Sometimes a person rouses himself and actually makes himself angry. As people say, “Er schnitzt zich ein roigez – He creates his own anger” (cf. Tzaddik #196).
You must do the same during prayer. Be like the man who makes himself angry. Work yourself up and bring heat and a flaming heart into your prayers. The enthusiasm may be forced at first, but eventually it will become real. Your heart will burst aflame with God’s praise, and you will be worthy of praying with passion.
You can make yourself happy in the same way, particularly during your prayers. Pray with great joy, even if this happiness is forced. Happiness is always a virtue, but it is especially so during prayer (Likutey Moharan I, 282).
If you are disturbed and unhappy, you can at least put on a happy front. Deep down, you may be depressed, but if you act happy, you will eventually be worthy of true joy.
This is true of every holy thing. If you have no enthusiasm, put on a front. Act enthusiastic and the feeling will eventually become genuine. Understand this well.
בְּעִנְיַן הַתְּפִלָּה, לִפְעָמִים אֵין לְהָאָדָם שׁוּם הִתְלַהֲבוּת בְּהַתְּפִלָּה, וּצְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת לְעַצְמוֹ הִתְלַהֲבוּת וַחֲמִימוּת וְלֵב בּוֹעֵר לְהַתְּפִלָּה.
Sometimes your prayers may be devoid of enthusiasm. At such times, you must compel your emotions and make your heart burn with the words.
כְּמוֹ לְמָשָׁל שֶׁנִּמְצָא לִפְעָמִים שֶׁהָאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה לְעַצְמוֹ רֹגֶז עַד שֶׁבָּא בְּכַעַס וְנִתְרַגֵּז, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים הָעוֹלָם בִּלְשׁוֹן אַשְׁכְּנַז "עֶר שְׁנִיצְט זִיךְ אַיין רֹגֶז".
Sometimes a person rouses himself and actually makes himself angry. As people say, “Er schnitzt zich ein roigez – He creates his own anger” (cf. Tzaddik #196).
כְּמוֹ כֵן מַמָּשׁ בַּקְּדֻשָּׁה בְּעִנְיַן הַתְּפִלָּה, צְרִיכִים לִפְעָמִים לַעֲשׂוֹת לְעַצְמוֹ רֹגֶז, וְיַעֲשֶׂה לוֹ חֲמִימוּת וְתַבְעֵרַת הַלֵּב בְּדִבּוּרֵי הַתְּפִלָּה, אַזוֹי וִויא אֵיינֶר שְׁנִיצְט זִיךְ אַ רֹגֶז, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה יָבוֹא אַחַר כָּךְ בֶּאֱמֶת לְהִתְלַהֲבוּת וַחֲמִימוּת הַלֵּב בְּהַתְּפִלָּה, וְיִזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּבְעַר לִבּוֹ לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְיִתְפַּלֵּל בְּהִתְלַהֲבוּת גָּדוֹל.
You must do the same during prayer. Be like the man who makes himself angry. Work yourself up and bring heat and a flaming heart into your prayers. The enthusiasm may be forced at first, but eventually it will become real. Your heart will burst aflame with God’s praise, and you will be worthy of praying with passion.
וְכֵן בְּעִנְיַן הַשִּׂמְחָה, בִּפְרָט בִּשְׁעַת הַתְּפִלָּה שֶׁצְּרִיכִין שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַתְּפִלָּה בְּשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה וּצְרִיכִין לְהַכְרִיחַ עַצְמוֹ לְשַׂמֵּחַ עַצְמוֹ בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁיָּכוֹל כְּדֵי לִזְכּוֹת לְשִׂמְחָה וּבִפְרָט בִּשְׁעַת הַתְּפִלָּה. (וְכַמּוּבָא עַל פָּסוּק: אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹקַי בְּעוֹדִי וְכוּ' עַיֵּן שָׁם).
You can make yourself happy in the same way, particularly during your prayers. Pray with great joy, even if this happiness is forced. Happiness is always a virtue, but it is especially so during prayer (Likutey Moharan I, 282).
וְאִם לִפְעָמִים דַּעְתּוֹ מְבֻלְבָּל וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן לְשַׂמֵּחַ עַצְמוֹ, אָז עֲצָתוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא שָׂמֵחַ, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה עֲדַיִן אֵין הַשִּׂמְחָה בֶּאֱמֶת בַּלֵּב, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא שָׂמֵחַ, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יִזְכֶּה אַחַר־כָּךְ בֶּאֱמֶת לְשִׂמְחָה.
If you are disturbed and unhappy, you can at least put on a happy front. Deep down, you may be depressed, but if you act happy, you will eventually be worthy of true joy.
וְעֵצָה זֹאת הִיא עֵצָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד גַּם בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה. שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה צְרִיכִין לַעֲשׂוֹת עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא לָהוּט אַחַר אוֹתוֹ הַדָּבָר שֶׁבִּקְדֻשָּׁה וְאַחַר־כָּךְ זוֹכִין בֶּאֱמֶת לָזֶה. וְהָבֵן מְאֹד.
This is true of every holy thing. If you have no enthusiasm, put on a front. Act enthusiastic and the feeling will eventually become genuine. Understand this well.