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Recently, a question was posted about T'fila. While it was discussed in
earlier digests, I feel there is something vital to be added.
What is usually demanded of students during T'fila? Ask your students
what they think. If they don't disturb, and it looks like they're saying
the words, and they're looking at the siddur, and they scrunch their eyes
a bit, we praise them for davening with Kavanah. Is this in fact what
T'fila is all about?
There are two basic issues that need to be addressed:
1) The T'fila must be meaningful to the students.
2) The act of T'fila must be meaningful to the students.
1) How does the T'fila become meaningful? Learning all about the
T'filot. This includes the meaning of the T'filot, the origin of the
T'filot, and the background of the T'filot. An example of this would be
learning details of the Korban Toda to learn about Mizmor L'toda. Among
other things, The connection can be made why it is not recited Erev Yom
Kippur or all of Pesach.
This is not something that is accomplished in the short term. It needs
to be an ongoing part of the school curriculum. Some schools make
incentives such as prizes and rewards the centerpiece of the motivations
for the children to daven well. There is no greater motivation than when
the T'fila is meaningful to the student. It greatly diminishes the need
for ulterior incentives.
2) The act of T'fila refers to what we expect children to think about
while praying. Learning how to make a list of strengths and weaknesses,
self-introspection, reflecting on G-d's benevolence are supposed to be a
part of T'fila. The Rambam says in Yesoday Hatorah that learning about
the greatness of G-d's works, for example studying the solar system and
space, brings one to a greater appreciation and a greater love for G-d.
Chassidus speaks of different types of love of G-d. Studying these is
one step to feeling a love of G-d during prayer. In the example of
Mizmor L'toda used before, writing an essay or a poem about things to be
thankful for would be an activity that can make Mizmor L'toda meaningful
to the students. It can then be read quietly just prior to the beginning
of T'fila. These types of activities need to be consciously learned for
the students to learn how to use them.
Rabbi Chaim Kosofsky
Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy
Longmeadow, MA</HTML>
