Aliyot | Burial of Shemot | Decorum During Services | El Maleh Rachamin | Erev Pesach on Shabbat | Hanukah | Havdalah | High Holidays | High Holiday Dress | High Holidays Preparations | How to Dress for Shul | Jewish Books | The Kaddish | Kedushah | Keriah Mi Sheberach | the Machzor | Mitzvah Minyanaires | Mourning | Pesach | Prayer | Proper Behavior in Shul | Proper Dress for Children in Shul | Purim Ritual Objects | Ritual Practices | Rosh Chodesh | Seudah Shlishit | Shabbat | Shavout | Shiva | Traditions | Visiting the Sick

Prayer

Many of the past discussions in this column have been about home-centered ritual observances. This time, let us discuss the rituals surrounding prayer - which can be practiced both at home, in private, and in the synagogue in public worship. There are three services recited each day - (1) Ma'ariv (the evening service, named for the sun setting in the west), (2) Shacharit (the morning service), and (3) Mincha (the afternoon service; mincha means gift - it is a gift of ourselves to G-d to take time in the afternoon to recite these prayers). On Shabbat and holy days (major holidays, Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed) we also add a Musaph (additional offerings were made in the Temple on those days).

There are several types of prayers we have, including: (1) thanksgiving - being grateful for what we have; the Shehecheyanu is a common example, (2) praise to G-d; the Hallel is a prime example, though many of the Psalms and prayers like Baruch Sh'amar are in this category, and (3) prayers of requests; the weekday Amidah (Shemonah Esray) is a series of asking for forgiveness, health, listening to our prayers, etc. If we think of prayer as a form of communication between ourselves and G-d, we can understand the need for these different types of prayers.

Before having these interactions with G-d, we need to consider several things - are we dressed appropriately to "talk" to the King of Kings? We would not consider approaching a royal figure dressed in raggedy jeans or tattered clothes. We should similarly be dressed properly for prayer. While black-tie and formal gowns are not necessary, our clothing should be chosen to be dignified and respectful for being in G-d's presence. While we at TBS may be somewhat more lenient about this at the daily minyanim during the summertime, certainly we have a certain standard of dress for our Shabbat services.

For morning services, men, and many women, wear the Tallit. The Tallit is worn only once a year for the evening services - on Yom Kippur's Kol Nidre night, when we don it before nightfall and wear it as a symbol of being wrapped in G-d's protective embrace. It is worn at Mincha services only by the leader, and on Shabbat and fast days (when we read the Torah) by those having aliyot on the Bimah - and taken off shortly after the Torah reading is completed. The Tallit was traditionally worn only by married men, and so there is a custom of a bride presenting her groom with a Tallit under the Chupah (symbolizing to all that he was no longer "in circulation"). On weekdays men over the age of Bar Mitzvah (and some women as well) wear the Tefillin, which contain 4 passages from the Torah that reference the wearing of Tefillin as a sign between us and G-d.

Now that we are properly "dressed" for prayer, we need to consider location - where do we pray? Obviously a synagogue or chapel is designed for setting the proper mood. Any room can be used for services - other than a bathroom, or a room with foul odors that would distract us from having kavanah (intention). Ramah campers, USY-on -Wheelniks and pilgrims to Israel find that some of the greatest places to pray are outside under the wide open sky - where we can truly appreciate G-d's handiwork as expressed in nature. One can pray at home as well - a family room or living room might be most appropriate.

Though praying with a minyan is most desirable, taking a few minutes several times a day to recite a few prayers can be both stimulating and soothing. A few prayers cannot be recited without a minyan- such as the Kaddish, Kedushah and Borchu - but we can easily find some psalms or other prayers, which speak to us depending on the mood we are in. That is another feature of prayer - besides our speaking to G-d, the prayers allow us to hear G-d talking to us and sometimes when we pray, we are also talking to ourselves - perhaps finding comfort in the words of the psalmist. Sometimes, of course, we can recite words found in our Siddurim that work for us, but at other times we need to express our own thoughts. Sometimes, reading Biblical passages is helpful - that, too, can be a form of prayer - listening to G-d's words, and getting a personal message.

Whatever form of prayer you find most satisfying - whether at home or in shul, whether words from our liturgy or words from your heart - try setting aside some time on a regular basis to engage in a dialogue with G-d!