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Week 1
What is Prayer?
What is Prayer?
How do you define Prayer?
Guided Study of I Samuel 1: 1-11
1. What is happening in Hannah’s life in this passage?2. How does Hannah’s emotional state affect her prayer?3. Where is God in this passage? (v. 12)4. Does God hear her prayer? (See v. 19)5. Does God communicate with Hannah?The Principles of Prayer
#1: God is everywhere always.#2: “Prayer involves all that we are and therefore do.”Practicing the Presence
“Our awareness impacts our experience.” (Rabbi Michael Skobac)Recommended resources:
Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzato, The Pathway of the Just (Mesillat Yesharim)Chabad, Prayer:Obligation or Inspiration www.chabad.org/article_cdo/aid/863757/jewish/Prayer-Obligation-or-Inspiration
Video: Exploring Jewish Meditation www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwzVXbUPBeA
Week 2
Why Do We Pray?
Why Do We Pray?
Guided Study of I Samuel 1: 9 - 13
- Why does Hannah pray?
- What is her motivation?
Principle of Prayer #3:
We pray to meet a needWhat needs prompt us to pray?
What is Kavanah?
“Prayer without kavanah is like a body without a soul.”Recommended resources:
Rabbi Nancy Flam, Revitalizing Prayer www.reformjudaism.org/revitalizing-prayerWeek 3
When Do We Pray?
When Do We Pray?
Guided Study of I Samuel 1
Focus on time. What is happening at these times? How do these events affect Hannah? Does she pray at these times? Why or why not?The relationship of time to prayer
- What are the advantages of having set times for prayer?
- What might be problems with routine prayer?
Principle of Prayer #4:
Prayer is not confined to time or space.Spontaneous and Ritual Prayer
Where might I want to pray spontaneously? When might I pray spontaneously? What circumstances might prompt me to pray spontaneously? Why might I be reluctant to pray spontaneously?Recommended resources:
Rabbis-Without-Borders, Shall We Pray - Spontaneously? www.myjewishlearning.com/rabbis-without-borders/shall-we-pray-spontaneouslyWeek 4
How Do We Pray?
How Do We Pray?
Guided Study of I Samuel 1: 9 - 16
How does Hannah prayer? What words does she use? What about silent prayer? What does “praying in her heart” mean? Compare and contrast your prayer to Hannah’s.Text #6 How to Make a Beautiful Prayer
Principle of Prayer #5:
There is no “right” way to pray.How do I prepare to pray?
a. Practice the Presenceb. Use Practice the Presence techniques to prepare for group or individual ritual prayer (e.g. contemplative service, when we sing before Amidah, Pesukei D’Zimrah, etc.)
Techniques of prayer
Guided prayer
Click here for "A Prayer"Recommended resources:
My Jewish Learning, Jewish Liturgy: How to Personalize Your PrayerMy Jewish Learning, Fixed Prayer and Spontaneity www.myjewishlearning.com/article/%20fixed-prayer-and-spontaneity
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