Prayer

Thousands gather on National Mall for Trump-backed 'Rededicate 250' national prayer event

The day-long, faith-focused rally transformed the historic space into a venue for prayer and national reflection.

|ByJONAH DAVIDOV
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) leads a prayer at the Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 17, 2026.
US President Donald Trump looks on during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) on the sidelines of a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden on May 15, 2026 in Beijing, China.

Trump to hold 'National Jubilee of Prayer,' raising concerns about separation of church and state

The event, led by evangelical faith leaders and Trump Administration officials, will celebrate 250 years of American independence.

|ByESTHER DAVIS
18th-century prayerbook of Luria’s teachings to go on display at ANU.

18th-century prayer book of Luria’s teachings to go on display at ANU ahead of Lag Ba’omer

The holiday will be marked at the museum with the unveiling of a unique siddur from Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as Ha'ari.

|ByHANNAH BROWN
RENEE ALBERSHEIM was murdered during the Holocaust. A Jewish couple in Florida has said the Mourner's Kaddish for her daily for years.

Florida Jewish community says kaddish for children killed in Holocaust

The Conservative synagogue calls the program "Remember a Child," and at least a third of the members in the 150-family congregation participate.

|BySTEWART AIN/JTA

This Yom Kippur, I prayed with all my might - opinion

Encountering a transformative Yom Kippur, and finding meaning in prayer amid war and grief.

NOVEMBER 3, 2024ByHAYIM LEITER
ON A STREET in Jerusalem, Hersh Goldberg-Polin is depicted in a mural created by friends. When we learned of Yahya Sinwar’s demise mere days after Yom Kippur, I couldn’t help but think that our prayers had something to do with it; maybe it was even thanks to Hersh, says the writer.

Can reciting psalms from the Bible heal injuries or illness?

It is my belief that heartfelt prayers recited with greater understanding can be a source of solace and inspiration.

OCTOBER 16, 2024BySHLOMO M. BRODY
A SON reads psalms for his father in Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

After bomb threat interrupted Kol Nidre, this congregation kept praying on Manhattan street

Immediately after the call came in, the synagogue security guard alerted the congregants, prompting 400 people to exit the building.

OCTOBER 15, 2024ByJACKIE HAJDENBERG/JTA
The Town and Village Synagogue in New York's East Village.

1700 people join Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto for Yom Kippur prayers in Jerusalem

OCTOBER 14, 2024ByDAVID BERGER

I started AtoneNet, a space for public ritual confession; Here’s why I’m shutting it down - opinion

The purpose of the vidui is to have the entire community atone for its sins; you’re repenting not just for your own shortcomings, but for the shortcomings of the person sitting next to you.

OCTOBER 11, 2024ByDAVID ZVI KALMAN/JTA
Anonymous "confessions" posted to AtoneNet before it was shut down after 11 years.

Rosh Yehudi association cancels gender-separate prayers due to fears of disruption

The decision for this year's service followed conflicts last year at a service where tensions were high between those who wanted divided prayers and those who did not want to see division in public.

OCTOBER 10, 2024ByMAYA GUR ARIEH, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
AN EGALITARIAN prayer service takes place during public prayer at Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, Sunday.

My Word: In times like these, every song becomes a prayer - opinion

ISRAELI MUSIC is changing, in tune with the times. Elton John sings “Sad songs say so much...” but in Hebrew, sad songs have their own elevated status.

OCTOBER 2, 2024ByLIAT COLLINS
SOLDIERS DANCE at a concert by singer Idan Raichel at an army base in the South, last month. In these days of trauma and war there may be room for optimism, says the writer.

Rosh Hashanah -how to guarantee that our prayers will be answered

OCTOBER 1, 2024ByDAVID BERGER
Orthodox Jewish men pray at the Western Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

Sukkot: Your guide to Judaism's week-long fall holiday - explainer

A rundown on the Sukkot's history and meaning, differing customs, and rules and times for when Yom Tov begins and ends.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024ByAARON REICH
EXALTING IN Sukkot at the Western Wall

Rethinking prayer in the aftermath of Israel's most difficult year - opinion

This year’s challenges have tested our faith, but prayer remains a means for introspection and reassessing our priorities.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024ByDANIEL GOLDMAN