LIBERTY — Project Pray is a new program offered at Tempe El Emeth which gets people to look at how they pray and their relationship with God through prayer.

Rabbi Seth Sternstein of Temple El Emeth said the three-week series may continue in the fall.

“I call them ‘mini-mesters’ where we can tackle one subject over a few weeks so it doesn’t become a lengthy course. Three weeks allowed us to a look at a topic,” he said.

The program has covered basic Jewish prayer, the role of meditation in prayer and prayers through song.

Sternstein said many rabbis and pastors know that for many people, prayer is a difficult activity to engage in.

He said “avodah” is a word meaning work.

“Prayer is something you have to work at. It is not fun and games. There is a sense of work since genuine prayer requires someone to do a lot of thinking, exposing one’s emotions, concentration. It can be difficult for most people,” Sternstein said.

He said the mini-course on prayer meets Wednesday evenings. It’s an opportunity to share the basics focusing on prayers from the morning service and related issues of how to get into prayer, how to prepare for prayer and understand one’s relationship with God.

He said the 10 to 12 people who attend listen and then ask questions about the deep need for prayer.

Sternstein said many of the prayers are in Hebrew and not English.

“For (some) people having a relationship with God can be difficult. I have been focusing on the Sabbath morning service. There are three to four different major parts to the service. Each part has a lot of material in it,” Sternstein said.

He said the first step is preparing yourself for prayer.

“I always say prayer is very much like exercise. No one wakes up in the morning and jumps out of bed and then runs 10 miles. What is needed is time to get one’s self awake. Time to do some stretches and then go into the heavy exercises. Like exercise, prayer needs preparation as well,” Sternstein said.

He said people need to understand that taking the time to prepare for prayer is important.

Sternstein said there is prayer throughout the Sabbath service such as early morning blessings, hymns of praise from the Book of Psalms, the main morning service which is a statement to faith, and then silent devotion.

He said discussions in the course have included interacting with God, the benevolent creator while wanting a relationship with Him through prayer.

Elise Silverman of Liberty and Marilyn Berchuck of Niles were among the class participants.

“This has been enlightening, It has helped me with prayer and what the importance of prayer is,” Silverman said.

“This has helped me have a deeper prayer life. What we have learned is relatable in our own lives, it makes you think more about prayer,” Berchuck said.