Orthodox Union

The Tefillah Initiative

View videos from a Communal Tefillah Symposium held at:

Congregation Nachlas Yitzchok
Motzoai Shabbos, January 22, 2011
141-39 73 Avenue, Kew Gardens Hills, NY 11367

Featuring...

HaRav Mordechai Finkelman
Mashgiach, Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim, Kew Gardens Hills

HaRav Noach Isaac Oelbaum
Rabbi, Congregation Nachlas Yitzchok, Kew Gardens Hills

R’ Moshe Schwerd
Maggid Shiur – Kew Gardens Hills Community









Free weekly tefillah tips
In an effort to better understand the Pre-Mussaf prayers, Rabbi Epstein, Congregation Sons of Israel explains what we are saying exactly and why we say each prayer. You can click "Download tip here" and download the tip as a PDF or Word Document.

A new semester of Tefillah Tips has begun!

1. Megillah Tips
Download Tip Here!

2. Birchot Hashachar
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3. Elokay Neshama
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4. Birchot Hashachar II
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5. Hagaddah Tips 1
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ARCHIVES:

Shabbat Maariv

1. Atoh Kidashta
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2. Ahavat Olam
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3. Emet Veemunah
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4. Mi Chamochah Baeylim Hashem
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5. Veneemar Ki Fadah Hashem Et Yaakov – Gaal Yisrael
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6. Haskiveynu
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7. Shavuot Tips
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8. Vayechulu
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9. Birkat Meyeyn Sheva
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Shabbat Mincha

1. Tzidkasecha Tzedek Leolam
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2. Atoh Echad Veshimcha Echad III
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3. Elokeynu Veelokay Avotainu
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4. Atoh Echad Veshimcha Echad II
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5. Atoh Echad Veshimcha Echad
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6. Uvah Letzion III:Conclusion
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7. Uvah Letzion Goel Uleshavei Pesha Beyaakov II
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8. Uvah Letzion Goel Uleshavei Pesha Beyaakov
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Yomim Noraim:

1. Let Us Say Amen
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2. Let's Talk About Us
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3. Elul & LeDavid Hashem Ori
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4. Haggadah Insights
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Shacharit:

1. Veshamru Bnei Yisrael Et Hashabbat
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2. Yismach Moshe
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3. Shavuot
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4. Tzur Yisroel
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5. Ezrat Avoteinu
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6. Yom Haatzmaut
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7. Al HaRishonim
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8. Emet Veyatziv Venachon
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9. Vayomer II
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10. Vayomer
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11. Megillah
Megillah_Tip.pdf

12. Vehaya Im Shamoa Tishmeuh
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13. Shema Yisrael II
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14. Shema Yisrael
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15. Ahavah Rabbah II
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16. Ahavat Olam
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17. Baruch Kevod Hashem Mimkomo:
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18. Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh:
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19.Chanukah Tips: Understanding Maoz Tzur:
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20. E-l Adon:
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21. Yotzer Ohr:
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22. Yishtabach:
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23. HaKel HaGadol
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24. Uvimakhalot Rivivot
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25. Barchu
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26. HaKol Yoducha
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Mussaf:

1. Yekum Purkan
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2. Av Harachamim
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3. Ashrei
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4. Yehallu Et Shem Hashem
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5. Mizmor LeDovid
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6. Kaddish
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7. Kaddish 2
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8. Kedusha
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9. Kedushah II
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10. Tikanta Shabbos
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11. Shabbat Mussaf
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Kabbalat Shabbat:

1. Kabbalat Shabbat
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2. Lechu Nerannena
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3. Singing a New Song
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4. Psalm 97
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5. The Inner Circle
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6. Footstool to Heaven
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7. Mizmor LeDovid & Anah Bakoach
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8. Lechoh Dodi
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9. Lecha Dodi II
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10. Lechoh Dodi III
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11. Mizmor Shir Layom HaShabbat
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Chaggim:

1. Shoshanat Yaakov- Purim
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2. Chanukah Tip
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3. Shavuot Tip
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4. Haggadah Insight
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Take 5 for Tefillah
Do you have 5 minutes? Each Monday and Thursday, Rabbi Ephraim Epstein delivers a new and brief 5 minute audio and video Dvar Torah on Inyanei Tefillah (insights to prayer).

Listen Now!
or
Watch Now!




Subscribe

In addition to Rabbi Epstein's material, the Orthodox Union in conjunction with the Shema Yisrael Torah Network have joined to offer you advanced Tefillah tips geared toward Rabbis to use in their own shuls, or for those looking for an advanced level insight into tefillot.

Providing a spiral approach of graduated learning, these are excellent educational resource materials (67 lessons) available on a weekly basis through a paid e-mail subscription ($25).
Order your weekly e-mails



Audio, Video, and Printed Archives
Find archived tefillah-based materials of articles, audio clips and videos.



Teaneck Tefillah Symposium
May 15, 2010
Congregation Bnai Yeshurun
641 West Englewood Avenue
Teaneck, NJ 07666

Part 1: Rabbi Shaul Robinson
Listen to the audio shuir here

Part 2: Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser
Listen to the audio shuir here

Part 3: Rabbi Eli Mansour with a brief introduction by Frank Buchweitz
Listen to the audio shuir here


Brooklyn Tefillah Symposium
February 22, 2010
Kingsway Jewish Center
2810 Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11229

Part I: Rabbi Aharon Kahn
Watch the video

Part II: Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser
Watch the video

Part III: Rabbi Eli Mansour
Watch the video



Communal Tefillah Symposium
December 6, 2009
DRS High School
700 Ibsen Street
Woodmere, NY 11598

Part I: Rabbi Moshe Weinberger,
with an introduction by Rabbi Ephraim Epstein
Watch the video
or
Listen to the audio shuir

Part II: Rabbi Mayer Twersky
Watch the video
or
Listen to the audio shuir

Part III: Rabbi Eli Mansour,
with an introduction by Frank Buchweitz
Watch the video
or
Listen to the audio shuir
_______________________________________________________________

Making Our Tefillot Personal and Meaningful
Presnted by Rabbi Paysach Krohn on June 7, 2009
Watch it here on OURadio.org


The OU's Tefillah Education Initiative: The Answer to Your Prayers
by: Bayla Sheva Brenner
Download the PDF Article

The Meaning and Mode of Prayer
by: Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb
Download the PDF Article

God, Sod and the New York Yankees
by: Rabbi Feldman
Download the PDF Article

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Tefillah Enrichment Programs
A comprehensive Tefillah initiative has been developed to help inspire a greater appreciation and participation in tefillah, geared for both Rabbanim as well as membership. The program is designed for a two semester per year curriculum. There are a wide range of options available for participation in the Tefillah initiative:


* Weekly Tefillah tips (one pagers) for e-mail/Shabbat distribution focusing on exploring and understanding the Mussaf of Shabbat. These Tefillah tips will be available beginning with Parshat Bereisheet for eleven consecutive weeks. We will be offering explanatory material on Kabbalat Shabbat beginning in January.

* Take 5 for Tefillah — This online program will allow individuals to listen or download audio files on inyanei tefillah which will complement the written weekly tefillah tips. This will be available on Mondays and Thursdays on OU Radio beginning with Parshat Bereisheet.

* Rabbanim are invited to spend a few minutes every Shabbat Mevarchim emphasizing an aspect of tefillah of their choice. We will be listing participating synagogues in the Shabbat Mevarchim effort on our website during the year.

* Tefillah conferences will be held during the year in several communities as a reinforcement of the Tefillah Initiative. Please contact us if your community would like to host a conference.

* In addition to the outline above, a more intensive and all encompassing approach on the entire body of liturgy is also available:

* Posters — A series of full-color posters for display in your shul lobby will promote messages of decorum and consideration for others during tefillah.

* A Subscription Series — Excellent educational resource material has been available since January through a paid weekly e-mail subscription. There are a total of 67 lessons presented in conjunction with the Shema Yisrael Torah Network, which provides a spiral approach of graduated learning. This user-friendly material may be utilized for personal study, a class on Tefillah, Friday night learning before “Barchu”, etc. The subscription series has been well received by individuals and can also serve Rabbanim as a curriculum for tefillah.

* Maarei Mekomot on Tefillah are geared for Rabbanim based upon the teachings of Rabbi Isaiah Wohlgemuth, providing a compilation of source materials of many of our tefillot.

* An Inspirational Speaker is available for your community focusing on making tefillot more meaningful and personal.

* OU Radio has many wonderful presentations on tefillah by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President, Emeritus of the Orthodox Union. Rabbi Weinreb draws upon a number of sources including the commentaries of Rabbanim Hirsch, Munk, and Schwab. He also presents material drawn from Chassidic sources and offers numerous insights. The lectures are designed to inform the public of the meaning of our most common tefillot, and to inspire increased spirituality in our prayers.