Monday, September 7, 2015

Prayer Following A Pleasant Chat?

לרפואת בנימין בן רחל בתוך שח"י


The gemara says [perek 5 Brachos] that one must not daven after have a chat with a friend. אין מתפללין ... מתוך שיחה". Why not? Here is a huge lesson....

We live in a world where the social media dominates. Millions upon millions upon millions of people are addicted to their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Email, smartphone, texting etc. etc. It NEVER ENDS. Everywhere I go [including shuls and batei medrash] people are constantly immersed in the world of superficial social disconnection. It is a state of being disconnected not only from others [because the connection is so shallow] but primarily from oneself.

When davening one must be in a state where he finds completeness within himself and his connection to G-d without having to resort to social interactions. Thus, the gemara forbids davening after having a sicha-chat [which today would include all of the aforementioned modes of interaction] with a friend.

[A snippet from a recent shiur in עין איה.]