13INTRODUCTION

We have already mentioned that the Seder Rav served as the standard for most Jewish communities dis­ persed throughout the world, inasmuch as it was based on the and Tradition. But in certain communities there were local Mmhagim (customs), including certain piyyutim, which in time became standard for those communities. The main Nuschaoth were those of Sfard and Ashkenaz, as well as of the . The first printed Siddur was that of Romi (Roman, or Italian, Jews). It was printed in Soncino (Italy) in 1486. The first Ashkenaz Siddur was printed in Prague in 1513 (part 2 in 1516), and the first Nusach Sfard was printed in Venice in 1524. In due course many other Siddurim were printed according to the customs of Polish, Rumanian, Balkan, and other countries where the Nusach differed. When the saintly Rabbi Yit2chak Luria arranged the Siddur according to the , many communities adopted it, and a new series of Nusach Art Siddurim were printed. Printers were not always careful in the printing, and errors were not uncommon. Finally, the great Rabbi Schneur 2^1man of Liadi, who was both a great Talmudist and Kabbalist sifted some 60 different Siddurim and arranged the Nusach in accordance with the original Nusach Art which became known as Nusach Chahad. But whatever traditional Nusach one follows, it is sacred and acceptable to G-d. The important thing is to pray with devotion, with love, reverence, and mercy, as explained earlier.

T h e La d d er Whatever Nusach is yours, you will find the structure of the prayers basically the same. The Morning prayers begin with the Morning Blessings, continue with Pesukei d’Zimra (Psalms and seaions from the T’NaCh, introduced by a benediaion and con- eluded by a benediction), followed by the Shema (which is also introduced and concluded by a benediction), and then comes the