Q&A: Prayer
Prayer
Question
Rabbi Michi, hello!
Is it right to give a religious person autonomy regarding prayer? Let me explain my question. The Sages instituted prayer after the destruction of the Temple and established a fixed text and a set number of prayers. The fact is that 90% of the Jewish people today do not pray 3 times a day. It seems that this enactment, or this halakhic ruling, does not fit the psychological, emotional, or religious makeup of all human beings. Therefore, is it correct to rule for a believer that there is autonomy regarding the number of prayers per day, each person according to his own emotional and religious makeup?
A second question: what happens when I, as a father, find it hard to pray 3 times a day {it’s like telling me to eat 5 times a day when I’m not hungry}—how should I educate my children about this, or what should I tell my son about it?
Answer
Neither I nor you can give someone autonomy. There is Jewish law, and it has definitions that obligate everyone. Whatever goes beyond Jewish law is left to each individual, and there is no need to talk here about autonomy. If it’s hard for you—take a pill.