Connecting your soul to the Infinite every single day
Tefillah (תְּפִלָּה, "prayer") is the cornerstone of Jewish spiritual life. Three times daily, a Jew stands before the Creator — in the morning (Shacharit), afternoon (Mincha), and evening (Maariv) — pouring out their heart in a structured dialogue with G-d. The Alter Rebbe wrote in Tanya that tefillah is "the time of battle" — the moment we fight to reveal the love for Hashem hidden in every Jewish soul. But it is also, as the Rebbe taught, a conversation — intimate, personal, and transformative.
Unlike synagogue attendance in some traditions, in Judaism daily prayer is a Biblical obligation (מצוות עשה דאורייתא) rooted in Devarim 11:13 — "to serve Him with all your heart." The Sages identified this service of the heart as tefillah itself.
Morning prayer. Corresponds to Abraham. Begins from sunrise (hanetz) — ideally 35 minutes after sunrise for Chabad. Lasts ~45 min weekday, ~2.5–3.5 hrs on Shabbat. Includes Shema, Amidah, Hallel on Yom Tov.
Afternoon prayer. Corresponds to Isaac. From half an hour after midday until nightfall. Shorter than Shacharit — mainly Ashrei + Amidah + Tachanun. Chabad often davens Mincha just before Maariv.
Evening prayer. Corresponds to Jacob. After nightfall (tzet hakochavim). Includes Shema and Amidah. On Shabbat night includes the abbreviated Kabbalat Shabbat prayers (when prayed in shul).
Chabad-Lubavitch prays according to Nusach HaAri — the prayer rite of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (the Ari HaKadosh), as refined by the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe personally edited every word of the Chabad siddur (Siddur Torah Or, later Tehillat Hashem) to achieve precise Kabbalistic intention. Key characteristics:
"Hear O Israel, Hashem our G-d, Hashem is One" (Deut. 6:4). The central declaration of Jewish faith. Recited in Shacharit and Maariv, and at bedtime. The Rebbe said: say it with your whole heart — feel that Hashem is the only true existence.
19 blessings recited standing, feet together, facing Jerusalem. Begins with three praises, continues with 13 personal requests (weekday), closes with three thanksgivings. The silent Amidah is the heart of Jewish prayer.
An Aramaic doxology ("Magnified and sanctified be His great Name") marking transitions in the service. The Mourner's Kaddish is recited for 11 months after a parent's passing and on yahrtzeit.
Psalms 113–118 recited on Rosh Chodesh, Chanukah, and the three Pilgrimage Festivals (full Hallel on Pesach seder night, Shavuot, Sukkot; half Hallel on Rosh Chodesh and last 6 days of Pesach).
The Baal Shem Tov revolutionized Jewish prayer by teaching that every person, regardless of education, can achieve devekut (cleaving to G-d) through sincere prayer. Chabad added an intellectual dimension — the Alter Rebbe, in chapters 41–50 of Tanya, provides a complete guide to achieving genuine feeling in prayer through hitbonenut: deep contemplation of a Divine concept until it becomes emotionally alive.
The Rebbe Maharash coined the phrase: "L'chatchila ariber" — instead of crawling under the obstacle, jump over it. Applied to prayer: don't settle for rote recitation. Learn Chassidus before you pray. Meditate on a concept from Tanya or a sicha. Then your Shema and Amidah become a real conversation with the Infinite.
Tefillah (תְּפִלָּה) is the Hebrew word for Jewish prayer — the structured daily dialogue between a Jew and G-d. It derives from the root "l'hitpalel" meaning "to judge oneself." Prayer in Judaism is not just asking for things; it is a daily spiritual exercise that connects the human soul to its Divine Source. It is recited three times daily: Shacharit (morning), Mincha (afternoon), and Maariv (evening).
Shacharit (morning) — corresponding to Abraham, recited from sunrise until midday; Mincha (afternoon) — corresponding to Isaac, recited from half an hour after midday until nightfall; Maariv (evening) — corresponding to Jacob, recited after nightfall. Each includes the Amidah (Shmoneh Esreh) as its core.
Both "tefillah" and "tefila" refer to the same thing — Jewish prayer. "Tefillah" is the more complete transliteration of the Hebrew תְּפִלָּה (with the dagesh in the lamed), while "tefila" is a simplified spelling common in Modern Israeli Hebrew. They are identical in meaning.
The Amidah (עמידה, "standing") is the central prayer of every service, recited silently while standing with feet together, facing Jerusalem. On weekdays it has 19 blessings (originally 18, hence "Shmoneh Esreh"): three opening praises of G-d, 13 personal requests, and three closing thanksgivings. On Shabbat and Yom Tov, the middle 13 blessings are replaced by one blessing for the sanctity of the day.
Chabad uses the Siddur Tehillat Hashem, based on Nusach HaAri (the prayer rite of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), as refined by the Alter Rebbe. It incorporates precise Kabbalistic formulations. The Alter Rebbe personally verified every word of the siddur. It is available in Hebrew-English and Hebrew-French editions from Kehot Publication Society.
Women have a Biblical obligation to pray (Rambam, Hilchot Tefillah 1:1–2), though there is halachic debate about whether they are obligated in all three daily prayers. The Chabad ruling is that women should at minimum recite Shacharit (or at least the Amidah once daily). Women are exempt from time-bound positive commandments, so they have more flexibility in timing.
Kavvanah (כַּוָּנָה) means "intention" or "concentration" in prayer. At minimum, Halacha requires kavvanah for the first blessing of the Amidah (Rambam, Hilchot Tefillah 4:1). Chassidus goes further: the Alter Rebbe in Tanya teaches a system of achieving deep emotional kavvanah through hitbonenut — contemplating G-d's infinite greatness until the heart naturally responds with awe, love, and yearning.
A minyan (מִנְיָן) is a quorum of 10 Jewish adults (men, in Orthodox halacha) required for communal prayer. Certain prayers — Kaddish, the repetition of the Amidah, Torah reading, Kedushah — can only be recited with a minyan. The Rebbe encouraged every Jew to pray with a minyan whenever possible, noting that communal prayer has greater efficacy than private prayer.
A typical Chabad Shabbat morning service (Shacharit + Musaf) lasts 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It includes Pesukei D'Zimra, Shema, Amidah, Torah reading (the weekly Parasha + Maftir), Haftorah, Musaf Amidah, and additional songs. The Rebbe emphasized that Shabbat prayer should be unhurried — it is the spiritual preparation for the entire week.
Halacha permits prayer in any language you understand (Shulchan Aruch OC 101:4). However, the ideal is to pray in Hebrew, as the Sages formulated the prayers in Hebrew for specific spiritual reasons. If you are still learning Hebrew, it is perfectly valid and encouraged to use a transliterated siddur or to supplement with prayer in your own language, especially for personal requests.
Tachanun (תַּחֲנוּן, "supplication") is a prayer of remorse recited after the Amidah on weekday mornings and afternoons. It is omitted on Shabbat, Yom Tov, Rosh Chodesh, Chanukah, Purim, and other joyous days. In Chabad practice, one does not physically fall on the arm during Tachanun (unlike Ashkenazic custom), though the text is recited.
Chabad Park Hadera welcomes everyone for daily Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv. We pray according to Nusach Ari (Chabad siddur) in a warm, inclusive atmosphere. Beginners are always welcome — siddurim with transliteration available. Check our contact page for prayer times, especially before Shabbat and Yom Tov.
Chabad Park Hadera welcomes everyone — beginner to advanced — for daily Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv. Siddurim with transliteration available.
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