Insights on Prayer

My friend expressed his deep frustration at his inability to find a meaningful way to express himself to G-d. He had looked into different "brands" of Judaism, yet there seemed to be no "perfect match," none that fit his spiritual needs

Prayer is an admission of sorts. We admit that we have a tendency to be intellectually disingenuous throughout the day.

Honesty is a great virtue, but there are exceptions to this rule. Prayer is a prime example.

Some will tell you that every prayer is answered, but sometimes the answer is, "no." Those who say this do not understand the secret of prayer.

Jewish prayer is an "I-you" relationship with God. Nothing can be simpler. Nothing can be more difficult.

They turn to me clueless and ask, "What did he say?" I translate. We're all speaking the same language, but only I can decipher what he is saying...

Can a person’s relationship with his Creator be expressed in a scripted prayer? Is it possible to dictate the feelings one should be conveying to G-d?

Leadership and prayer: the two share a common theme.

Of course none of this is for you - it's all for the unborn. So there's no self-indulgence going on. Just good pre-parenting. Right?

The struggle between Jacob and the "angel of Esau", which "raised dust up to the Supernal Throne", is the cosmic struggle between the spirituality of Israel and the materiality of Edom (Rome). The struggle is conducted on two planes -- "with the divine and with men"

But today we cannot be satisfied with yesterday's standards of accomplishment. Not only is yesterday's liberation insufficient, imperfect--it is, for today, a strait, a limitation, an Egypt from which an exodus must be experienc

No, I don't mean words that are sung. I mean the words that music speaks: the nuances and motifs of a melody that take the defined boundaries in which we have boxed ourselves, our feelings and our ideas, and transport them to a higher place

We might be at home, or in the Synagogue. We might be praying in Hebrew or in another language. What are we trying to do when we pray?

The dualistic self is not a pleasant experience. To achieve peace, the restless and antic-ridden monkey-mind has to strive for focus; the wild horse must be tamed

The best time to watch birds is in the morning. In fact, the more closely you adhere to the optimal schedule of Jewish devotion, the more certain you are to miss the most beautiful aspect of watching the birds, and that is... listening to them.