Congregation B’nai Israel

Rabbi David Kaiman

Entering Into Jewish Prayer

What do we mean when we talk about “prayer”?

“Individual prayer may be mainly a way of communicating with God and expressing our feelings,

reactions, and needs.”

Hammer p. 1

“Individual prayer may be mainly a way of communicating with God and expressing our feelings,

reactions, and needs.”

Hammer p. 1

Jewish Religious Life

“Individual prayer may be mainly a way of communicating with God and expressing our feelings,

reactions, and needs.”

Hammer p. 1

Jewish Religious LifeStudy

Ritual Practice

Moral Living

What is more important, study or performance? Rabbi Tarfon said

that performance is greater. Rabbi Akiva said that study is greater.

Everyone present agreed that study is greater because it leads to

performance.

Sifre Deut. 41

People want to feel close to God. They want to express their feelings, Their hopes. They want to celebrate their joys in ways that will deepen theirIntensity. They want to feel that their life has meaning and that they are part

Of a historic entity, rooted in the past and with a promise of the future. In that sense Franz Rosenzweig was correct when he said, “The prayer is its own

Fulfillment… to be able to pray: that is the greatest gift presented to the soulIn revelation.” But ultimately prayer is also intended to have an effect on the

Individual and his or her actions. It makes us more aware of the world, of nature,Of history, of God’s role in history, of the nature of God and His demands upon

Us. It emphasizes the importance of study and of the performance of command-Ments, both moral and ritual. One should emerge not only spiritually enriched from

Prayer but also morally purified, more closely identified with the traditions andBeliefs of Judaism, and committed to living according to its high standards of ethics

And morality. One who prays should develop sensitivity to all around them and shouldHighly aware of the responsibility toward others.

People want to feel close to God. They want to express their feelings, Their hopes. They want to celebrate their joys in ways that will deepen theirIntensity. They want to feel that their life has meaning and that they are part

Of a historic entity, rooted in the past and with a promise of the future. In that sense Franz Rosenzweig was correct when he said, “The prayer is its own

Fulfillment… to be able to pray: that is the greatest gift presented to the soulIn revelation.” But ultimately prayer is also intended to have an effect on the

Individual and his or her actions. It makes us more aware of the world, of nature,Of history, of God’s role in history, of the nature of God and His demands upon

Us. It emphasizes the importance of study and of the performance of command-Ments, both moral and ritual. One should emerge not only spiritually enriched from

Prayer but also morally purified, more closely identified with the traditions andBeliefs of Judaism, and committed to living according to its high standards of ethics

And morality. One who prays should develop sensitivity to all around them and shouldHighly aware of the responsibility toward others.

People want to feel close to God. They want to express their feelings, Their hopes. They want to celebrate their joys in ways that will deepen theirIntensity. They want to feel that their life has meaning and that they are part

Of a historic entity, rooted in the past and with a promise of the future. In that sense Franz Rosenzweig was correct when he said, “The prayer is its own

Fulfillment… to be able to pray: that is the greatest gift presented to the soulIn revelation.” But ultimately prayer is also intended to have an effect on the

Individual and his or her actions. It makes us more aware of the world, of nature,Of history, of God’s role in history, of the nature of God and His demands upon

Us. It emphasizes the importance of study and of the performance of command-Ments, both moral and ritual. One should emerge not only spiritually enriched from

Prayer but also morally purified, more closely identified with the traditions andBeliefs of Judaism, and committed to living according to its high standards of ethics

And morality. One who prays should develop sensitivity to all around them and shouldHighly aware of the responsibility toward others.

People want to feel close to God. They want to express their feelings, Their hopes. They want to celebrate their joys in ways that will deepen theirIntensity. They want to feel that their life has meaning and that they are part

Of a historic entity, rooted in the past and with a promise of the future. In that sense Franz Rosenzweig was correct when he said, “The prayer is its own

Fulfillment… to be able to pray: that is the greatest gift presented to the soulIn revelation.” But ultimately prayer is also intended to have an effect on the

Individual and his or her actions. It makes us more aware of the world, of nature,Of history, of God’s role in history, of the nature of God and His demands upon

Us. It emphasizes the importance of study and of the performance of command-Ments, both moral and ritual. One should emerge not only spiritually enriched from

Prayer but also morally purified, more closely identified with the traditions andBeliefs of Judaism, and committed to living according to its high standards of ethics

And morality. One who prays should develop sensitivity to all around them and shouldHighly aware of the responsibility toward others.

People want to feel close to God. They want to express their feelings, Their hopes. They want to celebrate their joys in ways that will deepen theirIntensity. They want to feel that their life has meaning and that they are part

Of a historic entity, rooted in the past and with a promise of the future. In that sense Franz Rosenzweig was correct when he said, “The prayer is its own

Fulfillment… to be able to pray: that is the greatest gift presented to the soulIn revelation.” But ultimately prayer is also intended to have an effect on the

Individual and his or her actions. It makes us more aware of the world, of nature,Of history, of God’s role in history, of the nature of God and His demands upon

Us. It emphasizes the importance of study and of the performance of command-Ments, both moral and ritual. One should emerge not only spiritually enriched from

Prayer but also morally purified, more closely identified with the traditions andBeliefs of Judaism, and committed to living according to its high standards of ethics

And morality. One who prays should develop sensitivity to all around them and shouldHighly aware of the responsibility toward others.

People want to feel close to God. They want to express their feelings, Their hopes. They want to celebrate their joys in ways that will deepen theirIntensity. They want to feel that their life has meaning and that they are part

Of a historic entity, rooted in the past and with a promise of the future. In that sense Franz Rosenzweig was correct when he said, “The prayer is its own

Fulfillment… to be able to pray: that is the greatest gift presented to the soulIn revelation.” But ultimately prayer is also intended to have an effect on the

individual and his or her actions. It makes us more aware of the world, of nature,of history, of God’s role in history, of the nature of God and His demands upon

us. It emphasizes the importance of study and of the performance of command-ments, both moral and ritual. One should emerge not only spiritually enriched from

prayer but also morally purified, more closely identified with the traditions andbeliefs of Judaism, and committed to living according to its high standards of ethics

and morality. One who prays should develop sensitivity to all around them and shouldhighly aware of the responsibility toward others.

Service of the Heart

Petition

Thankful Acknowledgement

Praise

Reflection

Study / To Listen

Fixed vs. Spontaneous

They entered a town and found a cantor who recited, “The great, powerful, awesome, mighty, dauntless God,” and they silenced him. They said, “You are not allowed to add to the phrasing that the rabbis have established for blessings” (Jer. Talmud Berachto 9:112d)

Rabbi Yose says, “Whoever changes the phrasing that the sages determined for the blessings has not fulfilled his obligation”. . . Rav said, “Any blessing that does not mention God’s name is not a blessing” (Berachot 40b)

A person reading the Shema prayer in the evening is required to mention the Exodus from Egypt as part of the prayer ‘Emet V’Yatziv’, Rabbi Judah the Prince says, “One must mention God’s kingship in it.” Others say, “One must mention the parting of the Red Sea and the plague of the killing of the first-born sons.” Rabbi Joshua ben Levi says, “One must mention them all and must say, ‘Rock of Israel and his Redeemer” (Jer. Talmud Berachot 1:3d)

Fixed vs. SpontaneousBe careful when saying the Shema and the Amidah prayers. When you do pray, do not make your prayer fixed, but rather compassionate and supplicatory before God (Pirke Avot 2:18) “Bless God.” Resh Lakish said, “Whoever responds ‘Amen’ with all his strength, the gates of the Garden of Eden are opned up for him as it is written, ‘Open the gates and the righteous nation that keeps the faith will enter’” (Shabbat 119b) A person who is praying must feel in his heart the meaning of the words on his lips, and consider that God’s presence is opposite him, and put aside all thoughts that distress him, until his thoughts and intentions are clear in his prayer. He must give consideration. If he were speaking to a sovereign, he would organize his words and give them proper attention sho that he would not make errors. How much the more so before the Sovereign of sovereigns, the Holy One, Blessed be He who explores all thoughts (Chayyim, Code of Jewish Law 98) If a person wants to add each of the intermediate blessings in the Amidah, he may do so. How? If he is concerned about someone who is ill, he seeks compassion for him in the blessing of the sick, according to his own effectiveness. . . It is done in this way in every blessing (Maimonides, Laws of Prayer 6:2-3) If a person prays only according to the exact fixed prayer and adds nothing from his own mind, his prayer is not considered proper (Berachot 28a) Rabbi Abahu would add a new prayer to his worship every day. Rabbi Aha in the name of Rabbi Yose said “it is necessary to add new words to the fixed prayers each time they are recited” (Berachot 4a) Every word of your prayer should be like a rose that you pick from its bush. You continue to gather the roses until you have formed a bouquet and can offer it as a beautiful blessing to God (Bratzlaver Rebbe) The Holy One, blessed be He, desires the heart (Sanhedrin 106b)

Public vs. Private

Hear, Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is One

God Loves Us

We Love God

Reciprocal Love

Wholeness

Truth

AWE

LOVE