„...through the impoverishment of the nation, the power of national fe…”
„...through the impoverishment of the nation, the power of national feeling was diminished, and in its place there remained only reasoning, which, for all its deficiency, supports the feeling. But nevertheless, since the soul-feeling is in a state of weakness, it must lean upon another's table and is not sustained from within itself; the contradictions are revealed, and the war is aroused at every time of prayer, the thoughts grow confused, and the prayer loses its great value, to enliven the soul in its essence; and consequently the intention weakens and remains a commandment of men learned by rote. And since it does not properly sustain the feeling, just as it is not properly sustained by it, it goes to wander upon the tents of intellect and calculation. And when the intellect handles with its cold hands the warm prayer, daughter of the heavenly fire, it destroys her vigor and diminishes...”From Shemonah Kevatzim, I, 33
When there is weariness, impatience, a desire to advance in overly large strides, the power of feeling diminishes and action flows from an intellectual place. The inability to undergo the processes and to experience them at all times, because of the weariness, brings the person and the nation to do so from a place of intellect and reason. One acts because it is right, because one must, because it is written, not because the heart says so.
The advantage in this, that reason does not let a person fall apart, is that it gives a temporary remedy to a person in the time of decline when he cannot be connected to his feelings. Thus a person continues to pray and to be connected to the Holy One even in his difficult moments.
But on the other hand, in such a state where reason leads and from it the person turns to his God, prayer loses its original value, which is connection with the Holy One. When the rational place leads, the problems begin. "The Merciful One desires the heart."
When a person deviates from the emotional place and turns prayer into just another task, it becomes a difficult and distant thing. This distance creates a defect in the person and a defect in the prayer. A defect in the person because he is unable to connect to the inner place, and a defect in the prayer because it already loses its place and its inner voice.
I would be glad to hear from you advice and ways to overcome the voice of reason and yet remain connected.
Good and blessed week.
For the recovery of the girl Noa bat Sarah.
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.