There is one thing in prayer that we all need greatly … a few minutes each day of peace and quiet with oneself, at least a minute fragment of the day to listen within oneself, attending to the voice of God. Ellen Littmann THE PRAYER OF THE COMMUNITY What are our places of prayer ... but schools of prudence, courage, temperance and justice, of piety, holiness and virtue? Philo R. Jose ben Chalafta taught: There are proper times for prayer, as it says, ‘As for me, let my prayer come before You at the proper time’ (Psalm 69:14). What is a ‘proper time’? When the community is at prayer. Tanchuma Community prayer is preferable for many reasons. Firstly, the community does not pray for what is hurtful to an individual, whilst the individual sometimes prays for something to the hurt of other individuals, and these pray for something that hurts him; a prayer, however, can be heard only if its object is profitable to the world and in no ways hurtful. People rarely accomplish their prayer without digression of mind and negligence; we are therefore commanded that we recite the prayers of a community, and if possible in a community of not less than ten people, so that one makes up for the digression or negligence of the other, in order that a perfect prayer, recited with unalloyed devotion, may be made, and its blessing bestowed on the community, each of us receiving our portion. Judah Halevi Rav said: Whoever has it in their power to pray on behalf of their neighbour, and fails to do so, is called a sinner. Berachot The Baal Shem Tov once refused to enter a certain synagogue because he said it was too full of prayers. Noting his followers’astonishment at his attitude, he explained that so many routine insincere prayers were uttered there that they could not rise to the heavenly throne and stayed on earth, cramming the synagogue full. Baal Shem Tov Feel the tribulations of the individual and of the multitude, and implore God to ease their burden. Nachman of Bratzlav If we are accustomed to attend synagogue and one day do not go, the Blessed Holy One makes enquiry about us. Berachot
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