The Concluding Prayers: Understanding Prayer
An exploration of the concluding prayers following the Amidah, helping us bring the inspiration from prayer into all areas of our lives. The prayers of Confession and Supplication, Ashrei and Uva L’tziyon, the Song of the Day, Ein Keilokeinu and Aleinu.
Malky Bitton is co-director of Chabad of Downtown Vancouver, and is co-dean of the Jewish Academy in Vancouver. With degrees and expertise in education and a passion for teaching, her highly developed teaching skills and popular ladies classes serve as a model for other educators. Mrs. Bitton is also a busy mom to five adorable children.
© Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org's copyright policy.
More in this section
-
57:08Why Pray?
-
59:59The Evolution of the Siddur
-
1:14:34The Workings of Praise
-
53:46Your Guide to the Shema
-
1:20:19Your Guide to the Amidah
This was a wonderful presentation, and I appreciate your insights. However, your explanation of the verses "do not fear sudden terror..." was surely lacking. HaShem gives us the means to fight the enemies of Jews, yet we have been sheep waiting for the sheepdog to save us. If it were otherwise, our ancestors would not have been slaughtered by the christian idol-worshipers during the Crusades, "The Other 1492", the Holocaust, and the Intifadas, among many other rampages against us over the last several thousand years. We cannot think that HaShem will, Himself, swoop down from HaShamayim and destroy our enemies without working through us. We need to take up arms and defend ourselves against evil. Remember what it says in the Talmud. And, I paraphrase. "He who comes to kill you, rise up early and kill him first". It is then HaShem will show He is with us.