In his Sefer HaMitzvot, the Rambam (1135-1204) records prayer as a mitzvah, the fifth in his list of positive precepts. He states that G-d commanded us “to serve Him” (i.e., to worship Him). The Rambam writes that this precept is mentioned twice in the Torah: once in Parshat Mishpatim (Exodus 23:25), “Va’avadtem et Hashem Elokeichem – You shall worship the L-rd your G-d,” and again in Parshat Va’etchanan (Deuteronomy 6:13), “Et Hashem Elokecha tira ve’oto ta’avod – The L-rd your G-d shall you fear and Him shall you serve.” Even though this command is inclusive of all other commands, as noted in the 4th Shoresh (of the 14 Shorashim that precede Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvot), the cited verses also contain a separate precept – the command to pray.
Interestingly, the Rambam does not cite the verse in Parshat Ekev as a source for prayer, as we did at the outset of this discussion.
The Chafetz Chayim lists the precept of prayer as the seventh in his Sefer HaMitzvot Hakatzar – The Concise Book of Mitzvot. He limits the list to only those precepts that are possible to observe outside the Land of Israel, now that we are bereft of our Temple. Is it possible that this is an allusion to the fact that prayer is a replacement of the Temple service?
(To be continued)