Frank Buchweitz, National Director of Department of Community Services and Special Projects, declared, “Many people have indicated that they are looking to have a more personal and meaningful dialogue with God. Our fervent prayer at the OU is that our Tefillah Initiative will help create a greater understanding of what we are saying when we pray, leading to a deeper connection with God.”

Communities can utilize the resource material for self-study or classes in their respective communities. The material is suitable for beginners and seasoned veterans alike, and focuses on developing a deeper understanding of prayer by providing detailed synopses and background reasons for specific prayers.

People can subscribe for daily e-mails on enhancing their tefillot by signing up at http://community.ou.org/prayerguide

Rabbi Barry Shafier, an inspirational speaker on tefillah, will be addressing the following communities on “The Secrets to Powerful Prayer: Making Our Tefillot Personal and Meaningful.”

• Five Towns, Wednesday, December 17, Congregation Shaarey Tefila, 25 Central Avenue, in Lawrence, 8:00 p.m.; Thursday, January 1, Young Israel of Cedarhurst-Lawrence, 8 Spruce Street, 9:00 a.m.;
• Manhattan, Sunday, January 4, at Lincoln Square Synagogue, 200 Amsterdam Avenue, 6:00 p.m.;
• Poughkeepsie, Sunday, January 11, Congregation Schomre Israel, 18 park Avenue, 3:00 p.m.;
• Queens, Saturday, January 17, Congregation Ahavas Yisroel, 147-02 73 Avenue, Kew Gardens Hills, 8:00 p.m.; and
• Teaneck, Tuesday, February 3, Congregation Beth Aaron, 950 Queen Anne Road, 8:00 p.m.

For more information, or to bring Rabbi Shafier to your community, contact Frank Buchweitz at 212-613-8225.