1. The mystical reason for why it is forbidden to eat before Davening:

It is stated in the Talmud and Poskim[1] that it is forbidden for one to eat prior to prayer. Mystically, the reason behind this prohibition is as follows: The entire purpose of eating food is to refine the sparks of holiness that the food contains to then elevate it to holiness. Now, before prayer, one’s G-dly soul is not yet fully activated and his animal soul has the full and main control of his body. Accordingly, it is not possible for him to refine and elevate the holiness of the food prior to prayer, as how can one elevate the food to above if he himself is still connected to the below. First one needs to activate his G-dly soul in prayer and elevate himself, and only then can he be involved in the divine service involved in the eating of food and elevating others. The prayer draws G-dliness to his soul and gives it the ammunition it needs to refine the food.

• A parable: Imagine the kidnapping of an innocent civilian and the task that is faced by security forces to free him from his captors. It would be unimaginably misguided and ultimately counterproductive for security forces to hastily begin a rescue operation without proper ammunition and brainstorming of tactics of how to perform the rescue. First you prepare and then you go to battle. The same applies with prayer, which is called a time of battle in the Zohar, that first one must perform the battle of prayer to get the ammunition one needs to perform the rescue mission involved in eating food and releasing its captured holiness.
• So why then in Chabad do we eat?[2] One cannot ignore the obvious question that rises from the above teaching of the Alter Rebbe which is on what basis do we in Chabad follow a practice that permits eating prior to prayer, contrary to the law, and contrary to the Alter Rebbe’s own teachings. So, in truth, the law does not prohibit all eating prior to prayer but simply eating that is not for the sake or need of the prayer. However, if one feels a deficiency in his concentration due to lack of eating prior to prayer, then he may [and perhaps even must] eat prior to prayer for the sake of being able to concentrate during the prayer.[3] It is for this and only this intent that we in Chabad permit eating prior to prayer, and all other superfluous food and drink that does not fulfill this intent remains forbidden. We can suggest that this exception to the rule is also paralleled in the above teaching of the Alter Rebbe, as the Alter Rebbe is discussing and negating the normal form of eating which is simply for the sake of satiating hunger and one’s craving for tasty foods which is selfish in nature. Indeed, this form and intent of eating does not fulfill its purpose of elevating its sparks of holiness when it takes place prior to prayer. However, if the intended purpose of eating is itself for the sake of the prayer, then it is similar to the SWAT team preparing ammunition prior to performing their raid on the captors. We too need to be prepared with proper ammunition before the battle of prayer that can allow us to be successful in the battle and pray with concentration, and that ammunition may include food.

[1] See Admur 89:5-6 and 70:5; Michaber 89:3; Tur 89:3; Rebbe Eliezer Ben Yaakov in Brachos 10b; Ketzos Hashulchan 11:2

[2] See Admur 89:5-6 and 70:5; Michaber 89:3; Hayom Yom 10^th Shevat; Sefer Hasichos 5705 p. 8; Toras Menachem 8:65; Igros Kodesh Rayatz Letter # 661, 1017; Vol. 4 p. 307; Vol. 10 p. 2; Vol. 14 letter 5, 283; Igros Kodesh 4:430; 5:150; 6:90; 142; 7:322; 10:326; 14:18; 327; 19:40; Michtavei Chasuna p. 16; Maaseh Melech p. 4 and 49; Reshimos Devarim 3 p. 158

[3]