Prayers and Berakhot

Abstract

Rabbinic literature includes much material about prayers and blessings ( berakhot ). The phrase 'prayers and berakhot' might be thought pleonastic but the two words are meant to describe different types of communication with God. This chapter uses the term 'liturgy' to describe the direct connection between God and humanity. The Bible presents us with what were considered, in later times, as the main genres of prayer: (1) supplicatory prayers; (2) prayers of thanks (and praise) for particular help and salvation; (3) praise of God as worship, not associated with any particular event; and, finally, (4) arguments with God about the way that He runs the world. This chapter focuses on the first two types of prayer. The pattern of berakha, originally used only for expressions of thanksgiving, was adopted by the rabbis as the official pattern of all prayer, including supplicatory prayer. Keywords: berakhot ; prayers of thanks; supplicatory prayers