understand its structure and using a literary approach to uncover multiple layers of meaning & symbolism in each text.
- Looking at how to frame and structure prayer spaces and experiences in a way that enables them to be impactful and carry personal meaning within a traditional framework.
Course Syllabus
Required Materials
- Entering Jewish Prayer: A Guide to Personal Devotion and the Worship Service by Reuven Hammer
Recommended Materials (Not Required)
- Ritual: A Very Short Introduction by Barry Stephenson
- Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice by Catherine Bell
Meet Your Instructor
Ratings and Reviews
Susanna BluhmThis class changed the way I pray, which is to say that it changed my life. The lectures were thoughtfully done and personable. Assigned readings were relevant and enriching. Rabbi Cahan is a wonderful teacher; even though the class was asynchronous, I still felt like I was learning directly from him.
Paula BaruchRabbi Joshua Cahan has the biggest heart and expert experience and knowledge of prayer and liturgy. Each lesson was carefully crafted to grow our understanding and appreciation for prayer. A gift.
I love Rabbi Cahan's enthusiasm, commitment and passion for this topic. It made absorbing the material even more important for me.