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An hour before and after

אֵין עוֹמְדִין לְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ כֹּבֶד רֹאשׁ. חֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ שׁוֹהִים שָׁעָה אַחַת וּמִתְפַּלְּלִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּכַוְּנוּ אֶת לִבָּם לַמָּקוֹם. אֲפִלּוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ שׁוֹאֵל בִּשְׁלוֹמוֹ, לֹא יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ. וַאֲפִלּוּ נָחָשׁ כָּרוּךְ עַל עֲקֵבוֹ, לֹא יַפְסִיק:

One may only stand and begin to pray from an approach of gravity and submission. The early generations of pious men would wait one hour and then pray, so that they would focus their hearts toward their Father in Heaven. Even if the king greets him, he should not respond to him; and even if a snake is wrapped on his heel, he should not interrupt his prayer.

Source texts

אַ֭שְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י בֵיתֶ֑ךָ ע֝֗וֹד יְֽהַלְל֥וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃

Happy are those who dwell in Your house; they forever praise You. Selah.

אַ֣ךְ צַ֭דִּיקִים יוֹד֣וּ לִשְׁמֶ֑ךָ יֵשְׁב֥וּ יְ֝שָׁרִ֗ים אֶת־פָּנֶֽיךָ׃ {פ}

Righteous men shall surely praise Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.

What were they doing?

רוצה לומר שהן מתעכבים קודם התפלה שעה אחת כדי ליישב דעתם ולהשקיט מחשבותם ואז יתחילו בתפלה

They would wait an hour before praying in order to settle their minds and quiet their thoughts, and then they would begin praying

למקום: שתהיה כוונתם כולה ברוממות המקום בלבד

To Hashem: So that their focus would entirely be on Hashem's majesty