Hachanah l'Tefilah

Most recent resources are displayed first.

Zoom for Engaging In-Person Tefilah

Rabbi Yael Buechler shares tips for how to create engaging tefilah experiences on Zoom for in-person day school settings.

Contributor: Rabbi Yael Buechler

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, K-2

Type of Resource: Music, Video/Visual

Everyday Mindfulness

A mindfulness meditation that focuses on 'shema' - listening. This resource was kindly shared by the Foundation for Jewish Camps.

Contributor: Foundation for Jewish Camps

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Eleh Hamdah Libi

Music video of Eleh Hamdah Libi (part of the Yedid Nefesh piyut) by Noah Aronson

Contributor: Amanda Brodie

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, K-2

Type of Resource: Music, Video/Visual

What is a Bracha? (S’fatai Tiftah Workbook)

Part 2 of 3 workbooks on prayer focused on skills building, meaning making, and includes stories.

Contributor: Torah Aura Productions

Grade(s): 3-5

Type of Resource: Curriculum, Lesson Plan, Story

Tefilah as Avodah (Service)

A source sheet focusing on tefilah as a form of avodah.

Contributor: Abe Katz

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

First Words to Say on Waking

A source sheet focusing on different ideas of what should be the first words to say upon waking.

Contributor: Abe Katz

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Three Approaches to Tefilah

Taken from the teacher training chapter of our Reimagining Tefilah Education: Guidelines for Schools this source sheet contains three different approaches to tefilah.

Contributor: Dr. Susan Wall and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

From Kavannah to Keva

Taken from the teacher training chapter of our Reimagining Tefilah Education: Guidelines for Schools this lesson/source sheet explores the tensions of keva (fixed structure) versus kavannah (spontaneity) in prayer.

Contributor: Dr Susan Wall and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet

Myself as Mitpalel, Pray-er

Taken from the teacher training chapter of our Reimagining Tefilah Education: Guidelines for Schools this session contains different activities that get students to reflect on their own prayer experiences.

Contributor: Dr Susan Wall and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Curriculum, Lesson Plan

Higher and Higher: Structured and Spontaneous Prayer

This resource, through Rabbinics sources, looks at the relationships between structured and spontaneous prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Steven M. Brown, Ed.D.

Grade(s): 6-8

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet

Higher and Higher: Why People Pray

Explanation and activities exploring various reasons why a person may pray.

Contributor: Rabbi Steven M. Brown, Ed.D.

Grade(s): 6-8

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Birkat HaTorah (Dan Nichols Sweet as Honey Melody)

Video (3:46 mins) of Dan Nichols' Birkat HaTorah Sweet as Honey song.

Contributor: Lisa Exler

Grade(s): 3-5, K-2

Type of Resource: Music

Mah Tovu (Rabbi Shefa Gold Melody)

Video (1:42 mins) of Mah Tovu (Rabbi Shefa Gold melody).

Contributor: Lisa Exler

Grade(s): 3-5, K-2

Type of Resource: Music

Modeh Ani (You are my Sunshine)

Video (1:44 mins) of Modeh Ani sung to the tune of You are My Sunshine.

Contributor: Lisa Exler

Grade(s): 3-5, K-2

Type of Resource: Music

Ba’al Tefilah Nusach (Ramaz/Rabbi Lookstein)

Recordings of tefilah nusach (weekday, Shabbat, Yom tov, High Holidays) from Principal Emeritus of Ramaz, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein.

Contributor: Ramaz

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Music

Who are we Praying to?

Part of Ira Blum's Moving from Prayer to Praying curriculum exploring motivations behind prayer.

Contributor: Ira Blum

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

The Place of Israel in our Prayers and in our Praying

Part of Ira Blum's Moving from Prayer to Praying curriculum exploring the place of Israel in prayer.

Contributor: Ira Blum

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Applied Learning: Personalizing Praying Through Divrei Tefilah

Part of Ira Blum's Moving from Prayer to Praying curriculum about how to keep prayer fresh and alive.

Contributor: Ira Blum

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Praying With Your Head, Hand and Heart

Part of Ira Blum's Moving from Prayer to Praying curriculum exploring the words, actions and feelings of prayer.

Contributor: Ira Blum

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Assessing How Prayer Content Knowledge Impacts Praying

Part of Ira Blum's Moving from Prayer to Praying curriculum exploring prayers through “mental editing,” “associative reverie” and “prayer beyond the words."

Contributor: Ira Blum

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Prayer and Praying: Assessing Inquiry

The second of Ira Blum's eight part Moving from Prayer to Praying curriculum exploring prayer as both a textual liturgical and emotional experience.

Contributor: Ira Blum

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Establishing a Shared Language

Part of Ira Blum's Moving from Prayer to Praying curriculum exploring what constitutes a meaningful prayer and prayer experience.

Contributor: Ira Blum

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Moving from Prayer to Praying

This learner-centered, inquiry-driven curriculum develops emotional awareness in Jewish prayer education.

Contributor: Ira Blum

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Curriculum

Entering Shul

A slideshow of texts and guiding questions about transitions between prayer and non-prayer spaces.

Contributor: Rabbi Dr. Jay Goldmintz

Grade(s): 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Video/Visual

Zoom (slideshow) – Getting Perspective

Slideshow of Istvan Banyai's Zoom that starts with the eye of a cockerel and zooms out to planet earth.

Contributor: Rabbi Dr. Jay Goldmintz

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Video/Visual

Zoom (video) – Getting Perspective

Video (2:40 mins) of Istvan Banyai's Zoom that starts with the eye of a cockerel and zooms out to planet earth.

Contributor: Reuven Margrett

Grade(s): 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type of Resource: Video/Visual