QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.Marissa RubinMarissa Rubin

Virtual SiddurVirtual Siddur

You are unaware of the power that you bestow.

Your mind is an device with awesome power which

gives one abilities that still remain

incomprehensible to us.

•There is a good chance that it will never be

discovered, in my life time, nor yours.

•However, by trying to connect as deep as possible

into your soul, you redeem your potential from the

inner depths of your being.

• I do not intend for you to use this Siddur as your set-in-stone

version of your prayer. “One who makes his prayer set does

not make a real spiritual connection”-Mishnah Berachot 4:4

• Rather, I want you to use this as a base, and inspiration to

develop your own form of prayer.

• Just delve deep into your brain, heart, and soul and you will be

amazed at what you will discover. It is my desire that you shall

use this Siddur to not only gain knowledge, but to develop your

own.

• These materials which I both chose and created were used

because I thought they were all ones which could be

interpreted in many ways. That was part of my goal. I want

you to use your own knowledge to find meaning in these

prayers. That is why these pieces of text all involve

knowledge.

Mishnah Berachot 5:1

(Keva and Kavana)

• “The early sages delayed one hour and prayed in order

to incline their hearts.”

• Therefore, please follow their example and take a few

moments to get into what ever spirituality setting that

you wish.

Meaning of images• For those of you who are more comfortable with keeping your eyes open, during

The meditation section of the prayers, there will one picture displayed for each breath

you are supposed to be taking. Most of the pictures displayed will be of Aurora

Borealis, (The Northern Lights). This is not only due to the fact that they have

unimaginable beauty, but also because of the fact that they bring such wonder to the

human mind they have been known to send it into madness. Therefore, I am using

them in hope that they will help you stimulate your thought process. That is the

overall goal of this Siddur.

• Take four deep breaths. Breathing in through your nose for four

seconds. Then breathing out through pursed lips for eight seconds.

Close your eyes and think of what you would like to achieve in this

prayer session. This is your time to have your private conversation

with God. No one can hear, or judge you. You are free to say what

is truly in your heart.

•Just close your eyes, and settle your mind.

•“Meditation does not lessen the need for prayer,

because it does not take the place of prayer.”

-Edgar Cayce

• Now open your eyes and we will begin our prayer.

We are told by the Sages that Jacob's ladder had four rings. Chassidic teaching identifies

four stages in prayer, corresponding to the four parts of the morning Shacharit prayer:

1) P'sukei D'zimra ("Verses of Praise");

2) the blessings that precede the Shema;

3) the Shema;

4) The Amidah -- the "standing" prayer.

These and many more are what are included in this Siddur, so that all sects of Judaism, as

well as those who do not fit into a certain mold, including gentiles will be able to make a

connection to God.

{It is believed that this information comes from the Zohar.}

We are now nearing the Shemah. In order to truly gain meaning out of the Shemah it is

important that you understand the concepts of monotheism, and unity of our people.

• Such as how in the Shemah we say “Hear O, Israel.”

• It also states in this text, “it cannot be moved.” Monotheism, which is mentioned in the

Shemah, is a constant in our belief, our one God will never change.-

“So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him

that smiteth the anvil, saying of the soldering: 'It is good'; and he fastened it with nails, that it

should not be moved. - (Isaiah:7)

"Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the

Lord is One”(Deuteronomy 6:4)

•"I am the first and I am the last; besides me

there is no God.”

(Isaiah 44:6)

My after Shemah prayer

The Amidah• Giving creatures the knowledge, and understanding to have an impact on the world around us.

• Teach us knowledge, discernment, and wisdom. Praised are you Oh Lord our God.

• “Our father bring us back to the Torah.”

• “You (God) support the falling,

• heal the ailing,

• free the fettered

• You keep your faith with those who sleep in dust.”

We shall worship thee for all time, for thy power is sublime.

With you on our side we shall forever endure, for thy motives are always pure.

Forever the almighty lord shall reign; thy name is never to be spoken in vain.

From our enemies you give us protection, that is why to you we give our

affection.

Even the waves during a mighty storm can never match thy might.

Not even the strongest of birds can reach your heaven through flight.

The justice is right, the mercy is great. It is thou oh Lord who controls our fate.

The only point of our lips is to give your praise,

And our brains to hope that up to heaven our words will raise.

Personal psalm of praise

• "A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate,

of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most

radiant beauty, which are only accessible to our reason in their

most elementary forms--it is this knowledge and this emotion that

constitute the truly religious attitude; in this sense, and in this

alone, I am a deeply religious man.”

-Albert Einstein

Knowledge from around the world

• A stream cannot rise about its source.

(Africa)

• A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.

• Source: (China)

• Don't look for more honor than your learning merits. (unknown foreign author)

• “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. (proverbs 1:7)

• 6. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8. If I

ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art

there. 9. If I take

• the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10. Even

there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139 verses

6-10)

“If wonder is lost when knowledge is gained

their was never truly any wonder.”

-Hugh Laurie

1 kings 19• “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and

strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and

after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was

not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” This verse demonstrates that the power that is held by either

knowledge or a voice. Our religion shows us how powerful words can be on numerous occasions. Such as in The Chafetz

Chaim, Lashon Hara - any derogatory or damaging (physically, financially, socially, or stress-inducing) communication.) Is

forbidden. This shows that the damage that is demonstrated be the human mind can have just as much power as the

sword. We have a lot of power in our minds, we must use them for good.

WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?

Author Unknown• "Whose child is this?" I asked one day. Seeing a little one out at play.

"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile. "Mine to keep a little

whileTo bathe his hands and comb his hair. To tell him what he is to

wear. To prepare him that he may always be good. And each day do

the things he should”. "Whose child is this?”. I asked again. As the

door opened and someone came in"Mine", said the teacher with the

same tender smile. "Mine, to keep just for a little while. To teach him

how to be gentle and kind. To train and direct his dear little mind. To

help him live by every rule. And get the best he can from school”.

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more. Just as the little one entered

the door”. Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled. And

each took the hand of the little child”. Ours to love and train together.

Ours this blessed task forever."

Human knowledge and perfection

Knowledge and prayer• “All this is applicable to the intellectual faculties of man. There is a considerable difference

between one person and another as regards these faculties, as is well known to philosophers.“

-Maimonides in The Guide to the Perplexed, on the study of Metaphysics page 41

• “Be convinced that, if man were able to reach the end without preparatory studies, such

studies would not be preparatory but tiresome and utterly superfluous.”-Maimonides The

Guide to the Perplexed on the study of Metaphysics page 45

“Everyone should do this {pray} according to their strength.” Halachot Tphillah 1:2

•We have now concluded our prayer service.

However, I pray that this will not be the end

of your journey towards using the powers of

your mind to connect to God.

34

Made by

•Marissa Arielle Rubin

The End