Siddur Guide - Part 1: Preliminary Morning Service

Richard B. Aiken

How To Pray in Synagogue

The synagogue (shul) prayer service may confuse the unfamiliar. Here is a brief guide to following the congregational prayers.

Note: This Guide may be printed and given to people who are unfamiliar with the prayer services (or to people who are not yet completely comfortable in following the prayer services). It may be particularly useful for people who do not normally attend weekday minyans, especially people who are saying kaddish.

A printed copy may also be useful as a guide to a specific siddur. Before the prayer service takes place, the actual page numbers may be copied from the siddur onto the pages of the Guide for quick reference during the service. (This could be done by the user or by someone who is more familiar with the prayer services, as an aid to help the user follow what is going on.)

General Rules in Following/Answering the Leader

Ends/Beginnings of Paragraphs Each individual says most of the prayers, but the leader sets the pace. He says out loud the last line or two of many paragraphs (and sometimes the next paragraph's first few words), to help others find where he is in the prayers.

Hint: If you get lost, listen to the leader and try to find those words at the beginning or end of one of the paragraphs near where you think you should be.

Saying Amen When the prayer leader/chazan says a blessing (Baruch ata adonai...) and finishes the final word, everyone usually replies amen.

Baruch Hu U'Varuch Shemo It is common (but not required) to say baruch hu u'varuch shemo after hearing God's name (Adonai) when it is said in a blessing.

Exception: No one should say baruch hu u'varuch shemo between bar'chu and the beginning of the amida.

Note: Some people say this phrase very loudly and slowly (pretentiously), but this wrong practice may prevent themselves and others from hearing the blessing's end and knowing when to say amen.

Praying Shacharit This list mainly includes the parts of the prayer service that are said together or when in synagogue, not those said individually or at home.

Note: If you need to use the toilet between baruch she'amar and yishtabach, say asher yatzar after saying yishtabach and before saying yotzeir or.

Note: If you need to speak during the early part of shacharit, it is best to speak after yishtabach but before bar'chu. You should not speak during psukei d'zimra unless it is urgent or about the shacharit service.

Initial Blessings/Asher Natan The initial blessings beginning with asher natan... through the end of ven brit may be said at home.

Ma Tovu Upon arriving in synagogue in the morning, say Ma tovu....

Talit Married men (and also those with a tradition to wear a talit from bar mitzva age) normally put on their talit gadol on all days (except Tish'a b'Av morning).

Tefilin On weekdays, all men put on tefilin. They do not interrupt putting on tefilin to respond to other's prayers, not even to say amen.

Birchot HaShachar/Initial Blessings If you have not yet said the initial blessings beginning with asher natan... through the end of ven brit, say them once you are in synagogue and after you have put on talit/tefilin (if relevant). Everyone stands while the prayer leader reads the initial blessings aloud. They say amen after each one.

Note: Individuals should not intend to fulfill their personal requirement to say those blessings by answering amen, since everyone should say the blessings for him/herself.

L'Olam Yehei Adam/Shema L'olam yehei adam is said quietly, with everyone saying the shema line together.

Order of the Sacrifices Some read (quietly) the order of the sacrifices.

13 Principles of Talmud Explanation/Kaddish

The 13 principles of how the Talmud is explained are read quietly.
Kaddish is said by any mourners.
Everyone says amen, yihei shmei raba...

Note: Everyone, not just mourners, stands for kaddish; this is the custom for all kaddishes and for all services.

Mizmor Shir/Kaddish

Mizmor shir is read quietly.
Another kaddish is said by the mourners.

Baruch SheAmar Baruch she'amar is said by everyone, standing. The leader says the final blessing out loud.

Verses (Psukim) The following several pages are verses (psukim) from various sources, said by everyone quietly.

Note: The leader says several intermediary lines aloud due to their importance and so that everyone else knows where he is.

Mizmor L'Toda/Yehi Chevod

Everyone stands to say mizmor l'toda quietly (just for this paragraph).
The next paragraph (yehi chevod) is read quietly.

Note: Don't say mizmor l'toda the day before or during Passover (the Thanksgiving offering/Toda was chametz), or before Yom Kippur.

Ashrei and 5 Psalms Ashrei and the following five psalms (#146 to 150) are said quietly by everyone; the leader says the final line or two out loud.

Baruch Adonai L'Olam Amen v'Amen Baruch adonai... is said by the leader.

VaYevarech David The next section (from va'yevarech David until after bar'chu) is said quietly by everyone while standing.

Shirat HaYam Shirat ha'yam is read quietly by everyone.

Yishtabach/Kaddish Yishtabach is said quietly by everyone together. The leader says the final line of yishtabach out loud and then kaddish.

Siddur Guide - Part 1: Preliminary Morning Service

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