A Jew was trying to get into Synagogue on Rosh Hashana morning – without a ticket. “I’m sorry sir,” said the doorman, “Without a ticket, you may not enter.”
“Oh please,” begged the Jew, “I only need to find my friend and relay an urgent message.”
“Okay fine,” agreed the doorman, “But don’t let me catch you praying...”
Prayer.
What’s the deal with it? So much whispering, chanting, singing, shaking, bowing, standing and sitting, what’s really going on? Is it a lip service, a meditation or a Jewish guilt offering?
Why indeed are we ‘caught praying’?
Don’t we Jews anyway believe in G-d’s vast eternal plan, where every detail of existence is orchestrated to precision? If everything is divinely ordained, why bother with prayer at all? It almost seems like a done deal on G-d’s part. Prayer almost insinuates “Hey G-d, I know you have a plan, but I may have a better one.”
So can prayer change my destiny?
Yes.
Because at the core of our relationship, G-d is our father and we are His children (which transcends the King/Servant relationship). Just imagine any typical father/child bedtime scenario:
Dad: “It’s 7 o’clock son, time for bed now.”
Son: “Please Dad! Can I have 20 more minutes to stay up and play?”
Dad: “Sorry son, you have school tomorrow and you need a good night’s sleep. It’s bedtime now!”
Son: “Pleeease Dad!! Just 20 minutes? Then I promise to go to bed nicely.”
Dad: “Bedtime now, Son!”
Dad is not caving, he’s pretty strict. But now imagine this swift change in strategy: The son runs into his father’s arms, crawls up onto his lap, looks his father in the eyes and pleads: “I love you Dad - Please!”
Dad caves: “Okay son, just 20 more minutes.”
This Rosh Hashana, let us ‘be caught praying’ to our Father in heaven. Just like a child can’t fully grasp his father’s discipline and rules, we too can’t always comprehend G-d’s intention and decree.
(As a rule though, parents usually have their children’s best interest in mind, sometimes kids get it, sometimes they just don’t.)
But we’re still his kids – remember?
So this is what we can do. We can: ‘Crawl into His lap’ (go to Synagogue) ‘Look into His eyes’ (open up a prayer book) and plead, beg and pray from the bottom of our hearts: “Dear Father in heaven, we love you, please bless us, with a sweet new year!”
And we know how Dads respond to that!
Shana Tova!
Rabbi Yossi and Esty Zaklikofsky