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Podcast: The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman
Episode: Hayom Yom 5 Kislev - The ladder that is prayer
Description: וְהִנֵּה סוּלָּם מוּצָּב אַרְצָה“Behold, a ladder was standing on the ground.”תְּפִלָּה הִיא סוּלָּם הַהִתְקַשְּׁרוּת שֶׁל הַנְּשָׁמָה בֵּאלֹקוּתPrayer is the ladder by means of which the soul is bound to G‑dliness. וַהֲגַם שֶׁהוּא מוּצָּב אַרְצָהThough it “stands on the ground,” הַתְחָלַת הַתְּפִלָּה הִיא בְּהוֹדָאָה לְבָדfor prayer begins with a simple acknowledgment of G‑d, אֲבָל וְרֹאשׁוֹ מַגִּיעַ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה“its top reaches up to Heaven:” בִּבְחִינַת בִּיטוּל עַצְמִי [it brings a person to] utter self-nullification (bittul atzmi). אֲבָל בָּא לָזֶהOne arrives at this עַל יְדֵי הַקְדָּמַת הַהַשָּׂגָה וְהַהֲבָנָה בִּפְסוּקֵי דְזִמְרָהby first attaining an understanding of Pesukei DeZimra,בִּרְכוֹת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַעthe blessings that frame the Shema, and the Shema.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English