Halakhah do Berachot 2:4
הָאֻמָּנִין קוֹרִין בְּרֹאשׁ הָאִילָן אוֹ בְרֹאשׁ הַנִּדְבָּךְ, מַה שֶּׁאֵינָן רַשָּׁאִין לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן בַּתְּפִלָּה:
Robotnicy mogą recytować Szemę na wierzchołku drzewa lub na szczycie nidbachu [kamiennej półki, jak w (Ezd 6: 4): „nidbachin di even g'lal” („rzędy ciężkich kamieni”). Chociaż obawiają się upadku i nie mogą się skoncentrować, mędrcy nie wymagali od nich zejścia; bo tylko pierwszy wers szematu wymaga skupienia], coś, czego nie wolno im robić dla tefillah (Szemone Eszre) [modlitwa jest bowiem błaganiem o miłosierdzie i wymaga skupienia, tak że muszą zejść, aby się modlić].
Peninei Halakhah, Women's Prayer
Even in the time of the Talmud there were Amora’im who lamented the difficulty of focusing during prayer. Y. Berakhot 2:4 records that R. Ḥiya says that he was never able to have kavana throughout his entire prayer. Once, when he tried to concentrate for the duration of his prayer, he began wondering, right in the middle, whether Minister A or Minister B is more important in the king’s eyes. Shmuel said, “I counted newly hatched chicks while I was praying.” R. Bon bar Ḥiya said: “While I was praying I counted the rows of the building.” R. Matania said, “I am grateful for my head, for even when I am not paying attention to what I am saying, it knows by itself to bow at Modim.” The statements of these leading Amora’im teach us that it is difficult to have kavana from the beginning of the prayer service until the end. Even though we must try as hard as we can to concentrate, one should not lose heart when she does not focus properly. Even one who daydreamt throughout most of her prayer should not despair; rather, she should strive to have kavana while reciting the remaining berakhot.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy