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Can you tell me of some books/seforim about Jewish prayer (in terms of nusach, development of tefillah, etc.). A good example would be http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=34206&pgnum=1 "Netiv Binah". They can be either online or in print.

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3 Answers

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There are plenty of excellent sources. A recent publication is "Why We Pray What We Pray" by Rabbi Dr. Barry Freundel.

I also enjoy looking at the Beurei Hatefila site developed by Abe Katz, a former student of Rabbi Isaiah Wohlgemuth Z"L who had an excellent mandatory Beurei Hatefila program at my high school.

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Several I have found helpful:

  • A Guide to Jewish Prayer by Rabbi I. Wohlgemuth. Might be out of print?
  • To Pray as a Jew by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin.
  • The My People's Prayer Book series by Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman (link is to first book). There are about ten volumes, one for each part of the weekday/shabbat services, with commentary, historical notes, etc. A deeper dive than the previous two, but very accessible.
  • Jewish Liturgy: A Comprehensive History by Rabbi Ismar Elbogen, translated by Raymond P. Scheindlin. Informative but, to me, a more difficult read than the others.
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I like your answer. However, could you give links to these books? Even the one that's out of print has a link. Links help to give more info about the book. – Lea Cohen May 16 '11 at 20:08
@Leac, thanks for the suggestion. I hope Amazon links are ok. – Monica Cellio♦ May 16 '11 at 21:53
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Neither Rabbi Hoffman nor Rabbi Elbogen are Orthodox. This may affect the content of their books. – Chanoch May 16 '11 at 23:57
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Elbogen is the scholarly classic if you are interested in an historical perspective, although some things have changed due to more recent discoveries (e.g. from genizas), and his discussion of the variations among all of the different nusachot is invaluable – Curiouser May 30 '11 at 2:00
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My Prayer by Nissan Mindel.

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