Books

Our most important relationship is not with our parents, not with our spouse, not with our siblings nor our children. It is with our Creator. Yet how many of us speak to Him from the heart? Why do our prayers often seem mechanical or meaningless?

Speaking to God, by the late chaplain and innovative Jewish educator, Rabbi Zev Schostak, teaches us to approach God with love and inspiration — the way we always wanted — guiding us toward developing a deeper, more personal approach to prayer. Passionate about prayer, Rabbi Schostak was devoted to demonstrating that tefillah is more than merely reciting prayers — it is the way we speak to God and develop a close relationship with Him.

He lived long enough to perfect his masterpiece, but not to see it published. This book is his legacy to the Jewish People — his gift to us.

“A comprehensive, nearly encyclopedic sourcebook for all who wish to expand their understanding of the Jewish prayer book … [will] enhance and intensify [their] emotional connection to the prayer experience.”

Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb

About the Author:
Rabbi Zev Schostak was the founder and director of Legacy 613, the first organization dedicated solely to the mission of making prayer meaningful — intellectually and experientially — in the life of every Jew, young or old. In order to achieve its mission, Legacy partnered with like-minded organizations, foundations, and schools to provide vision, educational expertise, and resources in developing effective tefillah programming and instructional materials. Ordained in Jerusalem by Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna, rosh yeshiva of Chevron, and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, he also held an MA from the University of Detroit and earned permanent certification as a New York State school administrator and supervisor.

Prior to founding Legacy 613, Rabbi Schostak served as director of pastoral care at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Commack, Long Island, for nearly thirty years. He also had a distinguished career as a teacher and principal at yeshiva elementary and high schools in New York and Michigan.

Rabbi Schostak wrote extensively on end-of-life bioethics and the issues of aging in halachah. He served as a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Medicine in Contemporary Society at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and was honored for his leadership and contributions to professional chaplaincy and Jewish medical ethics as the Rabbinical Council of America’s Healthcare Chaplain of the Year in 2012. Learn More

Birchos Ha’Shachar is the foundation of our daily prayers.

We say them every morning, but have you ever wondered…

…why we thank Hashem for the rooster’s intelligence every morning?

…why we thank Hashem for being Jewish every day?

…why there are separate brachos for men and women?

…why we have two different brachos to appreciate our eyes?

These questions and so many more are addressed in Arise & Aspire, a clear and thought-provoking book written by Mrs. Shira Smiles — a highly sought-after international lecturer who invites you to join her as she presents each brachah of the Birchas ha’Shachar with deeper meaning, showing us how they apply to our daily lives. Uncovering and internalizing the depth and wisdom of these brachos will not only lead the reader to a more inspired prayer, but a more inspired life.

"[This] small book ... will certainly foster greater appreciation of the beauty and profundity of the brachos and more importantly will increase our awareness of the Chasdei Hashem that surround us every second of the day."

Rabbi Yitzchok Breitowitz

"This work will greatly increase one's appreciation and understanding of these blessings and thus enhance one's recital of them daily to be not only lip service but true service of the heart."

Rabbi Zev Leff

"Starting our day with [these defining] brachos will define our lives with the majesty and magic so inherent to our inner world and the universe that Hashem recreates each morning."

Mrs. Chani Juravel

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Mrs. Shira Smiles is a world-renowned lecturer and a popular seminary teacher. She is well-known for her unique teaching style which seeks to bring understanding of Torah texts through analysis of relevant sources while making the lessons learned from every verse relevant to her students' lives. Learn More

Serving Hashem through tefillah is one of the great pillars of Judaism. Although the sefer Ya’aros Devash by Rav Yonasan Eybeschutz has been used by many people to better understand their tefillos, his explanations can be enigmatic for even the most learned of scholars. In this monumental work, master educator Rabbi Menachem Tenenbaum opens up Ya'aros Devash for our generation.

With entertaining stories, sharp insights, and practical advice, this meaningful book will help any growing person who desires to ascend the heights of tefillah.

“A readable book that will empower and inspire teens to see prayer in a new way. We know this area needs strengthening; this book can do that.”

Rabbi Akiva Tatz, bestselling author of The Jewish Teenagers Guide to Life

“A magnificent collection of Torah thoughts and stories on the power and importance of prayer… Both beginner and seasoned daveners will gain from this creative, informative, and inspiring work… A must-read for those seeking the beauty of prayer.”

Rabbi Yechiel Spero, bestselling author of the Touched by a Story series Learn More

Do we feel that our prayers open the gates of Heaven?

Are we connected to Hashem as we pray?

Does prayer elevate our soul, or leave us feeling frustrated and even empty?

Prayer is both a science and an art, and is not something that necessarily comes naturally to us.

Mean What You Pray is a book for those who believe in the power of prayer and want to learn how to leverage it more effectively. Specifically, this easy-to-read but powerful book takes each blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei — the fundamental prayer of the Jewish People — and explains how to use it most fully as a means to a deep, meaningful, and lasting relationship with Hashem.

"I am sure that all who study this book will find themselves speaking to The Creator in a very real and intelligent manner."

Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits

"I personally benefited from its ideas, explained by an author who clearly knows what he is talking about. Highly recommended for those who wish to take prayer seriously."

Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz Learn More

“How very proper it is for everyone to learn the meaning of the words for the entire Shemoneh Esrei!”

Mishnah Berurah 101:2

Three times a day, we stand in silent devotion and talk directly to Hashem. There is so much we want to tell Him. But do we really know what we are saying? Rabbi Avrohom Zelig Krohn takes us on a journey through the berachos of the Shemoneh Esrei, and with his fascinating elucidations, insights, and stories, opens our hearts to a deeper and more meaningful prayer.

Change your life through a better understanding and appreciation of the holy words of our Anshei Knesses HaGedolah!

-Rabbi Paysach Krohn