The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1919-10-01
The Significance and
Purpose of Prayer
THE ORIGIN AND SOURCES OF
JEWISH PRAYERS AND THEIR
PRESENT DAY APPLICATION.
by JOSEPH MEDoFF. pu. d.

| uIiucIliiht ~ lTtul bI IUlS
subject which is of rather abstract
character. wish TO make few intro
,luctory remarks. or rather mention n
few questions that are likely to come
up in the minds of some readers.
/ We live in an age of reason and mn.
terialism. w" have been addicted l.,
the habit of asking why and wherefore
concerning everything taught to us.
particularly whenever the theme pre-.
.cn'ed to us is concerning laws or ems.
toms that have been handed down TO
us from most ancient times. Every
| thing. in fact. has been so terribly an
alyzed and dissected by the scientists
of our time that every one is apt 10
ask the question Immediately. ,Why ne
cept it? To what advantage:"
As for myself I know of good many
old things that are of immense value
To me as well MS to nniy of my breth-
ren or fellow-men. For instance many
and old friends never lose their value.
rltho it happens sometimes, as our rlb-
his wisely said: 'There may be II
new flask full of old wine, and an old
flask that has not even new wine in
| it,"
But If one wishes Ia apply certain
things to the test of reason. one must
! likewise he REASONABLE. to take human
feelings, as well as other factors that
enter into human life. into cOnsidera-
tion. Hence. if we shall be thus care
ful and patient it will he much more
possible as well as practical to approach
tie subject of PRAYER. ~
Some people ask, for instance. "Why
pray at alli" dare ask them i'm turn.
Why eat at all?" Would any one stop
10 deliberate at the time when he il
hungry. why he is to ent? And l have
strong reasons for comparing prayer.
sd sacred a duty to the ordinary needs
~ ,onp such rs s,,tisfyinc his physical
appetite And dare emphasize by
way of analogy. that prayer is just as
important food for the soul as bread
for the body.
In order to see our way more clear
ly. we must consider another essential
in our life and that is religion. the
word that is on the lips of so many of.
ms. which has always been regarded by
MS as the most sacred duty in our lives.
that made life worth living in the most
terrible times of bigotry and persecu-
tion.
Iet MS see how religion Is defined.
Religion has been defined time and
again as "our duty to God and man"
According to this definition religion
prepares a man to lead piOus and
moral life Hence this article is not
sermon. but logical argument. with
reference to prayer, proving its useful
ness as haraeter-building. or as fac
tor in the uplifting of man, as an in
lividual or the promotion of the happi-
ness and welfare of mankind as
whole
Prayer then becomes "a necessity
since reiisioh iS iiie i''' "o' "osih"'
convictioh' ana NOT mere luie cere
mohE. however, peiore we proceeu
with the various functions of prayer,
let MS see what is its etymOlOgy Pray
er is called Iephiioh. IL is derived
from the Hebrew root puhei' 10 medr
tate to nope. retiect' cohslder' II ~
| used i'm Gen. IS, H. when Jacob saw
Joseph. whom he M" gwen up as lost
he cried out. II did NOT thihk 10 see
you again. The only way TO realize
the validity of these statements Is to