Reflections on Communal vs. Individual Prayer

The following are a rough recreation of remarks given in synagogue over Shabbat, August 13-14, 2021:

The question we as a community have been grappling with this summer is, what makes us a community, a congregation, a gathering of people to pray in one location. I have been reflecting on this question for months. What makes a community? Is it similar goals and purpose, a singular language of prayer or is it perhaps our differences?

Since our particular exploration is dependent on prayer as the nature of a synagogue is to be a gathering place to pray as a community, what does this search unveil for us in these weeks leading to Rosh Hashanah? Allow me to offer a couple of approaches on merging the communal with the individual needs we encounter in prayer.

1. The 6th Rebbe of Chabad, R. Yitzchak Yosef Schneerson, shared an anecdote about prayer that has sat heavily on my mind for many years. (This is found in a work Likkutei Dibburim though I cannot recall exactly where it is, so I am reconstructing this story from memory, so any errors are mine alone). He describes how (I think) his grandfather one time spoke about a non-Chasidic man, describing the man’s virtues, but concluding with the statement, “But there is one flaw the man has…He prays in a minyan (prayer quorum).” This is a strange vignette, yet, I would like to suggest that the statement about praying in a quorum is meant to convey a deeper message. There is much within the Jewish tradition that lends itself to the power and importance of communal prayer. For example, there are certain specific prayers that may only be recited when there is a prayer quorom. The Rebbe is not disparaging communal prayer. Rather, I think he is suggesting that prayer cannot be seen merely as a communal obligation because then a person is liable to get subsumed in the communal, forskaing prayer’s inherent individuality. We must not presume being in community is enough. During the earlier days of the COVID era, when we didn’t have the opportunity to gather together in person, we yearned to be together. At the same time, many of us found something in spending time at home, praying on our own, at our own pace, in a manner that cannot be fully duplicated in a synagogue. Coming back together, slowly but surely since June 2020, was a process of learning how we can bring the new things we learned in our solitude back into our communal setting.
2. The first Rebbe of Chabad, R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the Alter Rebbe, in his work Likkutei Torah, presents the famous metaphor about how in the month leading to Rosh Hashanah, Elul, G-d, in the role of King, is in the field readily accessible. He writes: “Its like a King who is greeted by the people of the city before entering the actual city. They receive the king in the field. And the King receives them, granting permission to whoever would like to get an audience. The king receives everyone with a warm and welcoming countenance. Afterwards, when the king enters the palace, only those who have explicit permission may enter to see the king.” In a letter quoting this passage, the 7th Chabad Rebbe, R. Menachem Mendel Schneerson, defines this experience using the imagery of praying during the month of Elul. We should see ourselves as praying face to face, with no barriers, before Gd. There is nothing in our way during this time. This description expresses the same duality of communal and individual prayer. The community greets the king, greets G-d, yet each individual is granted private time to commune. We need the communal greeting to open the door to the individuality of our being face to face with G-d.
3. There is a custom among Hasidim and among those who identify with more mystical forms of Jewish worship to recite the words of Leviticus 19:19, “Love your neighbor as yourself” as a preliminary reflection before the formal prayer service each morning. This practice is attributed to R. Isaac Luria. While we each come to prayer with our individual needs, we know how much value there is placed on communal prayer. Communal prayer is seen as carrying a certain strength to overcome judgment upon the individual. There is a power in numbers. Yet, prayer is often an individualistic confrontation with the Almighty. We often bring our own needs into our prayers. Yet, there is concern we would get too preoccupied with our individual needs, so as a meditation, we are to remember that we are gathering as a group. By recognizing how we are to open our hearts to our neighbors like they are ourselves, connecting to each other, we can find the bridge between our individual needs and our communal needs. We remember that we are interdependent.

As we can see from these three examples, prayer is a complicated dance of our individual needs and emotions while simultaneously remembering our responsibility to be together communally in engaged with Gd. If we are just a community gathering, we can often allow the functionality of communal prayer to be the driving force. At the same time, without the community, we aren’t afforded the unique opportunity of this time of year to grow and change as individuals. We cannot be just about ourselves but must connect with one another through a sense of love and heart. This is not an easy balance.

As we continue to navigate and negotiate these needs during this crazy time, may we merit to find the balance that will help guide us smoothly into a new and better year, where we can find a normalcy and stability to continue to inspire each other and grow, both as individuals and as a community.