I had a teacher who used to carry a little notebook in his chest pocket and over the course of the day he would jot things in the pad and stick it back in his pocket. It was a crumpled spiral bound lined pad with a Bic ball point pen clipped on magically with its old chewed up lid.

He once mentioned that it was his prayer book. 

He said that when he would daven he never knew what to talk to G-d about. He found it overwhelming to show up each day in prayer. What did he want to say? What did he need? The accessibility of G-d combined with the greatness of G-d meant he had no idea what to say when allotted prayer times arrived. There was no urgency because there was always tomorrow and because he hadn’t considered what he would talk to G-d about, he wouldn’t. He would freeze up and go blank and as a last resort he would just read the siddur. 

So he started keeping notes and as things came up each day he would add them to his list for the next day. Things he was grateful for, upset about, what he needed and all sorts of other topics. 

Each morning before praying he would sit with his pad and order the topics: first the things he was grateful for, then the injustices he witnessed and prayers for those experiencing hardship and then the things he needed.

Another interesting anecdote of prayer comes from one of my older brothers who spent Rosh Hashanah with the late Lubavitcher Rebbe in the 90’s. He shared how the Rebbe used to have a large brown paper bag next to him at the time of the shofar blowing. In it were letters from people around the world requesting the Rebbes blessing and that he include them in his prayers.

The beauty and simplicity of coming to pray prepared with lists, names and topics is so empowering and transformational.

This concept inspired me and I prepared a list of people whom I wish to pray for this Rosh Hashanah. Bli neder, I will give thanks to G-d for giving me the opportunity to be a rabbi and teacher to a truly unique group of people. I will pray for the wellbeing of every member of Spiritgrow and every participant in our activities and programs, and for the people who make Spiritgrow exist: our dedicated volunteers and staff, our donors and supporters and our patron family the Kryss family.