| What is a Prayer? |
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| Friday, 01 August 2008 16:11 |
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This article should open a kind of debate and discussion among readers: What is the meaning of prayer? Why should we pray? How does it help? Should we teach our children to pray in the format of the siddur, or encourage them to invent every time a different type of prayer for themselves? Before we answer these questions, I strongly suggest that you read the article ‘Understanding Jewish prayer’ in the preface of the new addition to the siddur by the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks. Among other things, he says, ‘Prayer is the language of the soul. It is a conversation with G-d. It is a very intimate gesture of the religious life….a prayer is to the soul what food is to the body… (Rabbi Yehuda Halevi). ‘Without the ability to pray, something within us is diminished and dies… Yes, it is possible to have a life without prayers, and we can compare it to having a life without music, love or laughter.’ Jewish religious worship is a service of the heart, unlike the sacri?ce that was part of the Temple worship. Many prayers in the bible were spontaneous, according to the need or for thanksgiving after a miracle. In the siddur we are told to pray in ?xed order. In the te?llah we combine praise to G-d with asking our requests, and there is acknowledgment of thanks to G-d for what He has done. According to Maimonides, it is the obligation of every person to offer up supplication and prayers daily, according to his or her ability. Therefore, I think we should understand the meaning of prayer and try to learn. ‘Prayer is more than learning certain words in the right order. It needs concentration, attention, engagement of mind and heart. Without devotion, prayer is like a body without a soul.’ -Rabbi Haim Dovrat Q: Dear Rabbi, when I come to shul late, what should I read ?rst? A: The ?rst thing you should read are the brachot of the Torah, then Baruch She’amar and Shema Yisroel. Remember when you come to shul and people are reading the Shema, it is forbidden to talk, or even to greet them. When the Chazan repeats the Amidah, and in the middle of Kedusha, don’t walk away until the end of the bracha Ha’el Hakadosh. |
