THINK
WHILE YOU PRAY
Visitors to KosherWoman.com
were inspired by the meaningful translation of the morning brachas
by one of our first visitors to
Quick Answers To Women's Prayer Questions
They asked for more examples on how prayer can be more meaningful to them
Here are some answers supplied by visitors
plus that first response that inspired so many of you
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I was feeling guilty that I can't become 100% observant overnight.
A teacher explained that a phrase in the 'Shema' tells us
that HaShem doesn't expect us
to learn all 613 mitzvahs immediately
- In the Sh'ma it says 'let these mitzvas I command you today be 'on your heart'
('mitzav'cha hayom Al l'vavecha') - The mitzvas are all sitting on our heart waiting for us to accept them as we can
- So while saying the Sh'ma, I decided to put my hand above my heart
- As I reach the phrase I bring my hand down to cover my heart
- When I do this, I feel like I'm drawing the mitzvos slowly but surely into my heart
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Awhile ago I read this in a Jewish magazine so I'm paraphrasing
A teenager told his Rabbi that is was difficult for him to daven
because the prayers had no meaning for him
- The Rabbi asked him if he had any problems at school or at home
- He said there was a guy at school who was a bully & he was scared the guy
was going to start picking on him - The Rabbi opened up the Siddur & showed him that in the final paragraph of the
Shemoneh Esrei there's a phrase to ask HaShem to protect him from bullies
'As for all those who design evil against me, speedily nullify their counsel
& disrupt their design
(V'chol HaChoshvim awlie ra'aw me'heira hawfair ah'tza'som v'kal'kale ma'cha'shav'tom)
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Here is an example that was sent to us by a woman
who 'thinks' the following phrases after she says each bracha in Hebrew
- 1st Bracha
Bless HaShem who gives me the ability to react to unexpected situations
- 2nd Bracha
Bless HaShem who didn’t make me a non-Jew
& for helping me to teach my kids to reject non-Jewish attitudes
- 3rd Bracha
Bless HaShem who didn’t make me a slave to a master
or to addictions like drugs & alcohol
- 4th Bracha
Bless HaShem who created me in alone without consulting angels
as opposed to man whom G-D created in consultation with angels
so that I could serve as a mother to my kids & observe the mitzvos just for women
- 5th Bracha
Bless HaShem who allows me to see the wondrous world you created
- 6th Bracha
Bless HaShem who clothes the parts of me that should not be seen
& helps me to teach this to my daughters
- 7th Bracha
Bless HaShem who allows me to stretch
- 8th Bracha
Bless HaShem who allows me to get out of bed & stand up straight
- 9th Bracha
Bless HaShem who gives me dry land to stand on
- 10th Bracha
Bless HaShem who provides me with all my needs – like shoes –
to protect me from injuring my feet when I walk
- 11th Bracha
Bless HaShem who allows me to reach my destination
– walking to shul, driving car pool – flying to visit relatives
- 12th Bracha
Bless HaShem who protects me by fastening my clothes
& wearing a seatbelt which protect me from harm
- 13th Bracha
Bless HaShem who allows me to cover my hair
so I’ll remember to do the right thing
- 14th Bracha
Bless HaShem who gives me heroic abilities to deal with new
& difficult situations and to wait for Moshiach
- 15th Bracha
Bless Hashem who removes the sleep from my eyes & allows me to see reality
Please send us what you think of while davening
that might help others
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