«Beyond the issue of the propriety of praying for such a trivial matter, [EG victory in the Super Bowl], there is a larger philosophical question with regard to praying for any specific outcome/action to occur, as opposed to keeping one's prayers more general.
The most articulate critic of detailed result-oriented bakashot, as far as I know, is Rav Yosef Albo in his Sefer Ha-Ikkarim. Here is a relevant quote from IV:24.
"All the acts which a man does do not necessarily realize the purpose intended in doing them. It happens that a person does all that is necessary in the proper way and yet fails to realize the purpose intended…So in the case of prayer. It often happens that a person prays in a proper way, at the proper time, and yet his prayer is not accepted, not because of any sin on his part, but because the will of God does not assent… For this reason the most fitting prayer I to ask the divine favor in general terms, and not in terms definite and specific. A person who prays to God in particular and specific terms, is, as it were, desirous of forcing the divine will to his own ideas and preferences instead of bending his ideas to God's will. But this is tantamount to a contempt for God's knowledge and power, as though God knew no other way of granting his request except the one which he has chosen."R Brody Continues now citing RJB Soloveichik
With regard to the notion that tefillah is meant to teach us our proper needs, - see this passage from the Rav. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, "Redemption, Prayer, and Talmud Torah," Tradition 17.2 Spring 1978.Less lofty perhaps and much pithy is George Meredith's famous quote - See
"Prayer in Judaism, unlike the prayer of classical mysticism, is bound up with human needs, wants, drives and urges, which make man suffer. Prayer is the doctrine of human needs. Prayer tells the individual, as well as the community, what his, or its, genuine needs are, what he should, or should not, petition God about. . . . In short, through prayer man finds himself. Prayer enlightens man about his needs. It tells man the story of his hidden hopes and expectations. It teaches him how to behold the vision and how to strive in order to realize this vision, when to be satisfied with what one possesses, when to reach out for more. In a word, man finds his need-awareness, himself, in prayer."
Who rises from prayer a bet... by George Meredith, an English Novelist | GoodQuotes.com
http://www.goodquotes.com/quote/george-meredith/who-rises-from-prayer-a-better-man-his
"[He] Who rises from prayer a better man, his prayer is answered."
My comments -
If praying for a result in the superbowl serves to enhance one's experience from a spiritual perspective, why not?
However,
If it fails to add anything worthwhile for the benefit of the petitioner, then it's probably too trivial to bother
To me - this Meredith quote - encapsulates the litmus test for worthiness of any prayer
Shalom
RRW
1 comment:
This is why I rather the Gra's model, where there are two modes of prayer. (Which in practice are usually mixed.) RJBS discusses tefillah; but in addition the Gra speaks of tachanunim.
I blogged on the topic.
-micha
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