Three Daily Prayers, The

Determining the order of the three daily prayers provides understanding into the very nature of prayer.

Jewish people have three daily prayer services. The first is Shacharit (the morning prayer), then Minchah (the afternoon prayer), and finally Maariv (the evening prayer.) But from another perspective, one can argue that since the Jewish day begins at sund...

Praying cannot be confined to moments of inspiration or desperation - praying only when one is moved by events and "feels like" praying

This class details the special significance and unique quality of each of the three daily prayers; Shacharit (morning), Mincha (afternoon) and Maariv (evening).

When evening falls, we sense the mortality of the human condition; we realize that daylight and warmth don't last forever. The morning's optimism and the afternoon's momentum give way to the night's brooding despair. Enter Jacob with his gift of Truth...

Prayer in Jewish law is closely tied to the movements of the sun and the changing halachic hours of the day.

What do you know about the shortest daily prayer?

The sages established that the Amidah be said three times daily, and they composed words of praise and requests to be said at those times.

תפלת השחר עד חצות. רבי יהודה אומר עד ארבע שעות תפלת המנחה עד הערב. רבי יהודה אומר עד פלג המנחה. תפלת הערב אין לה קבע ושל מוספין כל היום רבי יהודה אומר עד שבע שעות. Shacharit [can be said] until midday. Rabbi Yehudah says until four hours into the day. Min...

This class examines the importance of prayer, its biblical and historical origins, and the Jewish view on material requests. We conclude with explaining the first prayer upon waking in the morning.