E. Linker Hebrew Prayers Learning Series

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E. Linker
Hebrew Prayers Learning Series (HPLS)
Phonetic Transliterated Siddurim
(Jewish Prayer Books)

NUSACH

The nusach, which is the order of the prayers, is differenct between the two major Jewish communities: Ashkenaz and Sephardic.

Within the Ashkenaz community, there are three sub-groups:

Nusach Ashkenaz This is the order of prayers used in most of the larger Modern Orthodox and Conservative synagogues. The siddurs for both orthodox and conservative Ashkenaz congregations are similar, with the Conservatives deleting some passages in their siddur, and adding others. The Reform siddur is related to that of the Nusach Ashkenaz siddur, but differs greatly in format..

Nusach Sefard This is the order of the prayers for the Chassidim (who, by the way are also Ashkenazi in origin), and it is the order used in Israel and in most shteebles throughout the world. Many Ashkenaz Jews attend both Nusach Sefard and Nusach Ashkenaz shuls. The Nusach Sefard siddur has a little more content, and the order differs only slightly from that of Nusach Ashkenaz.

Nusach HaAri (HahAhRee) This nusac is used exclusively by the Chabad Lubavitch. Their siddur is almost identical to that of the Nusach Sefard siddur.

The nusach for all three Ashkenaz sects are included in the Hebrew Prayers Learning Series siddur. The differences between nusach are pointed out with boxed-areas of text (see "Encircling of Text", below) and written notations in text.

The nusach used by the Sephardic community (Sefardi), is not covered in the HPLS siddur.

Note: To avoid excessive instructions within the siddur, only the main variations are noted for Nusach HaAri. In the absence of any notation, it can be assumed that Nusach HaAri is
generally similar (although not always exactly) to that of Nusach Sefard.

The Encircling of Text is one of the methods used for showing the differences between nusach. In addition, flow charts are included in Volumes 2 and 5 of the HPLS 6-Volume Set to show where you are in the service and where to go next.