User:Bar.mitzvah.siddur/siddur

The history of the siddur dates back over 2,000 years. It maintains key importance in Judaism, though it's presentation and adoption have varied over time.

The significance of the siddur in Jewish religion and culture is apparent in its universal use in synagogues and yeshivoths and it's widespread use in many Jewish homes and schools.

General background
The siddur was created over the course of many years, first originating in Talmudic times with the formulation of the Amidah prayer. In medieval times, the main development of the siddur involved minor additions (poems, extra prayers on special occasions) and perhaps most importantly, the communal adoption of the various nuschaot (e.g. Ashkenazi, Sefardi). And in modern times, there has been a wide range of styles with lots of experimentation of content.

The siddur across Jewish history

 * Biblical - sporadic mention of prayers or of people engaging in prayer (Moshe, Chana, David, Eliyahu)
 * Talmud times - formulation of prayers (Amidah, and others)
 * Medieval - communal adoption of nuschaot
 * Modern - variation, translation, experimentation (though it may be traced to Kabbalah/Chasidic kavanot)

Three pillars of Judaism

 * Learning/Teaching - siddur as a subject of Jewish study. There are commentaries to the siddur.
 * Prayer/Meditation - siddur as tool of prayer (the most obvious use)
 * Charity/Justice - siddur as call to action or as a theological or philosophical medium (e.g. as a way to establish a new trend, custom, community, tradition, religious movement, etc.)

Types of prayer

 * Song/Dance - song and some body movement, and a possible addition of dance, as part of prayer
 * Meditation/Supplication - connecting with the divine & asking God for sustenance
 * Minyan - praying for community & institutionalised prayer services/rites