Why can’t we begin with the amidah? Why do we go through this long introductory service when in fact all we really want is to ask Hashem for our needs?

·        Brachos 30b – the Chassidim (Rishonim) used to prepare for an entire hour before beginning their tefillos. They sat in a state of introspection, focusing their minds on their goals and preparing themselves to confront God.

·        If there is one thing we should really take from these Rishonim, it should be the understanding that there are no shortcuts to the mitzvos. We should take advantage of the time set aside for hachana, and not view it as a hindrance to our real goal.

·        A person is not permitted to add his own praises of God in his tefillos; doing so is considered heresy. We do not have the ability to understand the true nature of God’s grandeur, and thereby compile His praises in a manner which does not seem to narrow His greatness. Therefore, Chazal instituted Pesukei d’Zimra to allow us to praise Him, as is proper before asking Him to fill our needs, with the praises established by David haMelech through Ruach haKodesh.

·        R’ YD Soloveitchik – Pesukei d’Zimra is really an act of Talmud Torah. Chazal established these pirkei Tehillim to allow us to learn through the Torah’s ideas about Hashem’s interaction with the world.

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·        The list of ten praises in Baruch She’Amar is listed in ascending order. One reason for this is because God is above us, to such a degree that there is a disconnect between us and Him. Therefore we begin with Baruch She’Amar to shift our view to understand that He is closer to us than we think. In order to achieve this, we can’t simply say He is involved. We begin by recognizing that He created the world, then accept that He is still involved in the running of the world. Furthermore, we accept that He is in direct control of world events, and even in my own life.

o       If we want to enter into a conversation with God, we need to recognize that He is directly involved in our lives, and has a vested interest in our wellbeing. Only then we can approach Him as supplicants.

·        As we begin the actual bracha of Baruch She’Amar, we can refer to Him as “Av,” “Father,” since we have already undergone the process of bringing ourselves close to God.