![]() If you pray regularly, you will learn how to express yourself in prayer. I didn't know what to say, or how to say it, or how to establish the proper frame of mind. Before I started praying regularly, I found that when I wanted to pray, I didn't know how. If you wait until inspiration strikes, you will not have the skills you need to pray effectively. The sense of humility and awe of G-d that is essential to proper prayer does not come easily to modern man, and will not simply come to you when you feel the need to pray. This is as true of prayer as it is of playing a sport, playing a musical instrument, or writing. In addition, if you want to do something well, you have to practice it continually, even when you don't feel like doing it. If you only pray when you feel inspired (that is, when you are already aware of G-d), then you will not increase your awareness of G-d. One purpose of prayer is to increase your awareness of G-d in your life and the role that G-d plays in your life. This attitude overlooks two important things: the purpose of prayer, and the need for practice. "I pray when I feel inspired to, when it is meaningful to me," they say. Many people today do not see the need for regular, formal prayer. All of these prayers are in addition to formal prayer services, which are performed three times a day every weekday and additional times on sabbaths and festivals. There are prayers to be recited before enjoying any material pleasure, such as eating or wearing new clothes prayers to recite before performing any mitzvah (commandment), such as washing hands or lighting candles prayers to recite upon seeing anything unusual, such as a king, a rainbow, or the site of a great tragedy prayers to recite whenever some good or bad thing happens and prayers to recite before going to bed at night. Our first thought in the morning, even before we get out of bed, is a prayer thanking G-d for returning our souls to us. Observant Jews are constantly reminded of G-d'-s presence and of our relationship with G-d, because we are continually praying to Him. In fact, one of the most important prayers in Judaism, the Birkat Ha-Mazon, is never recited in synagogue! Prayer an integral part of everyday life. The Yiddish word meaning "pray" is " daven," which ultimately comes from the same Latin root as the English word "divine" and emphasizes the One to whom prayer is directed.įor an observant Jew, prayer is not simply something that happens in synagogue once a week (or even three times a day). The most important part of any Jewish prayer, whether it be a prayer of petition, of thanksgiving, of praise of G-d, or of confession, is the introspection it provides, the moment that we spend looking inside ourselves, seeing our role in the universe and our relationship to G-d. This surprising word origin provides insight into the purpose of Jewish prayer. It is derived from the root Peh-Lamed-Lamed and the word l'hitpalel, meaning to judge oneself. Jewish Prayers: Table of Contents| Daily Services| The Shema Tefilah: Prayer
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |