[night reader]

The Muslim Wakf does not permit Jews to pray on the Temple Mount. Rabbi David Elboim, head of Yeshivat Torat Habayit in Geula and a Israeli police humiliate Jews as they check them for contraband prayer books, pulling out papers and asking if they are not prayer sheets.

I do not intend this to be disrespectful but does Judaism believe that God requires such aids (prayer books and prayer sheets) for the prayer to be efficacious? In my culture (Mormon) a prayer (of the mind) may be sent heavenward with no outer evidence of the prayer. It is utterly impossible to prevent the faithful from praying at any time, in any place, under any condition.

[Alouette]

Very few people know the entire Book of Psalms by heart, though some may memorize individual chapters.

I suppose there are some people who could pray the entire service by heart, but most prefer to use a siddur (prayer book).

Judaism does not encourage either rote memorization or making up prayers spontaneously. The prayer book is preferred as a focus of concentration.