Q&A: Prayer
Prayer
Question
I saw that the Rabbi wrote in column 316:
“The same applies to prayer. The requests in prayer are based on assumptions about the Holy One’s involvement in the world. These are factual assumptions, and therefore there is room not to accept some of the laws of prayer that are based on a mistake. Granted, laws are norms and therefore carry formal authority, but prayer is exceptional because it is impossible to pray without intention (otherwise it has no value), and intention depends on facts.”
I wanted to know what exactly these remarks are referring to.
Answer
I didn’t understand the question.
Discussion on Answer
I explained the mistake. The assumption that the Holy One is involved in the world is, in my opinion, mistaken.
I don’t recall writing that there are laws that are set aside. What I do recall is that if I were to reach full conviction that there is no involvement, then there would be no place for requests in prayer. As things stand now, I do not have the certainty required to make a change, but indeed I do not make requests beyond the fixed liturgy and general intentions (for the whole world, if there is someone in trouble with no way out), and in any case there is nothing to rely on here.
If you saw something else in my words, please point it out and quote it.
That’s what was written there in the column: that requests in prayer are based on assumptions about the Holy One’s involvement in the world, and that this is a mistake, and therefore some laws are set aside.
My question was: what is the mistake?
And which laws are set aside?
Thanks.