This prayer by Rabbi David Wolpe was first shared via his Facebook page in the aftermath of the war begun by Hamas on Shemini Atseret 5784.

This prayer for the welfare of the State of Israel, by Rabbi Mira Regev, was disseminated by HaTenuah HaReformit (The Israel Movement for Reform and progressive Judaism). English translation by Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman and Rabbi Efrat Rotem.

A prayer offered by Rabbi Gil Nativ for the Masorti Movement in Israel and the Knesset haRabanim b’Yisrael in response to the invasion from Gaza on Shemini Atseret 5784 (2023), and disseminated via their Facebook page.

This prayer for the liberation of abducted Israeli citizens and military personnel was offered by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi in response to the war initiated by Hamas from Gaza on Shemini Atseret 5784. The English translation was prepared by Rabbi Dr. Rachel Sabath Beit Halachmi.

This prayer for the State of Israel was offered by Rabbi Ofer Sabath Beit Halachmi in response to the war initiated by Hamas from Gaza on Shemini Atseret 5784. The English translation was prepared by Rabbi Dr. Rachel Sabath Beit Halachmi.

On Shemini Atseret, one is supposed to begin mentioning rain in the second blessing of their Amidah prayers (Ta’anit 2a). In many communities, this is liturgically marked by a poetic introduction in the repetition of the Amidah, called Geshem, specifically with the piyyut “Zekhor Av” written by Rabbi Eleezer BeRabbi Kalir, which alludes to the references of our forefathers’ relations to water. One feature of this poem is that it utilizes an alef-bet-ical acrostic, and while there are various modern adaptations that include biblical women, those break the acrostic. This is my attempt to compose a version including stanzas for our foremothers, while maintaining the acrostic by writing the women’s stanzas as a backwards acrostic (i.e. starting from tav and going to alef). This backwards acrostic containing the foremothers is then interspersed with Kalir’s original.

The ritual of Tashlikh in Hebrew with English and Spanish translations.

The ceremony of welcoming ushpizin originated in the Jewish mystical tradition of Qabbala, for which the ushipizin represented the divine emanations called “sefiroth”, in the context of the sukka as a representation of Ultimate Redemption. Because of this mystical association, the ceremony was rejected by some communities (such as Spanish and Portuguese Jews) and individuals (such as diehard rationalists). Without applying mystical implications, however, we can see this ritual as a symbol of how we bring into our lives diverse aspects of Jewish history and tradition as we navigate our spiritual journeys.

I tried to look at different aspects of what we as Jews contemplate and think about as we move towards the High Holy Days. God’s view of what we did out of fear and loneliness and perhaps why we can never see God’s face and for us to reflect on how we act in the world and what God has asked us of in this lifetime. This poem/prayer is perhaps a little rough, that was intentional. Rather than being a true historical commentary on Elul, I tried to tell a little story about it.

This prayer/poem [‘Call of the Shema’] came out of Rabbi Greene’s (Rabbi of Cong. Har Hashem in Boulder, Colarado) sermon this past Friday and our Torah Study discussion Saturday morning on Parashat Eikev.

While we focus on the Temple’s destruction and all that is related to the ninth of Av I believe that our internal work reflects how we see and perceive the external.

“Comfort in Ruin: Tishah b’Av” was written by Rabbi Menachem Creditor and shared by the author via the Open Siddur Project Discussion Group on Facebook, 27 July 2023.

This is an original piyyut, inspired by the structure of the beloved Yom Kippur Ne’ilah piyyut El Nora ‘Alila. In the era of the Sanhedrin, every fast day would have a Ne’ilah service between Minḥa and the conclusion of the fast. While these are no longer in practice for any days other than Yom Kippur, the editor personally feels like it could be worth bringing them back. As part of this idea, this piyyut is meant to be sung after the end of Tishah b’Av mincha but before the fast ends, as we prepare for the weeks of comfort. It is expressly *not* a qinah.

Former students felt the need for a special prayer for peace in the State of Israel in her present condition. I wrote this prayer yesterday (the eve of 7th Av 5783) and I felt as if I was praying while I wrote it. Students and friends, please send your constructive criticism. The prayer is for you to use on Tishah b’Av, on Shabbatot and in synagogues or in any other context.

A mi sheberakh prayer for the preservation of democracy in the face of the judicial reforms of the 37th government of the State of Israel.

“Morning Prayer” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was shared via the Open Siddur Project’s Discussion Group on Facebook, 15 June 2023.

“A Jerusalem Prayer” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was shared by the author via the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook, 3 February 2023.

This benediction was offered by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff at the commissioning ceremony for the USS Carl M. Levin on Saturday morning, 24 June 2023.

This invocation was offered by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff at the commissioning ceremony for the USS Carl M. Levin on Saturday morning, 24 June 2023.

This benediction was offered by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff at a dinner celebrating the commissioning of the USS Carl M. Levin on Friday night, 23 June 2023.

This invocation was offered by Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff at a dinner celebrating the commissioning of the USS Carl M. Levin on Friday night, 23 June 2023.

I find it important to remind myself, when there is an opportunity to do so in Jewish liturgy, that there are six matriarchs of the children of Israel recognized together as the “shesh imahot” in rabbinic sources: Sarah, Rivqah, Leah, Raḥel, Bilhah, and Zilpah. This is important to me because it is important to recognize that while the Jewish people are famously endogamous, we must also remain open, honest, and respectful of our ancestors who connected to our people through exogamous relationships.

This mi sheberakh prayer, “Farewell to Rabbinic Intern,” was written by Hayyim Obadyah and shared via the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook.

An ecstatic psalm envisioning the eventual victory of Humanity over Death itself – the ultimate Victory Day. Although the primary focus is on our ending of the process of biological death, it also touches on the Resurrection of those who have fallen, as well as the defeat of the ultimate Death – that of the Universe itself.

“This Shall Not Continue: A Prayer to End Gun Violence” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was shared on 30 April 2023 via the Open Siddur Project discussion group on Facebook.

Written on 6 Nisan 5783, 27 March 2023 (after nightfall), in response to the Israeli people’s spontaneous demonstrations against the government’s attempts to amass virtually unchecked power.

A prayer for peace amidst civil disagreement, difference, and strife before the lighting of Shabbat candles on Erev Shabbat.

This piece emerged in February 2023 upon realizing that instead of reading ים סוף as Yam Suf (generally understood at the Sea of Reeds), it could be read as Yam Sof: Sea of End[ing]. It was apparent to me that we may have approached this sea (escaping from slavery) thinking that it would be the end of us. It was not. But it was the end of *something*.

“O Mother of Medicine” is an original prayer of intention by Baruch Jean Thaler, for use before a healing journey with the aid of entheogenic, psychedelic medicine.

“A prayer for those who are unable to safely avoid eating ḥamets on Pesaḥ” was written by A Mitzvah to Eat (AMTE, Sarah Osborne) prior to Passover 2022, and published in part by the Times of Israel in Sarah’s op-ed, “When you keep Passover, but you also need to eat bread to live” (28 March 2023). A group effort brought about a Hebrew translation published in 2023 at the AMTE website. The text of the full prayer was shared via an AMTE social media post on Facebook, 24 March 2026.

“Things that are not to be,” a prayer-poem by Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi (LGPC) in the event of a pregnancy loss was first published in Mishkan R’fuah: Where Healing Resides (CCAR 2013), p. 49-50.

“Asher Yatzar (The One Who Forms): a prayer of gratitude for our bodies as transgender, nonbinary, intersex people, and everybody else” was written by Rabbi Elliot Kukla and adapted from the blessing known by its incipit “Asher Yatsar” or “the bathroom blessing” traditionally recited after excretion of waste. The blessing is also recited as part of the birkhot hashaḥar complex of blessings recited upon waking up and becoming active. Rabbi Kukla’s blessing was first published in Where Healing Resides (CCAR 2013), p. 32.

“A Prayer of Healing for Mental Illness” was written by Rabbi Elliot Kukla for the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center and was first published in Where Healing Resides (CCAR 2013), p. 91.

“Blessing for a Premature Birth” was written by Rabbi Elliot Kukla and was first published in Where Healing Resides (CCAR 2013), p. 48.

“A Prayer for Transitions” was written by Rabbi Elliot Kukla. He writes that this prayer was written “for all adult transitions including gender as well as things like starting medication.”

“Blessings for Gender Transitioning” was written by Rabbi Elliot Kukla and first published on Ritualwell in 2013.

After a brit milah meal, there are several poetic additions traditionally included in the Birkat haMazon. But for young daughters a brit milah isn’t going to happen. So this is a poetic Birkat haMazon to be recited after a Zeved haBat ceremony.

A ritual for a public blast of the silver trumpet on the new moon, to be inserted before the recitation of the psalm for the new month. It is the hope of the editor that the fulfillment of this joyous mitzvah will once more be practiced throughout all Israel. Or, barring that, at least a few more places.

Scene: the Technion Institute, midnight. A physics graduate student accidentally opens a portal to another timeline. The portal remains open just long enough for someone on the other side to pass a siddur through. Mostly the siddur looks very familiar, but there are a few things odd about it. The following is the first of several uploads the editor is planning that reflect this parallel universe, wherein all Judaism is conducted according to the rabbinic norms of our universe, except for two things. Firstly, the festivals of wine-offering and wood-offering as described in the Temple Scroll of Qumran were included as part of scripture. And secondly, the custom of writing the Tetragrammaton in Paleo-Hebrew is preserved. Anyway this is a count of the fifty days after the wine-offering festival, in which the new oil is gathered from the tribes of Israel to the Temple. The instructions say only half a hin of oil per tribe, which suggests that by “tribe” something more akin to “family group” is meant, since a total of six hin wouldn’t be enough for the Temple to function.

Scene: the Technion Institute, midnight. A physics graduate student accidentally opens a portal to another timeline. The portal remains open just long enough for someone on the other side to pass a siddur through. Mostly the siddur looks very familiar, but there are a few things odd about it. The following is the first of several uploads the editor is planning that reflect this parallel universe, wherein all Judaism is conducted according to the rabbinic norms of our universe, except for two things. Firstly, the festivals of wine-offering and wood-offering as described in the Temple Scroll of Qumran were included as part of scripture. And secondly, the custom of writing the Tetragrammaton in Paleo-Hebrew is preserved. Anyway, this is a count of the fifty days after Shavuot, in which the new wine is gathered from the tribes of Israel to the Temple. Apparently there were four different kinds of wine delivered, but we don’t know what they are. Let’s just say red and white, mevushal and non-mevushal.

“An Evening Modeh Ani” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was first published on 6 July 2022 at his blog and shared by the author through the Open Siddur Project Discussion Group, on Facebook.

“Perhaps: A Prayer with God for the World” by Rabbi Menachem Creditor was first published by the author on 8 July 2022 on his blog and on his Facebook page and shared through the Open Siddur Project Discussion Group (also on Facebook).

This is a prayer for democracy is an appeal to each other and to everyone who realizes what real freedom is and how fragile it is if we are not alert. Whether you call that praying or something else, that does not matter.

This prayer for peace in Ukraine was co-written by the Masorti Movement in Israel and the Rabbinic Assembly in Israel, and read by Rabbi Ori Friedland (Hebrew) and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg (English) in an international prayer service organized by Masorti Olami in solidarity with Ukraine and the Jewish communities therein.

This prayer for Ukraine was shared on 24 February 2022 by the clergy of Sinai Temple, Los Angeles (Rabbi Davvid Wolpe, Rabbi Erez Sherman, Rabbi Nicole Guzik, Cantor Marcus Feldman) via the temple’s Facebook page.

Eli Kevodi (My God, My Glory”), for seudah shelisheet, was composed by Asher Hillel Burstein in 2018. The hymn was awarded the “Rabbi Hershel Matt Creative Liturgy Award,” the first prize in the creative liturgy contest sponsored by ARC (The Association of Rabbis and Cantors), an interdenominational group of Jewish clergy.

This untitled prayer for US Election Day was written by Rabbi Menachem Creditor and shared through the Open Siddur Project Facebook Discussion Group on 8 November 2022.

“A Prayer for Ukraine” was first published by Chaya Kaplan Lester on her Facebook page.

This Al haNissim for Yom Yerushalayim by Dr. Avi Shmidman and Rav Yitzchak Etshalom was first published online in 2022, here.

“Kaddish De’Rabbanan – A Prayer for Teachers and Students” was first published by Rabbi Brant Rosen via his poetry and liturgy blog, Yedid Nefesh (2 March 2022).