Prayer

Why do we pray? Many pray hoping that it will bring G-d’s^* attention to something, and that G-d will intervene to change the outcome. One of my prayers ends with “Blessed are You G-d, who hearkens to prayer.” Is this realistic, and do we have an obligation to do more than pray?

If G-d is omnipotent, then G-d does not need us to remind Them^* about wars, suffering and injustice. G-d should know this already. Do I think so highly of myself to think my reminding G-d about these things will move them up on G-d’s to-do list? The more I thought about that, the answer became no. 

If reminding G-d about suffering is not the purpose of prayer, why continue to pray? Prayer is a reminder to ourselves that there is illness, injustice and war in the world. It serves as a reminder of which of my family members or friends need my attention. Prayer should be a personal call to action.  

In the words of Rabbi Wolpe: “I won’t ask that You listen to my prayers. I know my prayers are designed to spur me into action. That if I pray for peace, and I don’t work for peace, I have not prayed. If I pray for the safety of others but do nothing to insure their safety, I have not prayed. My prayers are worthless without action.” 

So if listening to my prayer is not why I pray, why do I pray? Rabbi Wolpe continues:  “I WILL ask for Your guidance to show me the right path and the right actions. I WILL ask for You to help me to stay strong and be of good courage. I WILL ask for Your help in always seeing the good in the world, in believing not only in You, but in my fellow human beings who were created in Your image, and in being the best version of myself I can be. I WILL ask for Your inspiration to never lose my conviction that the world can change for the better and that I can be a small part of that change. For these things, Dear G-d, I will ask of You—not just for myself, but for all of humanity.”

That is why we pray, and may we all say amen. 

*go to the Explanations page to understand this.