Loving Prayer by Tamar Frankiel

Loving Prayer by Tamar Frankiel

Loving Prayer is a study guide, to offer new perspectives
to refresh your approach and guidance in some of the
difficult aspects of prayer. Prayer is, after all, a key part of our
ancient spiritual practice, but it's hard for modern Jews to
find their way into it. The siddur or prayer book may seem
too dense. You may lose interest easily and need a framework
that sustains your involvement. You might be already familiar
with the prayers, but they have become rote for you - you need
some new insights.
I've had some of the same experiences. I began learning
the prayers with an excitement about learning something
new, including learning to read Hebrew at the same time. I
struggled to follow the service while enjoying its songs and
rhythms. Over time I became more comfortable, and began
to experience a period of deep engagement with the prayers.
I prayed on my own much of the time. When we had the opportunity
to pray with a community, on a holiday or special
Shabbat, it was glorious.
But that was followed by years of much less attention to
prayers, for I was now a working mother with five children.
We lived in an active Jewish community but I had so little
time, and often just rushed through a few formal prayers.
I became interested in Jewish meditation, which helped for
a while. Still, over the years my own practice waxed and
waned: sometimes I was actively davening every morning,
while at other times I was speaking to God less, studying and
contemplating more.