This course invites learners on a rich historical journey through the development of the siddur, uncovering how Jewish prayer evolved from the spontaneous petition to the structured liturgy we know today. Through close reading of primary sources—from Tanakh and the Dead Sea Scrolls to rabbinic texts, medieval manuscripts, and modern prayer books—participants will explore how different communities, cultures, and ideologies shaped the words and forms of Jewish prayer.

By tracing these developments, learners will gain a deeper appreciation of the siddur not as a static text, but as a living expression of Jewish belief, tension, and creativity across time.

Along the way, the course highlights key turning points: the emergence of fixed prayer in the rabbinic period, the poetic creativity of piyyut in the Land of Israel, the standardizing influence of the Geonim, the transformative impact of print, and the denominational debates of the modern era. By tracing these developments, learners will gain a deeper appreciation of the siddur not as a static text, but as a living expression of Jewish belief, tension, and creativity across time.

Available in Fall 2027.

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