Questions and Answers on Prayer

Can I believe in the power of prayer when, in my experience, it hasn’t worked?

Why do I see Jews wearing a hat in addition to their kipah when they pray?

Does G‑d have such an ego problem that He demands His creations to constantly pray to him, telling Him how great He is? Not to mention all the blessings every time we eat something, go to the bathroom, wash for bread, light Shabbat candles . . .

I noticed a footnote in my prayer book telling me to recite a verse corresponding to my name. Can you explain what this is about?

Think of prayer as G-d talking to Himself -- through you

Don’t we trust that G‑d knows what’s best for us and does only good for us? Aren’t we lacking in our trust and faith if we pray to G‑d to change what is?

How can I exclaim, “love G-d with all your heart” when I don’t really feel that way?

Even at the time you are committing the worst crime, your soul remains faithful to her Beloved Above.

He told my friend, "That's okay. Just put on your tefillin and explain to Him you are having difficulties connecting during prayer. Express your frustration. Tell Him just what you told me."

All of the prayers in my synagogue are in Hebrew, and I don't understand a word of what we're saying. Should I better read the Hebrew which I don't understand, or the English which I do understand?

I was praying for Rabbi and Mrs. Holtzberg and all the other Jewish people in Mumbai asking for G‑d to help them. Why didn't He listen to me and the many others who prayed to him and asked for their lives to be saved?

The issue is even more baffling than you think. Most of the guidelines for prayer, we learned from a lady named Chana who lived about 3000 years ago. Yet all the dominant roles in communal prayer are given to men!

What you’re really asking is: If G‑d is everywhere, why should prayer be more effective in one place than another? In truth, the same can be asked regarding praying in a synagogue vs. praying at home . . .

I find it difficult to motivate myself to pray properly. I just don't find myself in the mood. What do you suggest I do to get back in the game?

There is indeed a traditional prayer and procedure to be followed when seeking G‑d's assistance in retrieving a lost object...

An appropriate prayer before a major exam would be something along the lines of, "G‑d, please help me pass this exam."

I am in the process of selling my house and would like to recite pray to G‑d to expeditiously facilitate the process. I figure that Psalms are the way to go...

When we praise G‑d, we do so with all of our being: the mind, heart, and mouth express the prayer through speech, and the rest of the body does so by moving.

There are those who say the following words while lighting the candle:...

Letting them see how important prayer is to you – and that you're excited to pray – is the strongest message that you can send them. Pray together with your children!

I believe we are instructed not to kneel when we worship. Is this correct? If so, what is this instruction about?

When you pray to G‑d, don’t pray to Him to make you a size 2...

As hard as I try, I am having trouble concentrating on the words in the prayerbook. What should I do?

My friend’s family is going through a very rough time. She stays home most of the time praying to G-d that her situation change, but it does not. Should I advise her to stop praying so that she won’t be so angry at G-d?

My doctor recommended that I take up some type of meditation, mentioning “mindfulness” as one option. Are there Jewish meditation techniques I could use?

There seem to be several different kaddish prayers that are recited daily. Could you explain their differences?

Recently I used a prayer book that did not have the Thirteen Fundamental Principles of Faith in it. Isn’t this an integral part of the prayer book?

Why does this specific prayer depend on a secular date rather than a Jewish one?

Never underestimate the potential of the individual Jew.

You’ve got a wall, a chair and a self and all that is all very concrete, occupying real, hi-definition space. Then you’ve got this infinite, invisible G‑d. And you’ve got to fit Him somewhere in there. But, of course, He doesn’t fit.

Why do we all say the same thing, and why do we do it at those specific times? When did it all start?

There are many fascinating accounts of the origin of this prayer.

I recently started attending synagogue services on a regular basis. After we pray the Amidah silently, the chazzan (cantor) repeats it word for word. Why?

I understand why we hold the fringes during the Shema, which mentions the mitzvah of tzitzit, by why for Baruch She’amar?

The Talmud tells us that when we pray, we should resemble the angels, about whom it is said, “Their legs were a straight leg . . .”

Says the Talmud, Rabbi Eleazar used to give a coin to a poor man and immediately begin to pray.

To get some understanding of the varying customs, let’s begin by explaining why some repeat it at all.