hustle and flow in prayer

Writer Jay Michaelson recounts the experience of a friend, “a Jewish academic from New York who had relocated to a midsize Jewish community in the South.” Formerly members of a Conservative congregation, this family had great difficulty finding a meaningful prayer experience, and eventually joined an Orthodox shul far away. What makes it hard to create powerful prayer experiences? I hope to offer ideas for a more engaging service.

I think back to my experiences as a jazz radio deejay. An important thing in radio is “tight air.” The DJ has to play the next song right after she announces it, follow quickly on the heels of that song with another, and eventually back announce what she played before leading into a commercial break, and another set of songs. A gap, or “dead air,” is the time when a listener will change channels, so a break in service is deadly. Likewise, “dead air” in a prayer service is the time when congregants are most likely to tune out. “Filler” like interruptions, shuffling, asides and other pauses are distracting and take away from the prayer experience, and that “dead air” adds up, making for a longer service. So, our service should be all service and nothing but the service. We can tighten the seams, and avoid lags between prayers or parts of the service. If we keep the pace going, and build prayers on top of each other in rhythm, the excitement and attention build. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the service is fast or slow, just that it has a continuous pulse and dynamic flow.

For this to succeed, we all have roles to play. As a rabbi, I can offer guidance on the macroscopic level, akin to an orchestra conductor or radio station manager, setting the tone, program, and playlist, while ensuring that Synagogue “air” is tight. I can also model devoted prayer and help build the energy in the “pressure-cooker” of the sanctuary. Prayer leaders become independent DJ’s who can program the individual musical sets, setting the pace for particular sections of the service: by turns gentle and meditative, or ecstatic and joyful. You have a role when you pray, as well. In addition to being prepared when you time comes for an aliyah or other ritual role, you can contribute you devotion, energy and persistence. True, traditional prayer takes some getting used to, but so does marriage, parenthood, a career, an education, learning a language and most other things worth having. “Things that come cheap usually feel that way,” Jay Michaelson says, “Having a meaningful spiritual experience, whatever that means for you, takes learning, practice and dedication. Just like anything else worth acquiring.”