Ahavas Olam is a prayer for unity. When we say, "bring us in peace from the four corners of the earth," we gather the four fringes (tzitzit) from the four corners of the prayer shawl (talit).
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The Shema is the ultimate expression of Divine unity. It declares not only that there is one God, but that there is nothing else other than God. God is one and the same as He was before and after the creation of the world, and all that exists is included within God.
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As our separate self is no longer expressed, this prayer is chanted quietly or whispered to oneself. In fact, this prayer is often called "the silent prayer."
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Recalling our particular verse ensures that we remember our identity in this life and in the next, for now and for all eternity.
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When the Temple stood, it served as a conduit for holiness and Godliness to flow into this world.
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Aleinu is more than prayer, as it also serves to help smooth the transition between prayer and our movement outward into the world.
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The mincha (afternoon) prayer was first introduced by the Patriarch Yitzchak. A form of this prayer was later recited in the Temple when the afternoon offerings were brought.
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To bring a korban is to take a physical entity—in Temple times this was an animal, bird or wheat—and convert it into holiness. Then, this was achieved when the offering was consumed by the Divine fire on top of the altar. Today, we can achieve the same internally when we relinquish and surrender our actions to God.
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"Happy are they who dwell in Your house and praise You continually…" From this verse, the Talmudic sages found support for the proper preparation for prayer: first settle the minds and then pray. First dwell in the home then offer praise.
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