Prayer Services in Jewish Religious High Schools for Boys in Israel – Students’ Perspectives

This qualitative research aims to explore the experiences of students in the implementation
of prayer services in religious high schools in Israel. Twenty boys
aged 16–18 years old from four different schools were interviewed as part of this
qualitative research study. Interviews were conducted with these students during
2017–2018.
The research focused on what students felt were the goals of prayer services in
schools, and the challenges faced in their implementation. The research points to a
whole range of reasons why these services are not maximizing their impact on the
religious development of many students. Most interestingly, the research highlights
the opinions of students about how these services can be improved to provide a
more meaningful experience for them. While this research was conducted within
the ethos of Jewish religious schools in Israel, it provides important data about
students’ views on prayer and their spiritual development which can be of value to
other religious denominations as well.