Q&A: Prayer in Thought
Prayer in Thought
Question
I have a sore on my tongue that really makes it hard to speak (for example, pronouncing l, d, z, etc.).
1: How much effort do I need to make for prayer? (Even just the Amidah is really hard.)
2: If I am exempt, is there any point in praying mentally (literally going through the words of the prayer), or is that completely unnecessary?
(Many years ago I heard that there are some who pray this way from the outset, but I have no idea who that refers to.)
Answer
If you can, you should pray. If the difficulty is great, you can limit yourself to just the blessings, the Shema, and the Amidah. Whatever you do not say should certainly be said without voice or in thought.
Discussion on Answer
Is sign language a legitimate language for this purpose?
In the Talmud it is explained that someone who had a seminal emission contemplates the prayer without speaking. If this involves very great suffering, perhaps one can be lenient like that case.
As for sign language, that is an interesting question/suggestion. At least regarding things that may be said in any language, there may perhaps be room to regard sign language as well.
The Rabbi wrote: "If you can, you should pray. If the difficulty is great, you can limit yourself to just the blessings, the Shema, and the Amidah."
I didn’t understand, because the blessings of the Shema, the Shema, and the Amidah are what suffice for every person. One is not obligated to say additional sections from the prayer book, right? Am I mistaken?
Why? There are the Verses of Praise and Kedusha DeSidra.
Sorry, I just remembered that I had read in the past that you wrote that you say only the blessings of the Shema, the Shema, and the Amidah. Apparently I read that somewhere else. My mistake.
In any case, just to know, strictly speaking: what is one obligated to pray? Are the Verses of Praise and Kedusha DeSidra obligatory? And what about Pitum HaKetoret?
Search online for "The Prayer Order of Individuals."
By “difficulty” I meant sharp pain. Do I need to overcome the pain and pray the blessings, the blessings of the Shema, and the Amidah?
(Whispering doesn’t spare me the pain.)
Thank you very much.