In English Literature we have begun reading Robinson Crusoe. For those of you who may have not read it, Robinson Crusoe is alone on a desert island for 30 years. As the time goes by he becomes more and more aware of G-d and he slowly becomes religious. A few times throughout the book he discusses prayers of both thanksgiving and hope for salvation. Since this book is pretty much what I've been spending the majority of my free-time on in the last week I'd like to discuss the topic of tefillah.
R' Akiva Tatz asks a number of questions on the topic of prayer that make the process seem rather foolish. The most obvious problem is that we call it a service but all we are doing is asking for what we need. Another issue is that we believe Hashem to be a gracious Father who would give anything beneficial to His children and withhold anything harmful. If that is the case, why ask for things? If it is beneficial He should give it even before we ask, and if it is harmful he should withhold it no matter how much we ask. So what good can come from our asking? Of course there are many more questions on the topic but let's begin with these.
He answers the issues by saying that the point of tefillah is not to change the decisions of Hashem, but rather to change ourselves. When we ask someone for something we are acknowledging that they are the source of that thing, otherwise it would be pointless to ask them and not someone else. Asking Hashem for something shows that we recognize Him as its source. This changes our attitude towards the request. We aren't asking for something that we want, but rather something that we can use to serve Him. We are acknowledging that everything comes from Hashem and that using it for any purpose aside from His service is pointless.
Before we ask, something can be harmful for us. If we would have lots of money and use it improperly, that is bad for us. But if we use that money for the proper service of Hashem it is extremely beneficial. The duty during tefillah is to ask for the money so that it can be used for avodas Hashem. It is to recognize that it comes from Him and thus must be used to serve Him. Any other use is improper. This change in our own view changes the request from a request for that which is harmful for us to a request for that which is beneficial to us.
A note which must be remembered is that along with the recognition of where everything comes from comes a maturity to accept an answer of "No". If we realize that Hashem gives us that which we need to serve Him, if He refuses to give us something it must be that we were not meant to use it in His service. Just because you ask with the right focus doesn't guarantee an answer of "Yes".
R' Akiva Tatz asks a number of questions on the topic of prayer that make the process seem rather foolish. The most obvious problem is that we call it a service but all we are doing is asking for what we need. Another issue is that we believe Hashem to be a gracious Father who would give anything beneficial to His children and withhold anything harmful. If that is the case, why ask for things? If it is beneficial He should give it even before we ask, and if it is harmful he should withhold it no matter how much we ask. So what good can come from our asking? Of course there are many more questions on the topic but let's begin with these.
He answers the issues by saying that the point of tefillah is not to change the decisions of Hashem, but rather to change ourselves. When we ask someone for something we are acknowledging that they are the source of that thing, otherwise it would be pointless to ask them and not someone else. Asking Hashem for something shows that we recognize Him as its source. This changes our attitude towards the request. We aren't asking for something that we want, but rather something that we can use to serve Him. We are acknowledging that everything comes from Hashem and that using it for any purpose aside from His service is pointless.
Before we ask, something can be harmful for us. If we would have lots of money and use it improperly, that is bad for us. But if we use that money for the proper service of Hashem it is extremely beneficial. The duty during tefillah is to ask for the money so that it can be used for avodas Hashem. It is to recognize that it comes from Him and thus must be used to serve Him. Any other use is improper. This change in our own view changes the request from a request for that which is harmful for us to a request for that which is beneficial to us.
A note which must be remembered is that along with the recognition of where everything comes from comes a maturity to accept an answer of "No". If we realize that Hashem gives us that which we need to serve Him, if He refuses to give us something it must be that we were not meant to use it in His service. Just because you ask with the right focus doesn't guarantee an answer of "Yes".
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