What is the Prayer Summit?

Prays Worthy is a five-part online experience exploring the art and soul of prayer. Guided by five world-renowned presenters, each followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, you’ll discover prayer not only as words we say, but as a journey through worlds, connecting you with your Maker, your purpose, and your deepest self.

Who is this summit for?

Anyone who’s ever whispered a prayer—or wondered why they don’t. Whether you’re new to Judaism or someone with a lifelong experience in prayer, this summit will meet you where you are and take you even higher.

What makes this summit unique?

The Prayer Summit is more than a course; it’s an invitation to transform. You will learn from five top-notch presenters who each share their unique perspective and experience, blending Chassidic depth with practical insight.

At the conclusion of each class, Chana Weisberg, host of the Ordinary People Extraordinary Stories podcast, will hold a question-and-answer session with the presenter. This segment will delve more deeply into the topic by asking the follow-up questions you may want to ask, bringing the material to life, and making the ideas more relevant and personal.

What kinds of questions will the summit explore?

• What is prayer—a conversation, a creation, or a calling?
• Why did G‑d design the world to need our words?
• Should I pray even if I'm not in the mood?
• What happens to my soul each time I pray?
• How can I move from just saying words to feeling them?
• Why do I sometimes feel distant when I pray? And how can I awaken a feeling of closeness?
• If prayer is meant to come from the heart, why is there a set text? Can’t I just pray from my heart?
• How can I make the Siddur (prayer book) feel more personal and alive?
• What is the Kabbalistic “ladder” of prayer, and how do we climb it daily?
• Why has the Shema been such a powerful prayer throughout our history, and what does it mean for us today?
• What does Oneness in Shema really mean—and how can I live it?
• Can prayer change G‑d’s plan, or only my perception?
• How can I pray if I don’t know Hebrew or don’t feel inspired?
• What does it mean to “pray with all your heart” in the modern world?

Why should I join?

In a world of endless noise, prayer is the quiet that restores us.

You’ll gain:

• A deeper understanding of what prayer really is
• Tools to bring meaning and focus into your daily prayers
• Inspiration to make prayer a living, breathing conversation with G‑d

How is the Summit delivered?

All sessions are available online through ChabadU. You can join as segments air or watch on demand, at your own pace.

Do I need prior knowledge to join?

Not at all. Whether you’ve studied Chassidic teachings for years or are simply curious about Jewish spirituality, this summit was created to speak to the soul in the language of experience, not expertise.

What will be covered in each of the five sessions?

Each session opens a doorway to prayer. Here are the individual topics:

• Living on a Prayer – The origins and essence of tefillah (Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan)
• Pray Tell (Me a Secret) – Unlocking the heart through Chassidism (Rabbi Yossi Paltiel)
• The Former and the Ladder – Climbing the rungs between Heaven and earth (Mrs. Geulah Newman)
• Know One Home – The Shema and the secret of Oneness (Mrs. Chana Margulies)
• Personally Speaking, Praying – A story of authentic prayer beyond words (Mr. Shmuel Goodman)

What will I take with me?

A sense of belonging. A language for your soul. And a rediscovered connection with G‑d, with yourself, and with what truly matters.

How do I join?

All sessions are hosted online by ChabadU. Sign up at www.chabad.org/PraysWorthy

Ten years ago, ChabadU rolled out its debut course, a series of classes called The Infinity of One. Since then, there have been 250,000 enrollments, some people just taking a single course that interests them and others taking course after course as they become better-educated Jews, empowered to tackle life’s challenges with the Torah’s timeless wisdom.

So, who clicked “Join” the 250,000th time? It turns out it’s a woman from Castro Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area, who, having come closer to her Jewish identity, now prefers to use her Jewish name, Goldie.

Goldie came to Chabad after a tragedy. She grew up in a traditional Jewish family in San Francisco. They kept a kosher home and attended synagogue on Shabbat. But most of the other attendees were senior citizens and the reasons for Jewish observance were never clear to her.

During her college years, she once approached a rabbi seeking religious guidance but felt even more alienated by the experience. “I had so many questions,” she said. “The rabbi told me to light candles every Shabbat and holiday and come back and see him in a year.” That didn’t help her at all.

So, she kept searching.

She met her husband, Donald, in 1991. They started married life attending Shabbat services but couldn’t seem to connect. They tried various congregations, but eventually gave up. After 33 years of marriage, Donald became very ill, and she realized that they had not yet made any burial arrangements.

“We were not members of a congregation and did not have a rabbi to turn to. My brother suggested I look in the phone book,” she recalls. There was only one rabbi listed in Castro Valley, and that’s Rabbi Shimon Gruzman, who, together with his wife, Chanie, directs the local Chabad center.

The rabbi took her call and promised to help. Never did she dream how far the Gruzmans would go. Since her brother was a Kohen, who may not enter most of a cemetery, she asked the rabbi if he would help her find a burial site that would allow him to be present for the ceremony. Rabbi Gruzman then drove her to the cemetery to have a look at the four possible burial sites until she found one she liked.

With that arranged, she was able to be fully present for the month before Donald passed away.

Rabbi Gruzman and Chani stayed in touch and were with her through every step of the grieving process, making regular visits to her home to make sure she was OK and inviting her over to their house. “I had never met a rabbi and rebbetzin with so much caring, guidance, and help,” she reflects.

During Chanie’s regular Wednesday night visits, the two women would discuss Jewish concepts. They learned about Tanya’s notion of two souls, the proper way to wash hands, and many other tenets of Jewish belief and practice.

“I never met a couple like them,” says Goldie. “They are just so kind and make everyone feel at home. There is a special aura about them that people sense and love them for.”

Guided by the rabbi, she signed up for Chabad.org’s Daily Dose of Wisdom, which has become a part of her daily routine and a constant source of inspiration.

Drawing a parallel from that morning’s Daily Dose, which features an image of a spiral staircase and the words “Life is a spiral staircase. You think you’re going in circles when really, you’re getting higher every day,” she says she’s growing in Judaism in ways she never even envisioned.

She also began to read regularly from A Time to Heal, the Chabad.org book that distills the Rebbe’s unique approach to death and mourning, which has helped her heal from her own loss.

She’s taken several courses already and she’s far from done!

Looking forward to taking even more ChabadU courses and increasing her Jewish observance as she goes along, she observes, “I thank G‑d for guiding me to where I am now—it’s really exciting and meaningful.”

To share your congratulations with Goldie or to tell us which ChabadU courses you’ve enjoyed and why, please drop a comment below.

Thousands of people have already signed up to Chabad.org’s new course, “End the Cycle,” a comprehensive 18-week online class exploring the Rebbe's approach to achieving lasting peace in Israel, based on the acclaimed book Make Peace: A Strategic Guide for Achieving Lasting Peace In Israel by Elisha Pearl.

Make Peace (published by Sichos in English) distills thousands of pages of the Rebbe's commentary into a systematic guide, contextualizing his insights within the framework of military strategy and Israel's history. The book offers a compelling and practical approach to resolving what many view as an intractable conflict.

The course features:

• Weekly Installments: Each week, participants receive historical context and thoughtful commentary on breaking the cycle of conflict
• Interactive Community: Join online conversations to share reflections and insights with fellow participants
• Video Content: Watch videos from course author Rabbi Elisha Pearl addressing weekly themes

Participants will gain historical perspective on how the current situation developed, understand the Rebbe's guidance on Israel's security, and discover practical steps toward building a safer, more secure future.

The Rebbe, who offered counsel to numerous Israeli Prime Ministers, politicians, and security personnel throughout his leadership, utilized an approach that transcends traditional political classifications, focusing instead on the fundamental principles of pikuach nefesh (saving lives) and the Torah's ultimate goal of making peace in the world. His vision emphasizes that all humans are created in G‑d's image and seeks to end enmity rather than destroy enemies.

Understanding the deeper roots of this conflict and the Torah's guidance on the path forward can transform anxiety into clarity, helplessness into purpose.

Rabbi Elisha Pearl, the course instructor, has lectured and written extensively on Jewish Law, Philosophy, and Mysticism, and holds rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg and Yeshiva University, where he also completed graduate studies in philosophy and psychology.

The course premieres Monday, November 3 (Cheshvan 12), with new content released weekly though participants may access previous weeks' materials at any time.

Register at Chabad.org/EndTheCycle