Paths of Faith: The Most Important Part of Prayer – Intention

The intention in prayer is exceedingly important, and without intention, our prayer is devoid of 'soul' and is not complete in its rank.

However, if we find ourselves ashamed after praying due to our lack of intention, know that our prayer is not in vain and we have fulfilled our obligation (except for the first three verses of the Shema, where intention is required, as well as the first three blessings of the Amidah).

Even though without intention, prayer cannot achieve the same results as when with intention, still, even a prayer without intention is not in vain and acts in heaven. As the "Ben Ish Chai" of blessed memory said, a prayer without intention cannot act in the realm of thought, which is higher, but it can affect the world of the soul and spirit. He writes: "Even when one prays with just the expression of words and articulation of speech alone, and does not attach thought and the intention of the heart – although certainly the prayer is not as perfect and elevated as it ought to be, and it cannot ascend to the world of thought (the world of the soul), as it lacks the aspect of man's thought – still it is not in vain Heaven forbid, and one fulfills his duty since he has raised and connected his soul with his spirit and the world of the soul in the world of the spirit" (Rav Pealim I, I).

If we plug an appliance into a wall socket – whether we intend to or not, want it or not – the electricity will flow through the wires. The same is true of prayer: without understanding how it works, it has the power to act.

It works nonetheless. We can compare it to cooking. Even if we prepare something we usually make without thinking at all, just tossing ingredients into a pot and cooking them, if we perform all actions correctly, the food will turn out tasty even without much thought and intention.

Of course, when we add thought to cooking, pay more attention to exactly what we put, and accompany the cooking with a prayer that the food will delight the household and imbue them with strength for serving Hashem, it is clear the dish will be even better. If in addition to this, we have expertise in cooking and understand how each stage operates, and what exactly is added in each step we take in cooking, the food will be even more enhanced.

Similarly, with prayer, one must always strive to pray 'ideally'. A professional prayer of someone who knows how to utilize all the 'device' options. Of someone who understands the words of prayer and prays them with intention. We want our prayers to be at the highest level and accomplish great and wondrous things. Therefore, we will invest as much as we can in intention, but if we fail, we should not lose heart; Hashem hears every prayer, and every prayer has value and power to rise and reach heaven to act on our behalf.

Intended prayer is more important, but even a prayer without intention is significant, as Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, of blessed memory, wrote (in his book "Nefesh HaChaim", note 22): "Prayer without intention is like a body without a soul. Even if it's not considered a sacrifice with a soul, it is still considered a sacrifice of flour without a soul, and a prayer with intention is regarded as an everlasting sacrifice." Prayer without intention cannot be like a superior animal sacrifice that has a soul, yet it can still be considered a flour offering that lacks a soul, and a prayer with intention is considered an everlasting sacrifice.

In this connection, it is appropriate to bring the words of the Kotzker Rebbe: "If a person sometimes prays without full intention, he should not despair, for the power of a prayer said with intention once is so great that it elevates all other prayers uttered without intention." (Emet MiKotzk Titzmach, p. 30).

One man asked the "Chafetz Chaim", of blessed memory: "I am very troubled, and it is hard for me to intend in prayer as I should. So, what benefit is there to my prayer?"

The "Chafetz Chaim" replied: "You know that large grain merchants, when they purchase grain, check a small part of it with a special machine to determine how much dirt the grain contains. The price is determined by the cleanliness of the grain: if there is a lot of dirt, the grain's price goes down. This applies in regular times. In years of drought, they do not scrutinize; they take what is available – with dirt or without."

In our times, when many sadly do not keep Torah and mitzvot, Heaven does not scrutinize – they love your prayers regardless. "To the prayer of the destitute and has not despised their prayer" (Psalms 108:12). King David tells us, a destitute person is like a thorny plant growing in the desert without moisture. We can interpret that King David speaks about Hashem listening to every prayer, saying: "To the prayer of the destitute", even to those who are like this, people without awe of Heaven, without moisture, Hashem hears their prayer and answers them. Hashem does not despise any prayer, even if it is 'dry'.

When David continues, "It shall be written for the last generation," he aims to remind this fact especially to the last generation – the generation of Mashiach. In our generation – the last generation – we do not have the capability to intend and pray at the level that previous generations had. We do not believe enough in the power of our prayer, but even in this generation, and especially in this generation, Hashem listens even to the prayer of the 'destitute'.

True, there is slight encouragement here for times when, unknowingly or due to confusion or great fatigue, we did not have sufficient intention in prayer, but we must strengthen in the little prayer we owe as women, strive to concentrate as much as we can, and exert ourselves to pray with intention as much as we can.

And the very knowledge that Hashem listens to every prayer, even those without intention, will only help us direct more, understanding how much Hashem understands and loves us! Everything is ultimately for our benefit... Besides, wouldn't we want to bring more joy to Hashem?

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