For the last two thousand years, ever since the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, prayer (tefillah, davening) has been a central pillar of Judaism, relating back to the biblical command to “serve God with your whole heart” (Deuteronomy 11:13). Prayer is critical to synagogues and temples, historically serving as their core mission. The synagogue is called a Bet Tefillah, a house of prayer, its architecture typically has the sanctuary as its centerpiece, and its professional staff revolves around the prayer service. Does that core mission remain today, and what role does prayer play in the 21st century? How have denominational differences led to changes in our tefillah? And how do we as a congregation and community make prayer engaging for younger generations?

Join with Jewish Studies and members of the community as Rabbis Stephanie Alexander (KKBE), Adam Rosenbaum (Emanu-El), and Moshe Davis (BSBI) discuss these questions and offer their observations related to the nature of prayer and its role in our community, focusing particularly on the denominations that they represent.

The Three Rabbi Panel is supported by the Stanley and Charlot Karesh Family Fund, an endowment given by the Karesh family in the spring of 2015 in support of Jewish Studies’ community outreach programming. Stanley z”l and Charlot have been lifelong pillars of the Charleston Jewish community, and of Jewish Studies. We are incredibly grateful for their support, and for their broad vision of K’lal Yisrael.