Iran’s Attack on Israel
12 min read
Prayer plays an important role in Jewish life. What is it, and what’s the best way to use it?
Prayer is a tool to refine and affirm what you want out of life. According to the Torah, prayer is an informal, daily opportunity to speak with God, and a way to see His hand in your life. Later in history, Jewish prayer was formalized in order to keep it meaningful in the face of a growing diaspora and a less knowledgeable population. But that didn’t alter its essence, which, ultimately, is about keeping you focused on your spiritual purpose, and articulating—in your own words—your genuine thoughts and desires.
The Torah mentions the idea of daily prayer in Exodus 23:25, “You shall serve God,”1 and again in Deuteronomy 11:13, “And you will serve God with all your heart.” According to the Talmud,2 prayer is the “service” that’s done with your heart.
According to the great medieval thinker and theologian, Rabbi Moses Maimonides3, the Torah does not mention how often you should pray, the language of prayer, or specific times for prayer. Those things are left to your discretion. In his view, according to the Torah, the basic obligation to pray includes a) facing the location of the Ark of the Covenant—which, since Biblical times, has meant the city of Jerusalem—b) praying at least once a day, and c) using a simple formula that includes praise, request, and thanks.
Praise is a tool for you to reconnect to God. God is omnipotent and all-powerful. He doesn’t need your praise. Praise is for you. It’s a way to internalize an understanding of who it is you are talking to.
Request is the way you articulate your aspirations and goals.
Thanks, which comes from the Hebrew word, Modeh (מודה), means to admit. God gives you the opportunity, as well as the independence, to fulfill your spiritual potential, but that comes at a cost: gratitude. An essential aspect of prayer is admitting that—despite your effort and hard work—you can’t do it without Him.
For much of the Biblical period (1312-422 BCE), Jewish prayer followed the loose, somewhat informal, guidelines derived from the Torah (see above). At that time, Jewish people generally spoke Biblical Hebrew—which, as the language of prophecy, is considered a rich, spiritual language—and expressed themselves in a way that had deep, spiritual resonance.
But with the end of that era, and subsequent exile and start of the Jewish diaspora—and as Jews began using other languages, like Aramaic and Greek—the Jewish leaders at that time, concerned that the art of prayer would be lost, composed the formal, standardized system for prayer that’s still in use today. The formalized prayers also serve to remind you about your priorities, goals, and concerns as a Jew, providing valuable insights and guidance into your personal prayers.
In addition to numerous blessings, supplications, and short meditations; as well as set times for prayer, and prayers composed specifically for the Sabbath and holidays; the centerpiece of that formal, standardized system for Jewish prayer is the “Eighteen Blessings (שמונה עשרה),” also known as the “Standing Prayer” or “Amidah (עמידה).”
According to Maimonides4, that innovation (the “Eighteen Blessings”) meant that everyone—even simple and uneducated people—had the opportunity to express themselves in a profound, spiritually meaningful way, which included the essential elements of prayer, and in a language that was both articulate and concise.
The main body of Jewish prayer was composed by the Great Assembly. The Great Assembly, which lasted from about 410-310 BCE, was an unusual group of Jewish personalities who, in addition to being the governing authority in Israel at that time, also played an essential role in standardizing Jewish practice, and assuring the accurate transmission of Judaism’s legal and mystical traditions. The Great Assembly had 120 members—which included the last of the prophets from the Biblical period—and serves as the inspiration for today’s Israeli parliament, which adopted both its name (the Knesset), and number of members.
The Great Assembly composed, edited, and redacted the main body of Jewish prayer, but that does not include everything. Some prayers, according to rabbinic tradition, predate them by many hundreds of years, while others—including many liturgical poems, supplications, and appeals—were written much later, depending on various factors and circumstances.
Prayer is an opportunity to refine and affirm what you want out of life. It’s a way to express your desires, and is an extension of your free will. In Jewish thought, God is considered infinite, all-knowing, and all-powerful. He knows your wants and needs, and more than that, He has the ability to deliver. Prayer, obviously, isn’t for God.
It’s for you.
God answers every prayer, but that doesn’t mean you always get what you want. Sometimes the answer is “no.” If God gave you everything, your life would be easy and comfortable, but you would also remain shallow and undeveloped. You would not grow as a person, or fulfill your spiritual potential. The challenges you face, and the work that you do, is how you learn to appreciate and value your life. Prayer gives you an active role in that process. It initiates a conversation with God, and forces you to ask, “What is God trying to tell me?”
Prayer isn’t for God. Prayer is for you. As stated earlier, God already knows what you want. You need to review. These five steps are a practical approach to getting the most out of Jewish prayer:
Jewish people pray to God, and that’s it. Jews do not pray to God via intermediaries, angels, the stars, the souls of the righteous or dead relatives, or any other spiritual power or metaphysical force. Jewish prayer is directed exclusively to God.
Jewish prayer does incorporate different names for God, but those names are merely descriptions of different ways to relate to God—i.e. they help you focus on His kindness, or ability to show mercy; or to see Him as your Father in Heaven, or as the Creator of reality—but are not, in any way, descriptions of separate powers. God is infinite, unlimited, all-knowing, and all-powerful, and the exclusive, and only, object of your prayers.
Jews traditionally pray three times a day, and those prayer services are called:
These three services are based on the three times the language of prayer is mentioned in the book of Genesis, in reference to the prayers of the Biblical patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.5 They are also said to parallel the times of the daily sacrifices6 that were offered when the Temple stood in Jerusalem (the Western Wall, or Kotel, is from the remains of the retaining wall that held up the Temple complex in ancient times).
An additional service, called Musaf (מוסף), is added on the Sabbath, holidays, and other festivals.
In Jewish prayer, God is sometimes called your “Father in Heaven,”7 and you can—and should—pray to Him for literally anything. You won't find prayers for things like finding a soulmate, succeeding in business, for when you are fearful, and so forth in the traditional Jewish prayer book (called a "Siddur"), although many people do read from the Biblical Book of Psalms for inspiration. Some people even say specific Psalms for specific needs. However, it is important to note that reciting Psalms, while meritorious, isn’t a magic incantation. Psalms lift you and can elevate your mood, thereby stir your heartfelt prayers and intent. If Psalms helps you do that, great. But if you find its language cumbersome or uninspiring, then it’s better to just speak to God in your own words.
The “Acheinu” prayer was composed in the middle ages at a time when Crusader armies were slaughtering Jewish communities while en route to "liberate" the Holy Land. It is a timeless reminder that all Jews—no matter where they live—are one people, and a powerful tool to keep your brothers and sisters in your thoughts and heart. Go here for a full translation and to learn more about this powerful short prayer.
The Mourner’s Kaddish is often referred to as the “Jewish Prayer for the Dead,” except that it doesn’t mention death or the souls of the departed. Rather, it’s an inspirational plea for God to reveal His ways, and for His purpose for creation to become revealed and obvious to everyone. Click here for an in-depth look at the Mourner’s Kaddish, a translation as well as some of the laws about when and how to say it, and for other Jewish prayers said on behalf of the deceased.
Prayer is a tool to refine and affirm what you want out of life. It is alluded to in the Torah, and its basic, informal structure is a formula that includes praise, request, and gratitude. The main body of Jewish prayer was composed in the fourth century BCE by the Great Assembly as a way to assure that prayer would remain relevant despite a growing diaspora, and as a way to preserve its mystical power. Jewish prayer is designed to help you see God’s hand in your life, and to get you to take personal responsibility for your spiritual growth and success. Jewish prayer is directed exclusively to God, and Jews pray, in general, three times a day.
When I need to pray - I take this into account about myself - I am what I am - because - of an accumulation of all the events - people I’ve met - and the experiences occurring in my life - spiritually - mentally - emotionally - physically - financially. And it seemed like - it all happened quietly - and so fast.
Now - I am what I am - and I can’t change my past.
So now - I pray that - G-D - will give me - the wisdom - to accumulate - more of all those things - that will make me - a much better person - with an even better life - with Him!
The answer to prayer can be more complex than “yes” or “no”. Be alert to events, information received (from any source), developments in situation. My experience is that HaShem will respond to and provide what you really need, whether you recognise it as such or not - and it may not be what you think you want and have asked for.