Hebrew T'fillah

A mom reported that one evening, her 4 year old loved belting out Ayn Keyloheinu throughout the day. The family attended weekly Shabbat services and so the child had learn to sing the song by heart. As a pre-reader, even in his native English, the preschooler obviously didn't learn this song by reading. He learned it by heart, storing it in memory.

And so it is for our older students - the more they hear prayers and blessings, the more they gain the sounds of Hebrew. And the more we help them connect to prayers with their hearts, the more they connect spiritually.

Resources are linked to the photos and videos below. Click on what interests you!

OVERVIEW - intentional hebrew in t'fillah

The power of Hebrew t'fillah

T'fillah is learned by doing. Offers an argument for t'fillah each time that children are in attendance at the educational program.
(from a seminar)

For hundreds of years, Jewish prayer was stored in memory, with no siddurim. The invention of the printing press was a game changer, perhaps not for the better.

The power of small group t'fillah

FOCUS ON MEANING

Case studies of synagogues that align their t'fillah focus with that of the congregation.

Some really great how-to ideas from Camp Ramah.

Enriching children's lives by teaching theology
from a seminar)

learning resources

Website with Gold and Silver challenges on the Amidah. Uses sound-to-print in many of the challenges.

Offers teaching strategies that build understanding of prayer meanings, Sh'ma and its Blessings and the Amidah. Also check the tab "Enhancing Worship" for t'fillah ideas.