Thursday, August 23, 2012

Author's Introduction: 2

Having finished the small section that I chose to share first, I am going back now to the beginning of the Sefer where the author writes introductory words.
The center point of this work is to know, understand and instill within one's heart the depth of the description of davening (prayer) as being as a person speaks to his friend. This is an indication of the depth of the connection between the bestower and the recipient that rests deep within their hearts as the Torah says פנים אל פנים כאשר ידבר איש אל רעהו, "Face to face as a person speaks to his friend ." This is a description of the connection between the Jewish Nation and Hashem, who speaks of them with great love אחותי רעיתי יונתי תמתי, "My sister, my friend, my dove, my perfect one."

The time of prayer is the time of unique closeness between man and his Creator, which shines light on the rest of the hours of his life. It even effects the existence he will have in Messianic times and by the Resurrection of the dead. It is the doorway to bring him to love and awe of Hashem, to go in His ways and to listen to His voice. But in order to accomplish this it is necessary to understand the meaning of Unifying with Hashem and what does it even mean to have a connection. Specifically, it is necessary to understand how to live in such a way to have such connections on a daily basis. There are, after all, in a lifetime myriad situations, ups and downs, whatever Hashem wants from a person, and one's Nefesh is not always in a state of wanting a connection.

The point of this sefer is, therefore, to explain in a manner that can enter one's heart the concept of Unity through prayer, to shine light through one's entire life. It will speak of prayer when one is in different states, both when one is on a high, or more commonly perhaps when one is struggling. Each one has its own approach with its own language, and contains the sparks of the light of Moshiach.

Therefore we will not only be concentrating on how to daven when one is on a high, but in all life's states, how to have patience and faith, screaming and pain, sighs and regrets, spiritual pain and distance, discomfort and tears, requests for salvation and self-reckoning, Teshuva or a need for comfort, intellect or simplicity, all of these are flavors of connection ואציעה שאול הנך, "Even when hell is laid out below, You are there." Similarly we will discuss difficulties in davening, and shine a light on how to achieve redemption.

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