Intro to Jewish Prayer

(11) When Daniel learned that it had been put in writing, he went to his house, in whose upper chamber he had had windows made facing Jerusalem, and three times a day he knelt down, prayed, and made confession to his God, as he had always done.

(1) In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— (2) in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, consulted the books concerning the number of years that, according to the word of the Eternal that had come to Jeremiah the prophet, were to be the term of Jerusalem’s desolation—seventy years. (3) I turned my face to God, devoting myself to prayer and supplication, in fasting, in sackcloth and ashes. (4) I prayed to the Eternal my God, making confession thus: “O Eternal, great and awesome God, who stays faithful to the covenant with those who love God and keep the commandments! (5) We have sinned; we have gone astray; we have acted wickedly; we have been rebellious and have deviated from Your commandments and Your rules, (6) and have not obeyed Your servants the prophets who spoke in Your name to our kings, our officers, our fathers, and all the people of the land. (7) With You, O God, is the right, and the shame is on us to this very day, on the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, all Israel, near and far, in all the lands where You have banished them, for the trespass they committed against You...

(1) The morning prayer may be recited until noon. Rabbi Yehuda says: It may be recited only until four hours after sunrise. The afternoon prayer may be recited until the evening. Rabbi Yehuda says: It may be recited only until the midpoint of the afternoon. The evening prayer has no fixed time, and the additional prayer may be recited all day. Rabbi Yehuda says: It may be recited only until seven hours after sunrise.

It was stated: Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Chanina, said: The prayers were instituted by the Patriarchs. However, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said that the prayers were instituted based on the daily offerings.

(3) Rabban Gamliel says: Each and every day a person must recite the prayer of eighteen blessings. Rabbi Yehoshua says: An abridged version of the eighteen blessings. Rabbi Akiva says: If the person is fluent in prayer, they recite the prayer of eighteen blessings, and if not, only an abridged version of eighteen blessings.

(4) Rabbi Eliezer says: One whose prayer is fixed, their prayer is not supplication.

Rabbi Yehoshua says: One who cannot recite a complete prayer because they are walking in a place of danger, recites a brief prayer and says: Redeem, God, Your people, the remnant of Israel, at every transition [parashat ha’ibur]. May their needs be before You. Blessed are You, God, Who listens to prayer.

(5) One who was riding on a donkey should dismount to pray. If unable to dismount, they should turn their face toward the direction of the Temple. If unable to turn their face, it is sufficient to focus their heart towards the Holy of Holies.

(2) ...The obligation in this precept is that every person should daily, according to their ability, offer up supplication and prayer; first uttering praises of God, then, with humble supplication and petition ask for all that they need, and finally offer praise and thanksgiving to the Eternal for the benefits already bestowed upon them in rich measure.