Praying On Purpose

On the surface, addressing the King of Kings as "you" would seem highly inappropriate.  Yet, we do precisely that and thereby demonstrate the extraordinary relationship with have with our Father in heaven.

Standing with one's feet together during davening is a fascinating tradition.  Exploring the origin of this custom enables us to discover new insights and perspectives on prayer.

Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, the founding fathers of daily prayer, introduced three unique templates of tefillah, which serve to enlighten and guide us to this very day.

Perhaps more than anything else, connecting with God is the most challenging aspect of prayer.  One word repeatedly prompts us to remain mindful and focused that we are conversing with another.

Every time we stand in prayer, we approach God by taking three steps forward.  This fascinating custom teaches us much about the focus and goals of prayer.

In an effort to make prayer "feel more meaningful" and "seem more relevant," we risk reducing our understanding of prayer rather than enhancing it.  As we try to develop a comprehensive perspective on prayer we must remember that there are limits to our understanding.  

At least 100 times a day, we recite a declaration in which we appear to be bestowing a blessing upon God.  Today we take a closer look in an effort to discover the true message disguised in every blessing.

Knowing one’s place - where I am and where I am heading – is an essential component of a healthy prayer experience.  Today we return for a closer look at the institution of מקום קבוע.   

As we have seen, prayer is not simply transactional, nor designed merely as a means to assist us in getting what we want.  That being said, from the moment of creation, the need for prayer was embedded into the natural order of the universe.

As the rainy season in Israel officially commences, we are again offered the special opportunity to reflect 3x daily on the deeper meaning of God's strength and power.  And, in the process, we can renew our own commitment to exercise greater self-control. 

We shake the lulav during Hallel at two points which appear to be opposing poles.  Upon reflection however, we discover that these poles are much closer than they appear.

With proper focus, spending time in the sukkah provides us with a unique opportunity to experience more heartfelt and meaningful prayers all throughout the year. 

The day after Yom Kippur may seem like a relatively unremarkable point on the calendar but, in reality, it is a day that contains its own unique focus and agenda.  In this episode, we explore what the day after Yom Kippur can teach us about every time we pray.

From a place of peril and uncertainty, Yonah displays calm and expresses appreciation.  A quick "dive" into Yonah's eternal lessons on tefillah.

We typically pray for the things we want and for what we think we need. At times, however, we ask Hashem to consider the prayers that still reside deep beneath the surface.  

The heartfelt prayers of one woman, more than any other, provide us with practical guidance as to how we should pray on Rosh Hashana.  Today we explore one aspect of the eternal legacy of Chana.

It is often assumed that one’s personal level of righteousness and piety will ultimately determine how close he is to God.  The truth however is that closeness to God is within reach, to anyone at any time.

As we recite the viduy, confessing our sins before God, we engage in a most curious ritual, beating our hearts, rather than our heads.  Today we take a moment to explore why… 

Many are under the impression that the recitation of selichos is certain to inspire an abundance of divine compassion and mercy.  Is it possible though that such an assumption is simply too good to be true?  

Personal requests are just that – personal.  Yet, our prayers include numerous prompts that serve to remind us that even personal wants and desires should not be entirely for our own sake.

So many aspects of life are constantly in flux. Very few things in life remain the same. One particular component of prayer can serve to connect us to a world that is constant, enduring, and never-changing.

Prayer is less about getting what we want than learning what to want. So much of what we know about davening reminds us to redefine success and failure as they relate to prayer.

The experience of Torah study can never truly be a “new discovery.” Even when studying a text for the very first time, one knows in his heart that he has been here before. 

Meaningful prayer requires the bridging of two worlds, one very distant from the other. Some additional reflections on how to reach a place of transcendence while living in our own (relatively mundane) world.

All too often, we view prayer as a transactional experience - we pray as means to "get" what we "need." While there may be some merit to this perspective, it is essential that we consider prayer from a different vantage point.