Thanking Hashem for his kindness, 613.org offers this audio class:

Understanding Prayer by Ivy Kalazan d [mp3 download]

An Oral Essay on a Fundamental Concept in Judaism.
Tefila (Prayer ) is an activity that connects me to G-d . 18:28
All these sound links are in "Real Audio" sound format. You will need free real audio software to listen. Number in parenthesis is number of minutes in class. Click this for Real Audio Player Download instructions If you want to do a straight download without real audio streaming click the "d" next to the class. Straght download is only for people behind firewalls or people with high speed connections. You can also use it if our real audio server is busy.

Main Points || Stories and Parables told in this Class

Is prayer a commandment ? 00:56

Gemara's Question-What is service of heart? 03:50

Commandment to praise ( Hashem ) 04:23

2nd grade teacher asks students-What's kavana (devotion in Prayer)? 04:42

( Commenting on pasuk in Tehilim ) "Nothingness is raised among people" 06:01

Even people who do the activity of prayer don't fully value the power and the potency of what they are doing. 07:22

Minimum requirement of prayer for women is once a day. 09:15

What makes prayer ... so hard for us to do? 2 main issues 10:04

How do you connect to somebody ... if you don't hear responses? 12:08

How do you deal with things that we know we've prayed for and we really haven't seen any response? 16:47

( A definition ) Tefila (Prayer ) is an activity that connects me to G-d .18:28

Parable: King(G-d) only gives allowance to prince (the Jewish people) daily so that he'll approach King daily. 19:58

Bereshit 2:5 "and every plant of the field was not yet in the earth and every herb of the field had not yet grown for the eternal G-d had not caused it to rain yet and there was no man to till the ground"22:20

We feel the sense of fulfillment when "Ahh, G-d gave me what I prayed for" whereas G-d looks at the end of a prayer ...and He says "this person progressed"26:09

Prayer means the process of judging oneself 28:48

When I approach G-d for help the question is what am I going to do with help? 30:05

There is a pause in the tape at 31:03 and a few words repeat.

Why can't I pray using my own words? 31:34

Prayer is also ...a process of self evaluation 31:49

The person who changes through prayer is us, not G-d. 33:41

Rabbi Dessler's parable of prayer that intesity of sun is different outside than inside, since there are no walls outside. 36:05

All of us have a certain amount of ...walls which block us from feeling G-d. 37:51

Let's just define what the concept of G-d's presence really means38:35

What does it mean to be in a place of holiness?
When I pray at the western wall,...or when I am in a place of holiness...then that place allows me to be more open to feel G-d's presence. 40:35

Praying daily... to remind myself that ... help is a gift 43:08

Prayer must have a direction or focus. 44:10

The prayer of the shmone esrai ... is supposed to be said in a standing position, standing directly before G-d...facing Jerusalem 44:29

Prayer with kavana (devotion) is absolutely one of the minimum conditions 45:26

I have to know what I'm saying 45:52

If...as I'm saying that I'm thinking that "Hmm, Kellogs cereal for breakfast sounds real good" 46:58

I have to know to whom I am speaking 47:17

The minimum requirement of kavana 48:40

Quote from Gmara "Hashem desires the prayers of the righteous" people close to Hashem... who had major lacks in their lives 49:24

We can then look back and say the lack of that item was something that moved them in such a big way ... 50:48

Story: Hillel ... the poorest man who ever lived 51:39

When we pray for something we always add the word at the end..."Letova" if it's for the good. 54:30

Main Points

What makes prayer ... so hard for us to do? 2 main issues 10:04

( A definition ) Tefila (Prayer ) is an activity that connects me to G-d. 18:28

The person who changes through prayer is us, not G-d. 33:41

Stories and Parables in this Class

2nd grade teacher asks students-What's kavana? 04:42

Parable: King(G-d) only gives allowance to prince (the Jewish people) daily so that he'll approach King daily. 19:58

Rabbi Dessler's parable of prayer that intesity of sun is different outside than inside, since there are no walls outside. 36:05

Story: Hillel ... the poorest man who ever lived 51:39
Audio Links created by Devora a student at Yeshiva of Los Angeles High School for Girls

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