Making Time to Pray

In his book Gates of Prayer, Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus stresses that the basic foundation for successful prayer is giving it the proper time and attention. He compares it to visiting a doctor – if you visit a GP, you'll notice that he rushes through appointments as fast as he can, packing in the patients and just waiting for his work-day to end. By contrast, a private consultant doesn't rush and will dedicate sufficient time to each patient, exploring all avenues in order to reach an accurate diagnosis. The same idea applies to prayer. If we approach it without hurrying, without feeling pressured to move on to the next item on the list, we can focus intently and transform our prayer.

Rabbi Pincus relates how a wise man was once asked: "How long should one pray the Amidah prayer?" The wise man replied: "Until you finish." This response confronts us with a simple truth – everyone can dedicate more or less time to prayer, but the key is avoiding the feeling that one's time is limited. Everyone should find a way to dedicate the time they need to pray with focused intent and without distractions.

Rabbi Pincus further emphasizes that the amount of time we dedicate to the Amidah prayer corresponds to how greatly we honor Hashem. The most basic courtesy we give others is that of dedicating time to them. There is no greater insult than telling someone, "I don't have time for you." When we speak with Hashem and feel that we need to rush as we don't have time to fit in anything beyond some quick requests for health and financial security, where is the respect? Prayer is not primarily a time for making requests, but rather an opportunity to build a deep relationship with Hashem.

Therefore, Rabbi Pincus recommends a practical solution: start your prayer a little earlier. If the prayer service begins at seven o'clock in the morning, for example, someone who really wants to invest in prayer will arrive beforehand, allowing him to start praying at his own, slower pace.

One of the most important insights here is the importance of making the right start. When we begin praying with a sense of calm, the entire prayer will naturally unfold at the right pace, without the feeling of pressure that ruins joy and focus. Conversely, if we begin praying under time constraints, this will affect the entire prayer and prevent us from engaging in a meaningful conversation with Hashem.

In summary, Rabbi Pincus stresses that the more time we dedicate to prayer, the deeper we can enter into it, building a connection with Hashem that consists of not just words but also feelings, thoughts, and moments of true connection.