Read the information then click on the links below it to do the exercises.
TEFILLAH
‘Tefillah’ means 'prayer' in Hebrew. People pray to God for many reasons. The most important reason is to say "thank you" to God. People also pray to ask God for things. Some people pray that God will make them and their family healthy and safe.
When we are praying we often use call God 'Hashem'. Hashem means 'the name'. We say Hashem because God's name is so special that we do not say it out loud.
Modeh Ani and Shema are two prayers that Jewish people say each day.
MODEH ANI
Modeh ani lefa-necha
Melech chai veka-yam
She-heche-zarta bi nishmati
Bechemla raba emuna-techa
Jewish children like to sing Modeh Ani when they wake up in the morning.
In English we can sing, 'Oh Every Morning'.
Oh every morning, when I'm through sleeping
I open up my eyes and say
Thank You Hashem for my neshama
And for giving me a brand new day.
I'd like to thank You for my family
I'd like to thank You for my toys
Oh Hashem, You are so special
That You love all the girls and boys.
THE SHEMA
The Shema is the oldest prayer that Jews say. It says that we believe in God and we agree to do all of His mitzvot. The most important parts of the Shema are:
Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad
Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto Le’olam Va’ed
Listen Jewish people! Hashem is our God. There is only one God.
Jewish children like to say the Shema at night before they go to sleep.
The little boy in the story below knows that God is great and wonderful. Read the story to find out how Avraham discovered the real God.
A Little Boy Named Avraham
Once upon a time there was a little boy named Avraham who lived in a deep, dark cave.
Even though Avraham was very young, he went out to look for Hashem, the Creator of the world.
Stepping out of the cold, dark cave, Avraham felt the warmth of the sun on his face. The boy looked up to see what was making him feel so warm and happy. "Sun, oh bright yellow sun," called Avraham, "you are big and strong and hot! Are you Hashem?"
Avraham waited and watched the sun all day. "The sun must be Hashem," he decided. Suddenly the sun began to drop lower and lower in the sky. As the moon rose, it seemed to push the sun away. Finally the little boy could not see the sun at all. "Ha!" thought Avraham, "strong yellow sun, if the moon can push you away, then you are not the strongest of all. You cannot be Hashem."
Avraham looked up at the moon shining high in the black night sky. "Moon, oh glowing, white moon," called the boy, "you are shiny and beautiful with stars all around you. Are you Hashem?" All night long Avraham waited and watched the moon. "The moon must be Hashem," he thought.
But soon the moon disappeared behind the mountains and the sun rose, red and fiery, in the morning sky.
"Oh beautiful moon," said Avraham, "if you go away during the day you cannot be Hashem. The Creator never leaves his world." And off he went to look some more. He saw many things like tall mountains and deep, blue rivers. "None of these can be Hashem," decided Avraham. "Hashem is the One who makes the sun shine by day and moon at night. Hashem makes little seeds grow into beautiful flowers and makes the clouds sprinkle raindrops so thirsty animals can drink."
And that is how Avraham found the real Hashem. From then on he taught everyone he met to know the true Creator of our world.
(From: A Little Boy Named Avraham, by Dina Rosenfeld. Hachai Publishers.)
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