Saturday, June 30, 2012

The dangers of formal prayer

Hi,

"Rabbi Eliezer taught: If a person makes his prayer keva [literally translated: formal], then it is not an acceptable plea before Gd.

"What does keva mean? Rabbi Yaakov Bar Idi explained: If prayer appears to be burdensome for him."

(Talmud, Berachot 29b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

2 comments:

  1. The literal translation of keva is not formal but rather regular or fixed. It is Rashi who equates keva=masui, perhaps from the usage in Malachi3:8

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  2. David-
    As I intend "formal", it is, indeed, "regular or fixed".

    In terms of your citation of Rashi, he is simply citing Rabbi Yaakov bar Idi in the passage above.

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