From Rabbi Mike Comins
February, 2012

Dear Friends,

I’m happy to announce that we are moving forward on the new Making Prayer Real Course. Several synagogues are currently piloting the course, and we will pilot the course to individuals over the internet beginning in March, 2012.

The course will consist of some 20 sessions, divided into one core, eight session module, and three four-session modules, covering the main areas of the book.  (See below.)  After completing the core module, students may study the other modules when they choose.  This allows students the flexibility to take a break and start up again, and take the optional modules as they wish.

There are three main elements in each session:

1.    Engagement with the material in the book.
2.    A video presentation.
3.    Personal instruction and mentoring of the MPR prayer practices.

Scroll down this page to see the complete syllabus.

The course is experiential.  As we are primarily teaching a practice rather than transmitting information, we focus on the mentoring relationship between student and teacher.  Over the internet, the course will be offered to individuals and small groups of up to eight students.  Clergy or other qualified teachers may also teach the course in synagogues, schools and other venues.

We anticipate the general launch of the course with the High Holidays in the Fall of 2012.

We are looking for students as we pilot the course over the next few months.  The course will be offered at a large discount.  If you would like to participate in the pilot program, please contact us, and we will send you the latest information.

e-Journal

We are hard at work on the new MPR e-Journal.  It will appear quarterly, beginning in early 2012.  In it, you will find a variety of resources to support your practice of prayer.

The Making Prayer Real Course

CORE MODULE

CREATING THE FRAMEWORK FOR LEARNING TO PRAY

The Difficulty of Prayer

Does Prayer Work?

What is prayer?

Prayer as a Practice

BUILDING BLOCKS OF PRAYER

Yearning

Gratitude

Why the Body Matters

The Art of Blessing the Day

MODULE 2

PERSONAL PRAYER

The Power of Saying You

Cultivating Your Personal Prayer Voice 1

Cultivating Your Personal Prayer Voice 2

Discerning Divinity

MODULE 3

GROWING AND HEALING THROUGH PRAYER

Blessings 2: Creating Holiness

Coping with Loss

Mourning

Teshuvah (Repentance)

MODULE 4

APPROACHING JEWISH LITURGY

Structure of the Siddur

Pesukei d’zimra (gratitude, praise and body awareness)

Shma and her blessings (deep listening)

Amida (personal prayer)

OPTIONAL MODULE

CHANT and PRAYING IN NATURE

with Rabbis Shefa Gold and Mike Comins

details TBD