<HTML>I would like to expand upon Mr. Goldmintz's comments which suggest that
"serious mekomot tefilla" are created by qualitative enhancement of the
minyan:
1) "Prepare to meet your Lord, O Israel"- this injunction, suggesting that
prayer warrants some type of behavioral or attitudinal shift, has
classically manifested itself by meditation, hand-washing, special attire
such as a gartl, hat, jacket, or tie, and cessation of light-headedness.
The specific type of preparation seems less relevant than the fact that
Halacha mandates some type of behavioral act which signifies a mood
change. Practically, this would mean, at least, that students with
untucked shirts, sweatiness, sneakers, etc. would be asked to daven
"b'yechidut". In a school where this type of decorum is expected
constantly, perhaps a jacket or tie should be required for davening, or
anything which portrays davening as a time separate from the rest of the
day.
2) Although "heteirim" abound which allows the shul to be used for other
purposes, perhaps if we are trying to instill "morah mikdash", davening
should be set apart in space much as "hikon" sets it apart in time.
3) Teaching hilchot tefila may instill a more general respect for tefila
than biur tefila.
4) As far as biur tefilla goes, there's one project that a number of
yeshiva bachurim undertook several years ago in Kerem B'Yavne. Once a
week, one bachur would deliver a chabura on a specific tefilla that he had
prepared. Perhaps this can be translated to a high school level. Students
would be broken into groups of 7 or 8 for about 45- 60 minutes per week,
where one student would deliver such a shiur to the rest of the group. The
advantage of this system is that students would be "koneh", or develop an
attachment to those prayers which they prepared, as well as appreciate
similar efforts by their peers. Fairly simple texts such as Abudraham,
Rokeach, Olat Tamid, Kuntres Avodat Ha-tefila, Olat R'iyah, The World of
Prayer, the R. S. R. Hirsch siddur and even the ArtScroll siddur provide
ample source material for such a project. If anyone tries this, let me
know how it goes.
Elli Fischer
Alon Shvut, Israel</HTML>
