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From: rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 21:05:32 -0400
Subject: Concentration in Prayer vs Learning

The recent dialogue on how to treat an Alzheimer's patient who was
disruptive during services suggests that we focus on what the goals and
atmosphere of a prayer service are.

A well known Midrash on the 11 spice ingredients in the Frankinsence
(Exodus: Ki Tisah) notes that one of the 11 spices had a foul odor and
nevertheless was a necessary ingredient in the "sweet smelling
Frankinsence". 'From this law' continues the Talmud we learn that it is
proper to include evil doers in any prayer group on a fast day. I would
suggest by analogy that it is also proper or better to have Alzheimer's
patients in a prayer service. Allow me to explain:

Both Prayer and Learning require "concentration:"---but the
concentration required is totally different for each. Learning requires
a concentration atmosphere of "no distractions".  Compare for example
the law that you doN'T have to learn in a Succah during Succoth but can
go into your house if the Succah environment is distracting (because
otherwise learning can't take place)

But...Prayer requires "awareness of man, before G-d, of man's
helplessness". The reason we call this concentration is because normally
I don't think of G-d or of my helplessness. Maybe a better term is
directing one's thought. But prayer does NOT require the same
concentration of learning---in one case we are only required to think of
specific items (G-d, helplessness) while in the other case we need a
broad mind that can learn/analyze/synthesize new material.

Using the above analysis we can now reformulate or "translate" the
question "Does hearing the disruptions of an Alzheimer's patient disturb
the prayer service" into "Does hearing the disruptions of an Alzheimer's
patient disturb my ability to be aware of man's helplessness and stand
before G-d".

I think we can clearly argue that the Alzheimer's patient helps me be
aware of my helplessness since one day I may be like him and therefore I
can come to G-d and truly ask for mercy.

I conclude with an observation by Rabbi Soloveitchick: The Christian
services use for music the mass with a focus on the emotions of
grandeur. By contrast traditional Jewish services use music to focus on
emotions of helplessness and petition.

I hope this helps people both to pray and be tolerant of those less
fortunate than ourselves.

Russell Jay Hendel, Ph.d, ASA; rhendel @ mcs drexel edu