Source Sheet

Most recent resources are displayed first.

The Secret of Shema

A well-formatted source sheet with questions and stories about the recitation of the Shema.

Contributor: NCSY

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet, Story

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

Spiritual Construction Ahead

A well-formatted collection of texts and discussion questions about the Yerushalayim blessing of the Amidah.

Contributor: NCSY

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet, Story

Working On It

A well-formatted collection of texts and discussion questions about the Retzei/Avodah blessing of the Amidah.

Contributor: NCSY

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet, Story

Me, Myself and the Rest of the World

A well-formatted collection of texts and discussion questions about the Please Sprout the Plant of David/Et Semach David blessing of the Amidah.

Contributor: NCSY

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet, Story

CCAR Alternative Aleinu

An alternative Aleinu liturgy, written in 2005 by Rabbi Daniel Medwin, to be used instead of the traditional Aleinu liturgy.

Contributor: CCAR Press

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

Type of Resource: Siddur, Source Sheet

Birkat Hamazon – Why?

Source sheet looking at what the act of bentching accomplishes.

Contributor: Aviva Lauer Golbert

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

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

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

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

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

Teen Guide to the Amidah

This well laid out Amidah guide contains the Hebrew, translation, and commentary that can be used both as a planning resource for educators or used by students.

Contributor: NCSY

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

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet

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

God, Please Open my Lips

A well formatted collection of texts and discussion questions about the opening line of the Amidah.

Contributor: NCSY

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Lesson Plan, Source Sheet

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

Meanings of the Shema

Small collection of sources about the meaning of Shema.

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

Kol Nidrei

Source sheet about Kol Nidrei.

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Kedusha

Source sheet about the Kedusha prayer.

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

Birkat Kohanim

Source sheet about Birkat Kohanim (the priestly blessing).

Contributor: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

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

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

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

Redifat Shalom in the Siddur

A link to sources about seeking peace found in the siddur

Contributor: Daniel Roth

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Kriyat Shema – Torah Study or Pledge of Allegiance?

An anthology of Hebrew-English Biblical and Rabbinic sources on the Shema.

Contributor: Noam Zion

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Source Sheet

Kriyat Shema as Kavanat HaLev

Explores the multiple meanings of the Shema with source texts and educator-focused questions. Part two of three.

Contributor: Noam Zion

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Curriculum, Source Sheet

Kriyat Shema as Torah Study or Ceremony?

Second part of three exploring the multiple meanings of the Shema with source texts and educator focussed questions.

Contributor: Noam Zion

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Curriculum, Source Sheet

​Kriyat Shema ​in Context

Explores the meanings of the Shema with source texts and educator-focused questions. Part one of three.

Contributor: Noam Zion

Grade(s): 9-12

Type of Resource: Curriculum, Source Sheet