From the origins and meaning of prayer to a step-by-step explanation of the daily services to the reason one may not chat with friends during the service, Rabbi Steinsaltz answers many common questions about Jewish prayer. His topics include daily, Sabbath, and holiday prayers; the yearly cycle of synagogue Torah readings; the history and make-up of the synagogue; the different prayer rites for Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Yemenites, and other cultural/geographic groupings; the role of the rabbi and the cantor in the synagogue; and the role of music in the service.

A Guide to Jewish Prayer also contains a glossary, a bibliography, and biographical sketches of the rabbis who were instrumental in creating and ordering the prayers through the ages.

Rabbi Steinsaltz’s guide is an essential volume both for the newcomer to Jewish prayer and for those who have been engaged in prayer for years.