Judaism: Worship and Practice » Jewish Prayer: Daily, at Home and in the Synagogue
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Judaism (4RS1/2E), 3.2
- Why Jews pray, and the three daily services with the Amidah, the siddur, the tallit and tefillin
- How prayer is part of Jewish life at home: the mezuzah and everyday blessings
- How congregational prayer works in the synagogue, including the minyan, the Kaddish and the cantor
- How Jews differ about Hebrew, set prayers, personal prayer and who is counted
🔒 Unlock Full Course Content
Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseWhy do Jews pray?
Prayer is at the heart of Jewish worship. Jews pray to praise the Almighty, to thank Him, to ask for help and to feel close to Him. Prayer also reminds Jews of the covenant and of the mitzvot (commandments) they try to keep. Jewish worship has three main forms: daily prayer, prayer in the home and congregational prayer in the synagogue. Each is used at different times and for different reasons.
Key terms:
- Siddur: the Jewish prayer book, which sets out the order of the daily and Shabbat prayers.
- Amidah: the "standing prayer", a series of blessings said standing, at the heart of each service.
- Tallit: a prayer shawl with knotted fringes (tzitzit) on its corners.
- Tefillin (recap from The Almighty and the Shema): two small leather boxes holding handwritten verses from the Torah, strapped to the arm and the head.
- Mezuzah (recap from The Almighty and the Shema): a small case fixed to a doorpost, holding a scroll of Torah verses.
- Kaddish: a prayer praising the Almighty, said at services and by mourners.
- Kavanah: concentration and sincere intention in prayer.
Daily prayer
Traditionally, Jews pray three times a day:
🌅 Shacharit
The morning service. It is the longest of the weekday services.
🌞 Mincha
The afternoon service. It is short, so it can fit into a working day.
🌙 Maariv
The evening service, said after dark.
The Talmud links the three services to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Many Jews also see them as taking the place of the daily sacrifices in the Temple. The words are in the siddur. The Shema (see The Almighty and the Shema) is said morning and evening, and the Amidah is at the heart of every service. Jews stand for the Amidah with their feet together, facing Jerusalem. Most of it is said quietly, as a personal conversation with the Almighty.
Tallit and tefillin
At weekday morning prayer, Orthodox men wear a tallit and put on tefillin. The fringes of the tallit follow the command in Numbers 15:37-41 and remind the wearer of the mitzvot. Tefillin follow the Torah's instruction to bind the words of God "as a sign on your hand" (Deuteronomy 6:8). One box rests on the upper arm, near the heart, and one on the forehead, so that heart, hand and mind are all given to the Almighty. Tefillin are not worn on Shabbat. In Orthodox practice only men wear them. Some women in Progressive communities also wear a tallit and tefillin, because they believe men and women have equal roles in prayer.
Prayer in the home
Judaism teaches that the home is a small sanctuary, so prayer is not kept for the synagogue. Jews at home may:
🚪 Fix a mezuzah
Deuteronomy 6:9 tells Jews to write the words of the Torah on their doorposts. The scroll inside the mezuzah holds the Shema. Many Jews touch it and kiss their fingers as they pass, to remember the Almighty when entering and leaving.
🍞 Say blessings over food
Jews say a blessing before eating, such as thanking the Almighty for bringing bread out of the earth. After a meal, many say the Grace after Meals, based on Deuteronomy 8:10.
🌄 Pray on waking
Many Jews begin the day with a short prayer of thanks, Modeh Ani, before they get out of bed.
😴 Pray at bedtime
Many Jews say the Shema before sleep and ask for protection through the night.
Why it matters: these short prayers turn ordinary actions into moments of worship. Even a Jew who rarely visits the synagogue may keep some of them, so for many Jews the home is where faith feels closest.
Congregational prayer in the synagogue
Congregational prayer is prayer by a whole community together. Jews believe that praying together has special power, and it joins people into one community. It is used at the regular services and on Shabbat and festivals (see the next lesson).
Some prayers can only be said when a minyan is present (ten adults, as in The Synagogue: Ark, Sefer Torah, Ner Tamid and Bimah). These include the Kaddish and the public reading of the Torah. This means that a mourner who wants to say the Kaddish goes to the community, so that grief is shared and the mourner is supported. The service is led by the rabbi or the cantor, who leads the singing of the prayers, though in many communities any member who knows the service can lead.
Different Jewish attitudes
Jews agree that prayer matters, but they differ over how it should be done.
📖 Orthodox Judaism
Prayer is a duty. Services are mainly in Hebrew and follow the traditional order in the siddur, because Orthodox Jews believe the fixed words connect them to generations of Jews. Only men are counted in a minyan, and men are expected to pray three times a day.
👥 Progressive (Reform and Liberal)
Services use more English (or the local language) so everyone understands. Prayers may be shortened or changed. Women are counted in the minyan and may lead services. Many stress personal meaning more than set words.
There is also a debate about set words and personal prayer. Set prayers mean communities pray the same words all over the world. Personal prayer in your own words, with kavanah, can feel more honest. Most Jews value both. Many less religious Jews pray rarely, mainly at festivals or family events, yet still feel part of the community.
Common mistakes
Do not say Jews pray only in the synagogue: prayer at home matters just as much. Do not say a minyan is needed for every prayer: it is needed for some, such as the Kaddish and the Torah reading. Do not say all Jews wear tefillin or all count women in a minyan: it depends on the tradition. When asked "why", explain what each form of prayer means to Jews. Do not just describe it.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two ways in which Jews worship at home. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why daily prayer is important for Jews. [6 marks]
(c) "Prayer in the synagogue is more important than prayer at home." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view and your own opinion. [10 marks]
Model answer
(a) One way is by fixing a mezuzah to the doorposts (1), which holds a scroll of the Shema and follows Deuteronomy 6:9 (1). Another is by saying blessings before and after food (1), which thanks the Almighty for what He gives and makes meals an act of worship (1).
(b) Daily prayer is important because Jews believe it keeps them close to the Almighty (1). Praying three times a day, at Shacharit, Mincha and Maariv, means He is remembered all through the day (1). The prayers in the siddur link Jews today to Jews of the past, and many see the services as taking the place of the Temple sacrifices (1). Saying the Shema and the Amidah reminds Jews of the covenant and of their duty to keep the mitzvot (1). For Orthodox men, wearing a tallit and tefillin shows devotion with heart, hand and mind (1). Daily prayer also builds discipline, so faith is part of everyday life and not only of festivals (1).
(c) Plan. For: the synagogue has the minyan, so the Kaddish and the Torah reading can be said there; the community supports mourners and each other; Orthodox Jews see praying with a minyan as a duty for men; the rabbi and cantor guide the service. Against: Deuteronomy 6 tells Jews to teach the Shema at home, and the mezuzah and blessings are part of daily life; Judaism calls the home a small sanctuary; some Jews, such as less religious Jews or those far from a synagogue, mainly pray at home; Progressive Jews stress personal meaning, which can be found anywhere. Possible conclusion: the synagogue matters more for community and the special prayers, but home prayer is more constant, so for most Jews both are needed and neither is more important.
Exam tip
In the 10-mark question, name a teaching (such as the Shema or the minyan), give a view from a different tradition, and end with your own opinion and a reason for it.