Tefilah in General

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

Wonder of Wonders

A well-formatted collection of texts and discussion questions about the Asher Yatzar blessing.

Contributor: NCSY

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet, Story

Hadar’s Learning a Service

Easily searchable sound recordings of tefilot from the weekday, Shabbat and Yom Tov liturgies.

Contributor: Hadar Institute

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

Type of Resource: Music, Siddur

Ted Talk Tefilah

A tefilah course/series where students research and deliver a TED-style Tefilah Talk.

Contributor: Dr. Seth Korelitz

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

Type of Resource: Curriculum, 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

Reciting 100 Blessings a Day

A source sheet focusing on the custom of reciting 100 blessings a day.

Contributor: Abe Katz

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Forms of Jewish Prayer II

A source sheet focusing on forms of Jewish prayer (part 2 of 2).

Contributor: Abe Katz

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Forms of Jewish Prayer

A source sheet focusing on the forms of Jewish prayer (part 1 of 2).

Contributor: Abe Katz

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Tefilah and Torah Study

A source sheet focusing on the link between tefilah and Torah study.

Contributor: Abe Katz

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

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

Mishnah: Berakhot Chapter 4; Text & Video

A video explanation of the 4th chapter of Talmud Berakhot. Follow the links to view the free video explanations.

Contributor: Jeffrey Alhadeff

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet, Video/Visual

Rav Kook on Tefilah

A sourcesheet on Rav Kook's thoughts concerning prayer as expressed in his book Olat Hareiyah.

Contributor: Rav Mike Feuer

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Reform Liturgy Workshop

A two-part lesson exploring the ideas and motivations behind liturgical changes in the Reform prayer book both historically and currently.

Contributor: Julia Ullman

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

Type of Resource: Curriculum, Lesson Plan

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

All Roads Pray to Yerushalayim

A collection of sources and discussion questions about why Jews pray toward Jerusalem.

Contributor: NCSY

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

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet

Praying for Others

An activity that focuses on praying for other people's needs.

Contributor: NCSY

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

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

How do you Feel about Prayer?

This activity uses visual images as a spring board for conversations on Tefilah.

Contributor: NCSY

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

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Tefilah Standard and Benchmarks

A k-6 tefilah curriculum that lists the knowledge, skills and Tefilot for each grade.

Contributor: Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation's Capital

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

Type of Resource: Curriculum

BimBam Structure of Prayer Service

Engaging and visually stimulating video (3:09) narrated by Rabbi Wendi Geffen explaining the structure of prayer.

Contributor: BimBam

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

Type of Resource: Video/Visual

BimBam Mi Shebeirach

Engaging and visually stimulating video (3:27) narrated by Rabbi Reni Dickman explaining the purpose and content of Mi Shebeirach

Contributor: BimBam

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

Type of Resource: Video/Visual

Charts for Tefilah- Halacha and Seder

Handouts and materials for teaching the halachot (laws) and seder (order or structure) of tefilah.

Contributor: Rabbi Leib Zalesch

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

Type of Resource: Curriculum, Lesson Plan

Why is Prayer so Difficult?

Source sheet about the difficulty of prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

When was Prayer Fixed?

Source sheet of Rabbinic sources about the fixing of the time and text of prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

What are We Praying For?

Source sheet of modern sources exploring what we pray for.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

The Power of Prayer to Build Community

Source sheet about the reasons for communal prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

The Challenges of Praying from the Siddur

Source sheet of Biblical and Talmudic sources about challenges with prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Text and Practice

Source sheet with a variety of texts aimed at deepening prayer practice.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Rationalist Prayer

Source sheet about the mechanics of prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Rabbinic Prayer

Source sheet about prayer from the Talmud.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Prayer in the Modern Period

Source sheet about prayer from the modern period.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Prayer in the Middle Ages

Source sheet about prayer from the medieval period.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Prayer and the God Challenge

Source sheet about some of the challenges in prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Prayer and Connecting to God

Source sheet exploring how to connect to God through prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Mystical Prayer

Source sheet about prayer from a mystical/kabbalistic perspective.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

From Biblical to Rabbinic Prayer

Source sheet about prayer from the Biblical to Rabbinic eras.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Fixing Fixed Prayer

Source sheet about fixing fixed prayer - Hebrew only.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Do I Pray What I Believe?

Source sheet: Do I Pray What I Believe?

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Communal Prayer

Source sheet about communal prayer.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

A Path To God Through God’s Name

Students will understand that one way to encounter God is through God’s names.

Contributor: Susan Yammer

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

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Preparing the Soil, Planting the Seed

Explores how prayer, similar to a field, needs careful cultivation.

Contributor: Tamara Frankel

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

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Tefilah and its Place in Our Lives

'Tefilah and Its Place In Our Lives' curriculum that includes multiple sources and guidelines focused on students connecting with prayer.

Contributor: Dr. Saundra Sterling Epstein

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Curriculum

Teacher’s Guide to Tefilah and its Place In Our Lives Curriculum

Teacher's Guide to the 'Tefilah and Its Place In Our Lives' curriculum.

Contributor: Dr. Saundra Sterling Epstein

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Curriculum

Intro to Tefilah and its Place in Our Lives

Detailed introduction to the 'Tefilah and Its Place in our Lives' curriculum.

Contributor: Dr. Saundra Sterling Epstein

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Curriculum

Engaging with Prayer

A summary of ideas for how to use the arts to engage students with prayer and liturgy.

Contributor: Behrman House

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

Type of Resource: Curriculum