PrayerI wanted to approach what he was saying another way. "As a Jew, does one pray and seek to know God’s voice and God’s demand on oneself?" "Yes, sure. "Is that part of the way of a Jew?" I asked. "Yes, that’s one way," he answered. "Study is another. Decent human behavior is another. Prayer isn’t any more a way — or prayer isn’t any more a demand — than any of the other ways. In fact, if anything, the Jewish concept of prayer is that prayer is directed toward oneself as much as it is directed toward God." "This is an intriguing idea. Would you please explain it?" I thought that I would love to spend all my afternoons talking with profound people like Rabbi Stern. "Well, let me give you a couple illustrations and then I’ll explain the concept. Prayer is obviously directed outward toward God. One of the prayers that is recited frequently in the synagogue begins with, ‘Hear, 0 Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.’ Well, it seems somewhat ludicrous to have to keep reminding God of that," he smiled, and I laughed. "So, to whom are we articulating this prayer constantly? Obviously, we are articulating it aloud but we’re really talking to ourselves. |
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