aspects of prayer

בס"ד

PARSHAT CHAYE SARA: ASPECTS OF PRAYER

(By Rav Zvi Leshem)

 

And Yitzchak went out to meditate in the field toward evening.[1][1]  One of the things we learn from our Patriarchs is the power of prayer.  Each one teaches a different aspect that we shall explore here.  In the words of the Maharal, The Avot are the beginning so they established prayer, for prayer connects the caused with the Holy Cause, and the Avot are the first to be caused.[2][2]

 

The Gemara[3][3] records the famous discussion about the origins of the thrice daily Amida prayer.  Where they enacted by the Avot or were they established in place of the daily Temple sacrifices?  The conclusion is that both are true.  Originally Avraham prayed Shacharit, Yitzchak davened Mincha, and Yaacov, Maariv.  Later, after the Temple's destruction, the Sages defined the legal parameters of these prayers, especially their times, to bring them in line with the newly defunct sacrifices.[4][4]  The Jerusalem Talmud[5][5] adds a third reason.  We pray three times a day since the day has three parts, morning, afternoon and night.[6][6]  At each transition we thank HaShem for finishing the previous stage and ask for help in the new one. 

 

Rav Kook[7][7] analyzes the relationship of each Patriarch to his particular tefila.  He also dwells on the unique verb used to describe the particular prayer of each.  Avraham (chesed) prays in the morning as he is the first monotheist and thus the model for us as we begin each new day.  His prayer is called amida, standing, since each morning we prepare ourselves to stand firm in Divine service throughout the day.  Yitzchak (gevura) goes out at the end of the day to pray in nature.  Sicha is both conversation and the vegetation that joins him in prayer.[8][8]  Yaacov (Tiferet) prays at night and his prayer is called pigiyah, touching for he succeeds in touching the Divine and experiences a prophetic dream.  Thus the opinion that Maariv is an optional prayer[9][9] is understood in light of the fact that the average person cannot be expected to strive for a prophetic prayer experience on a daily basis! 

 

May we be blessed to pray in all of the above ways, with backbone, quiet power and mystical intent.  May we merit that our prayers not only be answered, but that we have the wisdom to recognize and to understand the answers.  Shabbat Shalom.   

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[1][1] Bereshit 24: 63.

[2][2] Netivot Olam, Netiv HaAvoda, chapter three.

[3][3] Brachot 26b.  See Rashi and Tosafot there.

[4][4] The medieval and modern commentaries deal here with many fascinating side points.  For example, according to the well-known view that the Avot kept all the Mitzvot, wouldn't Avraham have also davened Mincha for example, and if so, what does it mean to say that Yitzchak established it?  And how could there be an opinion that Maariv is optional, if it was started by Yaacov?  And is there a "Patriarchal" source for Musaf?  The Zohar is quoted as saying that Yosef established Musaf.  They also prove that even when the Temple stood, prayer was recited in conjunction with the sacrifices.

[5][5] Brachot chapter four Halacha 1.  See the Mareh HaPanim there on the comparison with the Bavli.

[6][6] Even though in Judaism the night comes before the day, in prayer, as in sacrifices, the day begins with the morning.  See also the fascinating view in Midrash Tanchuma Ki Tavo 1, that Moshe foresaw the destruction of the Temple and therefore decreed thrice daily prayer to replace the Bikkurim offering that would be annulled.

[7][7] Ain Ayah on Brachot 26b.  See also Pri Zaddik Vayera 5, who points out that Avraham prayed for the people of Sedom to be saved, but never prayed (that we know of) for himself to have children.  Yitzchak is the first to initiate the concept of praying for the fulfillment of one's own needs.

[8][8] He is thus able to achieve great results with little effort, and his beshert, Rivka, appears just as he begins to pray for her., and with no other hishtadlut on his part.  See also Mai HaShiloach, Part One, Chaye Sara, s.v. vaYitzchak.  See also Maharal, ibid, that Mincha reflects gevura in that one must interrupt one's business day in order to pray it.   

[9][9] This is no longer the case for men, who have accepted it upon themselves as being fully obligatory.  See Rambam Tefila 1: 6.  Women did not accept this obligation, Shulchan Aruch, Oruch Chaim 106: 1, Mishna Brura there, 4.