Reviews
'Invaluable for presenting an overview of the current state of our knowledge, as well as an assessment of modern trends and theories … Dr Reif has put us all in his debt with this important contribution.' Le'ela, 'A milestone ... indispensable for anyone interested in the study of Jewish liturgy.' Jewish Quarterly, "...Dr. Reif's book is a contribution that can help cure the affliction of ignorance of our precious and sustaining liturgy on all levels." Jewish Book World, "Combining a history of Jewish worship and liturgical rights with an authoritative, fully documented account of the various trends in liturgical scholarship, Judaism and Hebrew Prayer is the first original work of its size and scope in the English language." Gabriel Sivan, The Jerusalem Post Magazine, ‘I commend this work with enthusiasm. It does much to fill a big gap. The standard book with the basic information on Jewish liturgy is Ismar Elbogen’s noble German handbook, translated into modern Hebrew but never into English, essentially an inter-war work, and in any case inaccessible to most of the interested inquirers at undergraduate level. It will be a great advantage to have Dr Reif’s book, which draws together many detailed studies, picks out trends and positions, gives critical evaluation and generally helps one to see the wood for the trees. He manages to combine understanding attachment to traditional forms of Jewish worship with scholarly detachment, and sympathetic but critical understanding of a wide range of different approaches to liturgy and liturgical study.’William Horbury, University of Cambridge, 'A milestone ... indispensable for anyone interested in the study of Jewish liturgy.'Jewish Quarterly, ‘This will remain for many years the definitive guide to Jewish liturgical development … Indispensable to scholars, it is highly recommended to anyone with a serious interest in Jewish or Christian liturgy.’Theological Book Review, 'Invaluable for presenting an overview of the current state of our knowledge, as well as an assessment of modern trends and theories ... Dr Reif has put us all in his debt with this important contribution.' Le'ela, "This will remain for many years the definitive guide to Jewish liturgical development....indispensable to scholars, it is highly recommended to anyone with a serious interest in Jewish or Christian liturgy." Theological Book Review, "Judaism and Hebrew Prayer is sure to be the standard text on the subject for years to come..." Hebrew Studies, "A major contribution to the study of Jewish liturgy....a work of impressive breadth and erudition....An indispensable resource for all interested in the history of Jewish prayer, this study belongs in any library concerned with Judaic studies or the history of religions." Michael D. Swartz, Religious Studies Review, 'I commend this work with enthusiasm. It does much to fill a big gap. The standard book with the basic information on Jewish liturgy is Ismar Elbogen's noble German handbook, translated into modern Hebrew but never into English, essentially an inter-war work, and in any case inaccessible to most of the interested inquirers at undergraduate level. It will be a great advantage to have Dr Reif's book, which draws together many detailed studies, picks out trends and positions, gives critical evaluation and generally helps one to see the wood for the trees. He manages to combine understanding attachment to traditional forms of Jewish worship with scholarly detachment, and sympathetic but critical understanding of a wide range of different approaches to liturgy and liturgical study.'William Horbury, University of Cambridge, 'A milestone … indispensable for anyone interested in the study of Jewish liturgy.' Jewish Quarterly, 'This will remain for many years the definitive guide to Jewish liturgical development ... Indispensable to scholars, it is highly recommended to anyone with a serious interest in Jewish or Christian liturgy.' Theological Book Review, 'I commend this work with enthusiasm. It does much to fill a big gap. The standard book with the basic information on Jewish liturgy is Ismar Elbogen's noble German handbook, translated into modern Hebrew but never into English, essentially an inter-war work, and in any case inaccessible to most of the interested inquirers at undergraduate level. It will be a great advantage to have Dr Reif's book, which draws together many detailed studies, picks out trends and positions, gives critical evaluation and generally helps one to see the wood for the trees. He manages to combine understanding attachment to traditional forms of Jewish worship with scholarly detachment, and sympathetic but critical understanding of a wide range of different approaches to liturgy and liturgical study.' William Horbury, University of Cambridge, ‘Invaluable for presenting an overview of the current state of our knowledge, as well as an assessment of modern trends and theories … Dr Reif has put us all in his debt with this important contribution.’Le'ela, 'This will remain for many years the definitive guide to Jewish liturgical development … Indispensable to scholars, it is highly recommended to anyone with a serious interest in Jewish or Christian liturgy.' Theological Book Review