Silence is not one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about the davening experience. Any given service is saturated with words, words that one must say to fulfill one’s obligation to pray before God. Still, I cannot help but be struck that the Talmud states that the sages took one hour to meditate before praying (B. B’rakhot 30b). We also know the amidah is closed with a moment of silence (see B.Megillah, Ch. 2). This means silence is an essential feature of preparation for, and conclusion of, prayer.