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The concept of prayer seems paradoxical: asking G-d, who is infinite and all knowing, to grant us our puny needs and desires?

The Kabbalah of Prayer

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with Chana Weisberg and Michael Kigel
Chana Weisberg is the Director of Editorial Management at Chabad.org. She is the author of Tending the Garden: The Unique Gifts of the Jewish Woman and four other books, and lectures worldwide on issues relating to women, faith, relationships and the Jewish soul.
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Discussion (9)
February 5, 2013
you and your baby
you pointed out that while at your class, you couldn't stop thinking about her, although form her perspective, you had left her perhaps forever. maybe this parable can also help us understand this also from our own perspective with G-d.
rg
EY
October 19, 2012
prayers
i am so happy i can pray, that s all i have.
hei
Kajaani, Finland
March 28, 2012
Knowing that God hear nd answers us.
When I cried out to God when our girls rebelled, while praying, God spoke to my heart, and said, "you have two daughters, I have billions that have rebelled against me'. He felt my pain and in time took it away, as He brought our girls back to us.
Irene McClure
Glen Burnie, md usa
August 31, 2010
This is my second time listening to this presentation, and as I sit here I am struck with something that I did not "see" the first time. Prayer is a heart connection with G-d. G-d feels and when we study Torah/Tanach we will discover time and time again emotive expressions of G-d. Torah/Tanach study is a connection of reason, which involves our minds.

When I think of the Shema I am instructed to love G-d with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength. I also realize that G-d took one (heart & mind), and made two (one with heart, one with mind), and then told the two to come back together to become one. Could it be that both heart & mind connection are needed to reflect G-d's fullness?
Helen
Pleasantville, NY
August 16, 2010
I found much of the discussed differences in gender stereotyped and rationalized. As a basic general rule, with many exceptions, my personal observations are that I find men to have greater empathy and women to have more sympathy. Some of the comments made about men in the video seemed naïve.
Anonymous
July 27, 2010
Interesting Insights!
As a woman. it is wonderful to be able to approach G-d from the feminine perspective. However, I also love to engage in deep Torah/Tanakh/
Tanya/Kabbalah study--approaching from the Upper World downward. It is so special to be able to connect to G-d from either perspective and know that I am loved and accepted.
Anonymous
Pleasantville, NY
April 30, 2009
Good insight appreciated
As a woman I appreciate the insight you have given me about the essentially different aspects of male and female perspectives from a spiritual perspective. This helps me to more appreciate my masculine and feminine sides within the context of a basically masculine controlled society and a feminine natural world. It hasn't always been easy to balance those different natures within myself.

"Don't take it to heart," which was advice my mother had given to me on how to deal with difficult people and painful situations, now has a new meaning from a spiritual perspective.

Furthermore, within that context as a female being, having the opportunity to express my deepest feelings to G-d and knowing that my form of prayer is acceptable, gives me solace.

Thank you.
Rosalyn
Santa Cruz, CA
October 8, 2008
thank you
great talk! thank you
Anonymous
San Francisco, Ca
October 5, 2008
Great Video Clip!
That was just great, Chana. I especially appreciated the analogy of G-d and the human being as compared to you and your daughter when she was 6 months old and you had to leave for the first time. That spoke to me in a very deep way. Thank you for doing this video...you are doing important work, and I hope you will continue it.
Melissa
Fort Kent, ME
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