Jewish Prayer: How, When & Why Orthodox Jews Pray

If you ever walk past a synagogue early in the morning, you might hear a low hum of voices coming from inside. That is the sound of Jewish prayer — dozens of men wrapped in prayer shawls, swaying gently, speaking directly to their Creator. I grew up with that sound. In my father's shul in Brooklyn, I could hear the davening through the mechitzah (the partition separating the men's and women's sections), and even as a little girl I understood that something powerful was happening on the other side of that wall.

Prayer is the heartbeat of Jewish life. It is not something we do when we feel like it or when things go wrong. It is built into the structure of every single day, three times a day, every day of the year. Let me walk you through how it works.

The Three Daily Prayers

In Judaism, prayer takes a central role. Jewish prayers take place in all Orthodox synagogues three times a day — in the early morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. Jews gather to pray at these set times, and this rhythm has continued unbroken for thousands of years.

Shacharit — Morning Prayer

Shacharit is the longest of the three daily prayer services and takes place in the morning. Men wear Torah passages, worn during weekday morning prayers">tefillin and a tallit (prayer shawl) during Shacharit. The service includes the Shema (the declaration of G-d's unity), the Amidah (the standing prayer, also called Shemoneh Esrei), and various psalms and blessings. In my house, mornings are a beautiful chaos — getting children dressed, fed, and out the door — but the men in the family make sure Shacharit happens before anything else. It sets the tone for the entire day.

Mincha — Afternoon Prayer

Mincha is the shortest of the daily prayers, but many say it is the hardest to keep because it falls in the middle of a busy day. You have to stop whatever you are doing — work, errands, teaching (in my case, a classroom full of 5th graders) — and turn your attention to G-d. I have always found something beautiful about that interruption. The world does not stop, but you stop for a few minutes to remember what really matters.

Maariv — Evening Prayer

Maariv is the evening prayer, recited after nightfall. It is generally shorter than Shacharit and marks the transition from day to night. In many communities, Maariv is combined with Mincha — men will pray Mincha just before sunset and Maariv right after, making one trip to the synagogue serve for both.

The Siddur — The Jewish Prayer Book

Every Orthodox Jewish home has a few Siddurim (plural of Siddur). The Siddur is the Jewish prayer book, and it contains all the prayers needed for daily services, Shabbat, blessings, and special occasions.

Although the structure of the prayer services was laid out during the time of the Talmud, the first real Siddur was compiled in the ninth century when Babylonian Jewish rabbis worked out the official order of the synagogue service. Even so, differences developed between communities, especially between Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions. Today you can find the Siddur in many versions, including translations in every language, editions with commentary, and even audio versions for beginners.

Which Siddur Should You Get?

If you are looking to buy a Siddur, the first thing to know is that there are three main versions:

Nusach Ashkenaz — This is the most widely used version among Orthodox Jews today (excluding Hasidim). If you are not sure which to buy, this is usually the safest choice.

Nusach Sefard (Hasidic) — This version is used by most Hasidic communities. It is based on the prayer order of the great Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the Ari. The founder of the Hasidic movement, the Baal Shem Tov, adopted this version, and all his followers use it. (Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim use their own version called Nusach Ari.)

Nusach Edot HaMizrach — This version is used by Jews originating from Arab countries — Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and North Africa.

Growing up Hasidic in Brooklyn, we davened Nusach Sefard. When I first visited a Nusach Ashkenaz shul, I was surprised by the small differences — a word here, a phrase there. The core is the same, but each tradition carries its own flavor.

The Machzor — Holiday Prayer Book

For holidays, there are separate prayer books called Machzorim. They usually come in a set of five — one for each major holiday: Pesach (Passover), Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. The Machzor contains all the special prayers, piyyutim (liturgical poems), and Torah readings unique to each holiday.

Tehillim — Psalms

Whenever a Jew wants to add an extra prayer — for healing, for gratitude, for comfort — he or she will pick up a Tehillim (the Book of Psalms) and recite a few chapters. Jews throughout all generations, in times of persecution and in exile, have always found comfort in Tehillim. King David wrote most of the psalms, and his words somehow speak to every situation, every emotion, every generation.

When a family member is sick, we say Tehillim. When we hear good news, we say Tehillim. When a woman is in labor, her friends and family gather to say Tehillim. I remember as a child sitting in shul on Shabbat afternoon, watching the older women recite Tehillim with such feeling that their lips moved but no sound came out — just an intense, private conversation with Hashem.

There are special chapters designated for special occasions, and many people have the custom of completing the entire Book of Psalms each week or each month.

Prayers for Special Occasions

Beyond the daily prayers, Jewish life is woven through with blessings and prayers for every occasion:

Prayers for healing — The Mi Sheberach prayer is recited in synagogue for those who are ill, asking G-d for a complete recovery.

Prayers for the departed — Kaddish is recited by mourners, and Yizkor (memorial prayers) are said on certain holidays. These prayers honor the deceased and elevate their souls.

Wedding prayers — The Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings) are recited under the chuppah and at festive meals during the week following a wedding.

Blessings throughout the day — There are blessings before and after eating, upon seeing lightning or hearing thunder, upon seeing a rainbow, even upon waking up in the morning. The very first words a Jew says each day are Modeh Ani — "I give thanks before You, living and eternal King, for You have returned my soul within me with compassion — great is Your faithfulness."

What Prayer Means to Us

I want to be honest with you. Prayer is not always easy. There are mornings when the words feel routine, when my mind wanders to grocery lists and lesson plans. But there are also moments — sometimes in the middle of the most ordinary Tuesday — when a phrase in the Siddur suddenly hits differently, and I feel the reality of standing before my Creator. Those moments make everything worth it.

Prayer in Judaism is not about asking for things, though we do ask. It is about building a relationship. The Hebrew word for prayer, tefillah, comes from a root meaning "to judge oneself." Prayer is a time to stop, reflect, and realign yourself with what matters. Three times a day, every day, for a lifetime.

My grandmother used to say that prayer is like a phone call to Hashem — except the line is never busy and He always picks up. I think about that every time I open my Siddur.

Attending a Prayer Service

If you are ever invited to attend a Jewish prayer service, here are a few things to know:

• Men and women sit separately in Orthodox synagogues.
• Men cover their heads with a kippah (yarmulke). Women who are married cover their hair.
• The service is conducted primarily in Hebrew, but many synagogues have prayer books with English translations.
• You are welcome to follow along silently if you do not know the prayers.
• The congregation stands and sits at various points — just follow what everyone else is doing.

Do not be intimidated. I have seen visitors at our shul who looked completely lost, and someone always quietly appeared next to them to help them find the page. That is how it works in our community. We are happy to have you there.