Educational Resources
We are in the process of developing more specific educational material for the Two Faiths One Prayer project. Until then, here are a few things that might be helpful if you are raring to go!
Please contact us if you would like to talk -- or be notified when our materials are complete.
In terms of resources . . . begin by using one another as resources. This will ensure that you are learning about the prayers in the way that is most meaningful to those of you who are gathering. We provide a link to some resources below with the understanding that there are many different approaches to prayer in both religions. You may need to make your own adjustments, but feel free to use the following as a starting place:
Jewish Sources:
Muslim Resources:
Shared Prayer Resources:
Please contact us if you would like to talk -- or be notified when our materials are complete.
In terms of resources . . . begin by using one another as resources. This will ensure that you are learning about the prayers in the way that is most meaningful to those of you who are gathering. We provide a link to some resources below with the understanding that there are many different approaches to prayer in both religions. You may need to make your own adjustments, but feel free to use the following as a starting place:
Jewish Sources:
- This link will connect you to some basics regarding a traditional approach to Jewish prayer.
- This link is a linear translation of the Jewish orthodox siddur (prayer book).
- While there are five fixed daily prayers for Muslims, the Jewish tradition has only three. If you are planning to do five prayer times throughout the day, you may want to make one of the Jewish prayer times a collection of Piyyutim (liturgical poems). Here are some with Hebrew/Translations/Transliterations.
- You can learn more -- and hear how these piyyutim are chanted here.
- You may want to say Tehillim (Psalms) as one of the other Jewish prayers. The following are Psalms chosen by our cohort member, Cindy Kaplan: I picked Psalm 131 because it is about looking to God to watch over us, and the tune is beautiful way to begin. Psalm 40 is a beautiful ode to God. I liked Psalm 20 because of the line "these in chariots, these on horses, but we, we call out in the name of God," which seemed to be an ancient expression of our current predicament: "Muslims and Jews are preceived to be at war, perhaps, in the media, but here we are coming together for God." I thought Psalm 25 echoed the Muslim ideal of humility and submission. And Psalm 23 is just gorgeous and conveys so beautifully God protecting us when we are scared, and invites us to think about how we can sit with perceived "enemies" in the house in the God; the tune is very meaningful and I thought it was a beautiful way to end.
Muslim Resources:
- This link will help you understand some of the basics of Muslim prayer.
- This link also offers helpful visuals.
- This site is a little more challenging to navigate, but it is more comprehensive.
Shared Prayer Resources:
- Two of our cohort members wrote this shared prayer to be recited after reciting Muslim and Jewish prayer side by side. We are working on the Hebrew and Arabic translations. Contact us to be notified when it has been completed.
- Sheikha Ibtisam Mahameed and Rabbah Tamar Elad-Appelbaum wrote a shared prayer for mothers in three languages (translated by Amichai Lau-Lavie) which can be found here.
