Daily Tanya Sunday 17th Kisleiv Kuntrus Achron 8: The Primacy of Prolonged Prayer in the Era Before Mashiach

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17th Kisleiv

Kuntres Acharon, Essay 8: The Primacy of Prolonged Prayer in the Era Before Mashiach

This passage is a powerful letter from the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi), emphasizing the spiritual importance of prolonged and contemplative prayer, especially in the era before the coming of Mashiach. Here’s a structured summary of its key points:

Core Message

  • The Alter Rebbe expresses deep grief that some are preventing a person who prays slowly and with devotion from leading the congregation.
  • Reason: Prolonged prayer is one of the three things that “prolong a person’s days,” as taught by the Sages.

Halachic Basis

  • Even if someone cannot wait for Kedushah and Barchu during the repetition of the Amidah, it is better to forgo hearing them than to interfere with another Jew’s heartfelt prayer.
  • The Torah exempts those who are compelled, and the Reader’s repetition fulfills the obligation for those who cannot respond, as noted in the Gemara regarding “people in the fields.”

Spiritual Emphasis

  • In earlier generations, Torah study was the primary service; today, prayer is central because:
    • Our Torah study is not constant due to life’s difficulties.
    • Rabbi Chaim Vital writes that in the pre-Messianic era, prayer is the primary service to elevate fallen sparks of holiness.

Inner Work During Prayer

  • Prolonged prayer should include meditation on G‑d’s greatness during:
    • Pesukei Dezimrah (verses of praise)
    • Blessings before Shema (Yotzer Or and Ahavat Olam)
  • Goal: Awaken the innate love of G‑d so it becomes revealed in the heart during Keriat Shema, fulfilling the mitzvah “And you shall love the L‑rd your G‑d…”

Why This Matters

  • Love for G‑d exists naturally in every Jewish soul, but prayer brings it from concealment to revelation.
  • This process elevates sparks of holiness through subjugation or transformation of the animal soul.
  • Earlier generations achieved this quickly; today, we need extended prayer and contemplation.

Practical Takeaway

  • Do not rush prayer or prevent those who pray slowly from leading.
  • Embrace prolonged, mindful prayer as a Torah-rooted imperative, especially now, when it is the primary spiritual service.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.