Rebbe, Why Do We Have to Daven?

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

A student recently asked two questions and then after some discussion – two other questions: 

1. Why do we need to Daven? Doesn’t Hashem know what we need? Isn’t He a loving father that will meet our needs anyway?  My mother and father always buy us food and clothes. 
2. Also, how can our Davening change Hashem’s mind?
3. When we make a list of everything we need – doesn’t that seem a bit selfish or childish? On Rosh HaShana when we are actually judged – we don’t daven for ourselves, why are changing things for the day-to-day?
4. It also doesn’t seem to fit with the idea of Tefillah replacing Korbanos. In Korbanos, we paid a lot of money and gave something up – that’s why it is called a sacrifice, isn’t it?  Here in Tefillah we are just asking for things.

So let’s begin with the fourth question and then we will get back to the first three.  The translation of Korban as sacrifice is a mistake.  It really means “closifier.”  The way Korbanos worked was that they brought us closer to Hashem, allowing us to achieve Dveikus – becoming closer to Him.  That is exactly what davening does – when it is done properly.  It brings us closer to Hashem.  The Ramban on Vayikra 1:9 explains this very idea – that the root KRV means “to come close” and the purpose of Korbanos is  to come close to Hashem.

The Sefer HaChinuch (in Mitzvah 95) expresses this idea exactly – that Korbanos help refine a person’s soul and bring them closer to their Creator.

Back in the time of the Beis HaMikdash – the Korbanos themselves automatically made that change within us. It worked along the lines of “if we try a little bit – Hashem helps us from above.” That’s the meaning of the Midrash (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:2) states, “פתחו לי פתח כחודו של מחט ואני אפתח לכם פתח כפתחו של אולם” – “Open for Me an opening like the eye of a needle, and I will open for you an opening like the entrance to a hall..” That’s how the Korbanos originally worked.

The Korbanos were a very special Chessed, a gift from Hashem.  When we were no longer worthy – Hashem took that gift away.  He gave it back to us for a bit, but then it was taken away again at the destruction of the Second Beis HaMikdash.  Davening has now replaced that.

With that in mind, let’s tackle the second question.  How can we change Hashem’s mind?  We aren’t actually doing that or trying to do that.  When we daven, we are becoming closer to Hashem and actually changing ourselves – the focus is not on changing Hashem’s mind – it is changing the reality by become a transformed individual.  The Kuzari (3:5) explains that the primary purpose of Tefillah is to bring a person to Dveikus with Hashem and the Nefesh HaChaim (2:13) teaches a similar thought that the essence of Tefillah is to perfect ourselves and elevate our spiritual state.  This, in turn, creates a new reality, so to speak.

Now the third question.  Yes, it is a bit childish – but it does serve to make us closer to Hashem.  And this is what changes us – we think about Hashem and try to emulate Him.  We  will soon try to emulate Him by becoming Givers ourselves.   It also helps us realize and internalize the idea of “ain od milvado” everything is from Hashem.  According to the Ramban (BaMidbar 20:8), the original Torah obligation of Tefillah – prayer  was when we were in dire trouble. 

Now back to the first question.  Why do we need to daven?  Because without davening – we do not change ourselves. The Vilna Gaon once pointed out that without improvement and change of what purpose is life.  Yes, Hashem does provide for our needs, but He wants to reward us through our own decisions and good choices to change ourselves. Rav Chaim Volozhiner in his Nefesh HaChaim (2:11) explains that Tefillah is called “service of the heart” precisely because it is meant to change our inner selves. It happens to be that once we are transformed – the very things we have asked of Hashem are now bestowed by Him.  But let’s always remember that when we are davening – we daven to change ourselves. 

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