Q&A: Does This Happen to Every Religious Person
Does This Happen to Every Religious Person
Question
With God's help,
Does every religious person go through a period of a few days in which he doesn't pray?
I’m a baal teshuva and have been one for many months already, and sometimes I feel that I still haven’t managed to develop the habit of setting aside time for prayer, even though on most days I really do pray the services, and on most of those days I also pray with a minyan in synagogue.
Answer
I don’t know whether it happens to everyone. But that doesn’t really matter. You should try not to let it happen, and if it does happen, try to get back on track. We’re all human, and “the righteous fall seven times and rise again.” The Torah was not given to ministering angels. If you don’t have time, then pray on your own. In my opinion, prayer with a minyan and in synagogue is not an absolute halakhic obligation.