Avodas Hatfilah

A Chassid in Deep Thought

a Chassid Davening

Avodas HaTefillah (service of prayer) is a fundamental concept in Chassidus generally and in Chabad Chassidus particularly. It emphasizes the special importance of davening in avodas Hashem, following the guidance of Chassidus: extensive hachana (preparation) before davening including hisbonenus (contemplation), careful kavana (concentration) on the meaning of each word during davening with deliberate slowness and chayus (vitality), and its effect on refining middos (character traits) and purifying the nefesh habahamis (animal soul).

Importance In the Chassidishe world, especially in Chabad, they introduced a special and deep meaning to avodas Hashem, centered on avodas haTefillah. Different approaches exist among various Chassidic groups, and "nahara nahara upashtei" (each river flows its own way).

The Baal Shem Tov taught that the purpose of tefillah is recognizing and being conscious of the good that comes from Above even during times of tzaar (difficulty). The Alter Rebbe innovated that the derech (path) to achieve ahavah and yirah (love and fear) of Hashem comes specifically through hisbonenus using Chochma, Binah, and Daas - arranging Hashem's praises before davening.

Through tefillah, one achieves yichud (unity) and deveikus (attachment) with Hashem. The main purpose is to refine and correct middos by explaining with feeling the taanug (pleasure) in fulfilling the Borei's ratzon (Creator's will).

In Chabad, there is emphasis on:

• Hachana l'tefillah: Including tevila in mikvah, giving tzedaka, and learning Chassidus
• The Rebbe instructed to learn a perek Tanya every boker before Shacharis
• Learning Chassidus before davening includes studying Chabad maamarim and subsequent hisbonenus
• During davening itself, one should be misboinen in the perush hamilos according to pnimius haTorah
• Chassidim are noheig to sing niggunim during davening to enhance the hisbonenus
• The Rebbe instructed that in our dor we should daven with shira
• Many Chassidim are mehader to daven b'arichus (at length), especially on Shabbos Kodesh

By the Rebbe

Rabbi Halbershtam relates that often the Rebbe would appear to daven with the tzibbur but would later daven b'arichus yeseira (at great length) in his room (approximately three and a half hours for Shacharis).