Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

The primary purpose of prayer is to increase the presence of kedushah in the world. Just as a soldier sets aside his personal needs and concerns and willingly gives his life for the honor of king and country, so should an upright Jew forget his private trials and troubles and concentrate in his prayers on enhancing the strength of the higher holy worlds, on drawing down blessings and Divine light to the world, on removing the spirit of impurity and on perfecting the universe through G-d’s sovereignty.

This idea is the predominant theme of the prayers of Rosh Hashanah, in which we pray for recognition of G-d’s majesty by all mankind. Even our daily liturgy, which on the surface seems to consist of personal petitions, is actually replete with disguised pleas for an increased awareness of G-d’s glory by all mankind. It is obvious that the Men of the Great Assembly—the authors of the Shemoneh Esrei—did not have in mind only the plain meaning of its words. For the Gemara in Berachos 26b says that they instituted the Shemoneh Esrei to replace the daily sacrifices, namely the olah offerings, which were completely consumed by the fire on the altar, and no part of which was used for human consumption. By the same token, prayer should be devoted wholly to furthering the greater glory of G-d.

The Ideal Prayer

The ideal prayer is one in which a person comes out completely given and exhausted — having poured all his energy into communicating with Hashem and truly understanding the words in their essence. Prayer should not be half-hearted; it should be a replete offering of energy, like the korban olah that was totally consumed upon the altar, leaving nothing behind for oneself.

When one enters the Shemoneh Esrei, he should do so with a clear and focused mind. The Gemara teaches that in earlier generations, people would prepare themselves for an hour before prayer and remain for an hour afterwards, in order to build themselves up and then slowly descend back to the world. Prayer was never meant to be rushed; it was an offering of total investment, body and soul.

Nefesh HaChaim on Kavanah

Rav Chaim of Volozhin in Nefesh HaChaim teaches that the inner purpose of prayer is not only to request one’s personal needs, but to channel Divine blessing into all worlds. Every word uttered with concentration strengthens creation and reveals the honor of Heaven. To pray with kavanah is to align one’s heart with this higher purpose: to attach oneself to Hashem, to uplift the worlds, and to bring life and holiness down to every level of existence.

This perspective transforms prayer into a mission far beyond the self. It is not merely about “what I need,” but about serving as a conduit of holiness. In this way, our prayer resembles the olah — entirely given over to Heaven — consumed in fire, leaving nothing for personal use, but elevating everything for the sake of G-d’s glory.

Prayer in the Days of Awe

Thus, prayer is not only about praising Hashem, but also about presenting one’s requests in a way that elevates the person. The deeper lesson of Rosh Hashanah is that it becomes the training ground for the entire year. These days are not simply about declaring that Hashem is King — for He is always King — but about connecting to Him at the deepest level. The Ten Days of Repentance open a unique window of closeness, and if we are fortunate, the clarity and intensity we achieve in these prayers can remain with us throughout the year.