Observances & Rituals:
The art of Jewish prayer: A transforming experience
By Rabbi Yossi Kenigsberg
July 4, 2008
Jewish prayer is both a science and an art. It is a science in the sense that there is a vast and complex code of laws and regulations that govern what constitutes authentic prayer.
There is a designated text, specific time guidelines and a myriad of catalogued rituals involved. There is prayer that is halakhically valid and prayer that is halakhically disqualified. Yet, there is much more to meaningful prayer than following the correct halakhic, legal specifications it requires.
It is possible to fulfill all of the technical components of prayer and not be engaged in a serious, sincere praying experience. The art of proper prayer is what gives the endeavor flavor and meaning. It is what transforms a mechanical recitation of liturgy into a spiritually transcending encounter with God. It is what ultimately results in a personal and tangible relationship with the Divine Presence.
In a wonderful book entitled Praying with Fire, (Artscroll, 2005) Rabbi Heshy Kleiman imparts the concepts of Jewish prayer as well as provides an understanding and appreciation of prayer along with some pragmatic suggestions concerning how to enhance one's praying experience.
It is important to first reflect on the question "Why do we pray?" On the most basic level, prayer is an opportunity afforded to us to itemize and request our needs and wishes to the Almighty. Yet, if this were the solitary reason, prayer would seem to be an irrelevant endeavor. Doesn't God already knows what He intends to bestow upon us, what is to our benefit, and what is to our detriment, regardless of our entreaties to Him?
Prayer, therefore, is not merely a shopping list, which we utilize to beckon God for the necessities of life. It is an invitation to develop a relationship with Him and to comprehend that He is the source everything we have and every breath we take. It is an activated testimony of our fundamental faith that God is a fully engaged, active ruler of the universe who is intimately involved in every aspect and iota of our lives.
Consequently, the more we pray in an authentic manner, the more we incorporate this belief into our daily lives and intensify our relationship with Him.
This answers the aforementioned question concerning how our prayers can change God's agenda for us. Can our prayers for health, wealth etc. actually transform our original destiny? If God knows what is best for us, even when we experience affliction, what is the point of praying for our own perceptions of our needs? The answer is that our supplications literally cause a metamorphosis in our essence. When we pray with true belief and devotion, admitting that our ultimate success or failure is a result of God's intervention, we become different people.
This elevated rebirth and the intensified rapport established with the Holy One now makes us worthy of a multitude of blessings we may not have previously deserved.
One of the reasons that we sometimes treat prayer in a cavalier manner may be a result of the frustration and disappointment experienced when despite the tears and entreaties, sometimes our prayers do not create the results we desired. When we do not see the instantaneous closure we anticipated, it can lead to despair. Our sages tell us that in reality there is no such thing as a sincere prayer that is ignored or discarded; God saves all of our prayers and even if they are not effectual immediately they will have some impact -- perhaps for our children, grandchildren, or future generations.
Prayer is a powerful tool granted to the Jewish people. Let us continuously endeavor to be more effective practitioners of prayer and through these efforts may we see all of the prayers of the Jewish people answered speedily in our days.
Rabbi Kenigsberg is an educator who lives in