Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.” This week, the discussion centers on whether one should pray in a perfunctory way solely to fulfill one’s ritual obligations, or whether it is better to not pray at all.

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson teaches that the point of prayer is in what we take away from it, and how it changes us. Since we spend so much time praying over the High Holy Days, it is worth asking: what will you take away from this season? How did it change you?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss these important questions.

Is your prayer too selfish? Should you interrupt other peoples’ selfish prayer habits? What would it mean to pray for a warmer world? And what can Sukkot teach us about prayer?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s response to these important questions.

All quiet on the synagogue front? Should shul be more noisy? Does more volume in services add to the prayer experience? Is decorum getting in the way of our connecting to God?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen’s response to these important questions.

Do you think God prays? If so, what would God pray for? And what does God’s prayer have to say about God, and about us? 

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss the  Netivot Shalom’s approach to Jewish prayer.