Jewish prayer can be recited in any language. The ancient rabbis were explicit about this. God, after all, can understand us in whatever tongue we speak.
One option is to acquire a prayer book, a siddur, with transliteration, where the Hebrew text is matched by a phonetic translation into English. Currently, the Reform movement’s Mishkan T’filah is the only fully transliterated siddur you are likely to find in a synagogue. If that is not available where you are going to synagogue, you may have to bring your own.
Knowing some key Hebrew prayer words can also help you follow along during the service. Our glossary of common prayer words will help you get familiar with some of the essential word that you'll encounter again and again in the siddur. It's a long list, but there is nothing wrong with learning just one or a few at a time. Learning a new language is daunting, but with Hebrew and prayer you might be pleasantly surprised to find a little learning can go a long way. Learning to sound out Hebrew text isn’t as hard as you might think. For starters, Hebrew is a completely phonetic language. That means that words are pronounced exactly as they appear.
There are many options available online, from free apps to self-directed lessons to proper online courses taught by a live instructor and offered by accredited institutions. Praying in Hebrew can be a powerful experience even if you don’t understand all the words. The emotional impact of saying the prayers in Hebrew is an experience you don't want to miss.
Whichever approach you choose, acquiring some basic familiarity with the language of Jewish prayer enhances not only the synagogue experience, but connects you to Jewish people through time and across the globe and to the language in which they have sought for millennia to connect to God.
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