Chassidic Prayer Now on Web

By Rishe Groner, Chabad.org

It’s the first of its kind for the medium, and it’s launching today: Sichos in English, in conjunction with Chabad-Lubavitch of Maryland, are presenting the first-ever web-based Jewish prayer book containing a full digest of Chasidic interpretations and insights.

Supported by the Kehot Publication Society and hosted on the Judaism website Chabad.org, the prayer book – known as a siddur in Hebrew – is the brainchild of Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, director of Chabad-Lubavitch Maryland.

He and Potomac, Md., resident Yaakov Cohen discovered the need for a prayer book with accompanying Chasidic commentary that would enable an English-speaking worshipper to contemplate ever deeper meanings and reach ever higher levels in their prayers.

Developed by a team of scholars from around the world, the siddur is currently in beta testing.

The full version of the project will enable users to switch between Hebrew, English and bilingual formats, and offers clickable phrases that link back to the original Chasidic discourses from which the commentary is based.

As a web-based project, the prayer book will continue to grow with online content up until its print publication date.

“The hallmark of Chabad Chasidism is praying at length, with deep intentions,” explained Kaplan.

“We hope to be able to bring the large English-speaking population throughout the world the ability to reach this high level of prayer, by joining Chasidic concepts to their supplications.”