A Prayer

We all know the term “prayer.” But the Kabbalistic meaning of this term may be quite different from its usual meaning. Kabbalists say that the deeper meaning of the term, “prayer,” is one’s request of the Creator to become similar to Him, to be as benevolent. The root of the Hebrew word LeHitpalel (to pray) is P.L.L., which is the same root as in the word LeHaflil (to incriminate). Thus, praying actually means sentencing oneself! After a person judges himself or herself and sees that he or she is egoistic, there is a heartfelt cry to the Creator to change one’s nature to altruism. This cry, and only this cry, is considered a prayer.