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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 19:24:23 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: E: Disabilities, disturbances and shul

Chaim asked this question a few years ago. At the time many answers were
submitted. In particular I suggested distinguishing between disturbances
of prayer and eg disturbances of learning or the Rabbis sermon or of eg
dinners.

My contention was that the essence of prayer is to be aware of how
helpless you are and to ask God for help---the goal of prayer is not, as
is sometimes commonly thought to concentrate on each word.

Hence hearing other peoples disturbances INCREASES CONCENTRATION DURING
PRAYER. Because I am reminded of mans potential helplessness I therefore
pray to God both that (a) they may be cured (b) that I should not become
sick like them and ( c ) if I do become sick like them that others
should tolerate me the way I tolerate them

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA; rhendel@Towson.edu
Moderator Rashi is Simple
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