Praying On Purpose

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.