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From: rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
Date: Wed, 7 May 1997 22:39:03 -0400
Subject: RE: Concentration in Prayer

In a recent posting I suggested prayer involves
	* an awareness of one's helplessness
	* ...before G-d.
Since an Alzheimer's patient makes me aware of my helplessness(indeed,
I may one day be like him) he is not to be considered as disturbing
prayer but rather as helping it.

In a rejoinder, Vol26n37, Zvi asks for sources and disputes 4 specific
items in my posting.  Paradoxically, the sharpness of his rejoinder
allows me to crystallize the exact difference between us.  I will first
state the precise disagreement between us, then apply it to the four
examples, and finally give sources. The discussion should enhance
peoples appreciation of prayer.

In a nutshell I equate "DISRUPTION" with anything that intefers with my
awareness of helplessness while Zvi equates "DISRUPTION" with anything
that (re)directs ones attention to something other than what they were
doing(in psychology we refer to this as a "startle complex"). We can now
understand that

* A wicked person does NOT cause "redirection of attention" while a
noise making Alzheimer does. Hence according to Zvi one is disruptive
and one isn't. On the other hand, both the wicked and Alzheimer person
enhance my capacity for seeing my potential helplessness(I could become
wicked and I could become sick: hence I need G-ds help). (The fact that
one redirects my attention by making noises is irrelevant to me.) Thus
neither of these people is disruptive towards prayer.

* Holding money during prayer would contradict my feeling of
helplessness since money gives people power.  Also people tend to think
of money and money would redirect my attention. Thus according to both
Zvi and myself coins would be a DISRUPTION.

* My point about music was that music depicting grandeur(standard
Christian music) contradicts "helplessness" while music depicting
petition(standard Jewish music) is consistent with
helplessness. Zvi's point was that neither of them distracts or
redirects attention.

* Finally Zvi and I explain the "decorum" laws of prayer
differently. According to Zvi improper decorum "redirects ones
attention" and hence decorum is required. However my position (see the
top of this posting) is that decorum is needed not for concentration but
because prayer also requires "..before G-d".  Thus e.g.  if I was
wearing torn clothing, Zvi would say I will be redirecting my thoughts
to the clothing and hence this is prohibited while I would say that even
if I am aware of my helplessness I am not aware that I am before
G-d(because you wouldn't stand before a king in torn clothing) and
therefore I prohibit it.

I now give sources: Rambam, Learning 3:13 citing Songs Rabbah emphasizes
that the best learning takes place at night, because there are no
distractions (in the sense of redirection of attention).  Thus for
learning we do equate distraction with redirection of attention(I also
mentioned the Succah law that intensive learning need not take place in
the Succah).  The clearest source for my suggested "helplessness"
definition of Prayer occurs in Rambam, Prayer 1:2--"...Prayer basically
means asking for grace, praising G-ds (kingship) and asking ones
needs(=helplessness)..." As I indicated the 13 requirements for prayer
mentioned in Chapters 4,5 of Prayer emanate from the "before King"
requirement of prayer.

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