Why is the Hebrew on the left side of the Siddur and the English on the right?

This placement allows the Hebrew and English texts to align at the center of the Siddur. It enables you to move between the two languages comfortably, to find meaningful line breaks easily, and to follow page turns intuitively. This placement also creates visually pleasing pages that “breathe,” as white space flows to the margins.

Why is the text divided in ways I don’t see in other siddurim?

In the Koren tradition, we have laid out the text in ways that reinforce its underlying meaning. We have placed each word and line on the page purposefully to elucidate the text and to enhance your kavana. As Eliyahu Koren, Founder of Koren Publishers Jerusalem, said of the Koren graphic layout: “From a visual standpoint, the contents of the prayers are presented in a style that does not spur habit and hurry, but rather encourages the worshiper to engross the mind and heart in prayer.”

On what kind of paper is the Siddur printed?

The Koren Sacks Siddur is printed on premium-grade “Bible” paper, which has a high proportion of cotton and linen fibers to increase its strength yet maintain its thinness. As a result, the Siddur is both long-lasting and lightweight. The cream color is gentler on the eye than pure white.

What kind of binding does it have?

The Siddur is bound in a special manufacturing process to enable it to withstand heavy, daily use and to open easily and remain open with every page turn.

Is the Koren Siddur available in other editions?

The Koren Siddur is available in two other editions:

The Koren Talpiot Siddur presents the Hebrew Siddur text with English instructions only (no English commentary, translation or introduction) for use outside of Israel.  It is available in Nusaḥ Ashkenaz in Compact, Personal, and Standard (Synagogue) sizes.

The Koren Classic Siddur is the all-Hebrew edition for use in Israel. It is the original Siddur designed by Eliyahu Koren in 1981. It is available in Nusaḥ Ashkenaz, Sephard, and Edot Mizraḥ, in Pocket, Personal, and Leader’s sizes. In 2010, Koren will introduce a revised, reset edition of this Hebrew classic.  

Koren also offers Shabbat Ḥumashim, all-in-one, combined Siddurim-ḥumashim volumes in Talpiot and Classic editions. These include Shabbat tefillot, from erev Shabbat through motzei Shabbat, plus parshiyot and haftarot.The Koren Talpiot Shabbat Ḥumash presents the Hebrew texts with English instructions, for use outside of Israel. It is available in Nusaḥ Ashkenaz in Compact and Personal sizes. The Koren Classic Shabbat Ḥumash is the all-Hebrew edition for use in Israel. It is available in Nusaḥ Ashkenaz, Sephard, and Edot Mizraḥ in the Personal Size.