Why davening is important

It reminds us that every time we open our prayer books, our hearts and our lips in prayer we are launching the same prayers that our ancestors bequeathed to us from years ago. The Talmud is straightforward in its conclusion that our prayers were designed by the Patriarchs and mirror the different major sacrifices that went on each day in the Holy Temple.

Many of us treasure a family heirloom i. Others hold dear the special tunes they sing at the Shabbat and Yom Tov tables. But all of us — every single Jew that Davens is using the National Family Jewels which we have inherited through the generations. By Ari Z. Zivotofsky Misconception: The main purpose of davening praying with a minyan is to be able to recite devarim shebekedushah prayers with the status of sanctity , such as Kaddish, Kedushah and Barchu.

It may not be necessary for the ten to be together. Rav Soloveitchik ruled that even if one is in another room, he may still have the advantage of tefillah betzibbur , just as he may respond to devarim shebekedushah see Mipninei HaRav [], Weiss Minchat Yitzchak ; disagree with this. To a limited extent, Rav Sternbuch agrees Teshuvot Vehanhagot See Ishei Yisrael , p.

Rav Moshe Feinstein was asked could a talmid chacham stay up all night, knowing that he would miss morning minyan. See Beit Yosef , s. On the topic of prayers being answered, see the Meshech Chachmah to Deuteronomy As noted, not everyone requires starting with the tzibbur. Note that this does not work for Shacharit because linking geulah to tefillah takes precedence over tefillah betzibbur. An interesting opinion advises against skipping parts of pesukei dezimra in order to catch up. He notes that the specific order of prayer ordained by Chazal is of utmost significance cf.

Iggerot Moshe OC As such, one who arrives late to synagogue is faced with two conflicting concepts: tefillah betzibbur and the rabbinically prescribed sequence of prayer.

However, one who either comes late or who always davens slower than the congregation has a dilemma. The halachah , which is agreed upon by all earlier and later authorities, is that one should skip, says Rabbi Chaim David Halevi. It is reported that many great people acted in such a manner Kaf Hachaim Taking a highly unusual position, Rabbi Chaim David Halevi concludes that it is hard for him to rule against the Shulchan Aruch —who like everybody else says that one should skip—and therefore he leaves it up to each person to determine whether he prefers to get the merits of tefillah betzibbur or that of pesukei dezimra.

For many sources on this, see Rabbis Aryeh A. Frimer and Dov I. I am indebted to Rabbi Avishai David for pointing this out to me. See, however, Teshuvot Vehanhagot Biur Halachah OC 58, s. Ibid, I am always in awe when I witness the davening of young children.

They have the ability to truly communicate with G-d. It is as if they are closer to G-d and can accept without reservation that special relationship they have with him.

As G-d has no beginning or end, so children have no conception of time — before or after. They can conceive more clearly the eternity of time and Almighty G-d. We should learn from their actions. To serve Him, being close to Him, to be the witnesses of the transcendence from chaotic syncretism to an illuminating unity, expressing our gratefulness always and forever for making us capable of abstract contemplation, gifting us the sense of infinite, the wealth of Torah, the Cabala-power, and for becoming freedom-obsessed since Exodus.

Most of all, what a blessing it is! To be animated by what I call the messianic instinct, to push us to go beyond, surpassing ourselves in whatever we do, speeding up the Messiah arrival. Bruchim Habaim!

Dear friends, with Happy New Year-I teach people to play chess-draughts and month ago a clever Jewish student became a winner in Moscow region competitions, with love to you,.

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