The Hebrew word Siddur means “order.” It is the Jewish prayer book designed for ordinary weekdays and Shabbat. Its purpose is to give Jewish worship a regular order, language, and structure. It includes biblical passages, blessings, the Shema, the Amidah, Psalms, and other writings, enabling individuals and communities to pray and learn within a shared framework.

A Siddur does not merely tell Jews what words to say. Its primary purpose is to help congregants understand what they are saying and why: the meaning of what the Siddur contains, their biblical and historical sources, and why ancestors suggested they read them.

The Machzor is the prayer book used for the Jewish festivals, especially Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Its name means “cycle.” Because the holidays have special prayers, poems (piyyutim), biblical readings, and religious and historical themes, the Machzor is generally larger and more specialized than the Siddur. Its purpose is to guide worshippers through the distinctive spiritual concerns of the holidays—for example, repentance and self-examination on Yom Kippur, divine sovereignty and judgment on Rosh Hashanah, freedom on Passover, and........

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