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“He Who Graciously Gives Knowledge” Therefore, “better is a little amount of prayer than much prayer
without intent.” That is because “a little amount of prayer with
intent” means a few vessels, whereas “much prayer without
To Fulfill Everything that Is Lacking intent” means many words but no vessels!

When we strengthen ourselves to do the work of the will during Dear reader, you pray three times a day, spending more than
prayer, we enliven our prayer. It rises, it is effective, and it draws an hour a day in the synagogue. You also recite Psalms, Likutei
down abundance. Therefore, we must learn and understand how Tefillot and other books of prayer. The principal practical
to enliven our words of prayer. I will now present a practical and implication of everything that has been stated here is that during
detailed example in order to help you understand and implement this time you can either receive a great amount of abundance or
the topic of intention and longing in prayer. I will focus on the first you can leave empty-handed, with heaven angry at you for having
of the middle blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei, the blessing of “He disrespected the King!
Who graciously gives knowledge.”
If you recite the words in the siddur in the way that, unfortunately,
Before explaining how to recite the blessing as part of the work of most people do, your reward for that will certainly not be withheld—
the will, I will first clarify our tremendous need for this blessing, in but you will receive very little from your prayer. And there is no
order to help inspire you to desire to receive knowledge. question that you will fail to experience true, inner change. As was
stated earlier, prayer that is not whole is not answered. It is not a
The Hebrew word used in this blessing, da’at, means “knowledge” vessel in which to receive abundance.
or “awareness.” Know clearly that a person needs knowledge
more than anything else in the world. What is knowledge? But by making a small effort with the “muscles” of your will, you
Knowledge means knowing Hashem! If a person does not know can receive without limit! You can receive Divine abundance! You
Hashem, what knowledge does he have? You must know that the can bring about great changes within yourself as a result of the time
purpose for whose sake a person came to this world is to know that you spend praying and reciting Psalms and other prayers. You
Hashem and recognize Him. “A person’s principal purpose is only can literally change and progress from prayer to prayer.
to serve Hashem and go in His ways for the sake of His name,
may He be blessed, in order to recognize Him, may He be When you recite one verse with all your heart, repeating it over
blessed, and know Him, may He be blessed. That is a and over for a few minutes with intention, you bring about more
person’s essential purpose. And that is His will, may He be than you would otherwise bring about by reading the entire book
blessed: that we will recognize Him, may He be blessed” (Likutei of Psalms.
Moharan I 21). Thus, knowledge is the purpose of life. And when a What do you say? Isn’t it worthwhile to utilize your many
person knows Hashem, that influences all areas of his life, because
“all of a person’s failings result from a lack of knowledge” (ibid.). opportunities? Isn’t it a pity that people allow such precious
opportunities to go to waste? Isn’t it a pity to repeatedly leave the
synagogue without having gained anything? Come and learn how
Peace in the home is an outcome of knowledge, because a man
who knows Hashem sees Hashem in all that he undergoes. If his you can enter the treasury and take all of the good from everything
wife hurts him, he sees Hashem. Thus, he does not blame her and that comes to your hand—as much as you can! To that end, read
he does not fight with her. According to this principle, success in carefully and deeply what I will write here.
raising one’s children is also an outcome of knowledge. Earning a
I have already written at length about how the work of the will