The Prayerbook (Siddur) as an Anthology of Judaism

Abstract

Abstract The prayerbook, or siddur, is certainly one of the most popular books among Jews. If a member of the people of the book owns only one Jewish book, itis most likely to be a siddur rather than a Bible. The siddur is perhaps the most explicit example of an anthology in Judaism and may arguably be considered not just an anthology of prayers but an anthology of Judaism -for the Jewish prayerbook is a veritable museum of the Jewish people. It contains passages from almost all periods of Jewish history, from the Bible to the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel, and mementos from many of the lands in which Jews lived. In addition to its importance as a book of prayer, it may also serve as an anthology of Jewish literature, as it contains representatives from almost all branches of this literature. In addition to the prayers themselves and the extensive poetic selections that serve as prayer, one can find in the prayerbook passages from the Bible, tannaitic and amoraic literature, selections from mystical and devotional literature, philosophical statements such as the creed that begins “I Believe,” together with historical literature such as Megillat antiochus. One might say that if one were required to choose one Jewish book to take to the proverbial desert island, it would be hard to find a better choice than the prayerbook, an anthology of all of Jewish life and literature.