How do we create a more meaningful prayer service?
This was the essence of a number of conversations I had just this week so I want to share some thoughts that will get us thinking proactively about how to elevate and deepen our tefilla/prayers. Primarily, I want to share with you some of the instructions our sages shared with us in order to enhance our prayer experience.
What is tefilla?
Prayer is considered avodah shebalev (service of the heart); therefore its essence is dependent upon kavanah (intent).
There are two kinds of kavanah in prayer: one, a general kavanah, that the person praying is standing before the King of Kings and is filled with fear and love (i.e. prayer should include emotion); and the second is a personal kavanah, that one concentrates in their heart on the words they are saying.
It is clear from our Sages that the quality of our prayer is dependent on one’s preparation. The Talmud records that devout people paused to meditate before praying so that they could properly direct their hearts to their Father in Heaven (Berachot 30b). This is a sort of prayer before prayer.
Here are some tips to help us be more receptive to the opportunity of prayer.
One should not begin to pray when their mind is preoccupied. Rather, take time before you prayer to mentally and emotionally prepare. Talk to Hashem from the heart before opening up the prayer book.
Check your mood and get yourself in a joyous state. Prayer is intended to elevate and strengthen people. Therefore, knowing that one is about to be uplifted and brought closer to Hashem, a person should approach prayer out of joy and not while in a state of sadness or apathy.
The Chachamim (Sages) teach (Berachot 31a), “One should not pray out of laughter,” because laughter nullifies one’s awe for God, and a person must pray out of fear and submission. “Nor amidst talk,” because chatter distracts a person from his inner world and prayer is supposed to emerge from the depths of one’s soul. “Nor from lightheadedness and idle words,” because prayer is based on the recognition of one’s ability to do wonders with his speech, and if a person comes to prayer with idle words, he demonstrates that he does not value his speech.
It is good to give tzedakah before praying (Shulchan Aruch 92:10), for by doing so one approaches prayer pleased and uplifted from the mitzvah they just performed. Furthermore, when we come to pray and request kindness and compassion from Hashem, it is proper that first we ourselves show mercy on the poor.
The Ari HaKadosh says that before prayer it is good to reflect upon the mitzvah, “V’ahavta l’re’acha kamocha” (“Love your fellow Jew like yourself,”) for this is a great Torah principle. The prayers are written in the plural because we are praying for the nation as a whole.
A person who prays must be in a state of purity. It is therefore a mitzvah to wash one’s hands before engaging in prayer.
One cannot pray when needing to go to the bathroom.
One should enhance the mitzvah by wearing respectable clothing for prayer, so that one show at least as much honor to God as he does to human beings. Just as a person is careful to wear dignified clothing when meeting important people, so too, he must dress at least as respectably before praying.
Mouth and hear the words you are saying. The halacha is that a person needs to hear the words they are saying and one cannot simply read them internally.
Lastly- be yourself. Bring your emotions and thoughts to Hashem because ultimately, it is your hear Hashem truly wants.
Shabbat Shalom!