awe, rather than faith

Halakhic praxis is the active way in which man may serve God. It is the only way for man to acknowledge the Kingdom of Heaven. So long as a person’s religiosity expresses only his personal awareness, his conscience, his morality, or his values, the religious act is merely for himself and, as such, is an act of rebellion against the Kingdom of Heaven. […] Sabbath observance, with all its strange precepts [serves] no physiological, social, or psychological needs. The activities forbidden on the Sabbath are determined not by the energy expended or the effort required but by criteria internal to do with holiness—subordination of a seventh part of one’s life to a special rule of living which has no roots in human nature, its inclinations, or its needs, but follows only from the decision to accept the “yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven.” This is not a way of life that is natural to man, and the precepts governing it emphasize and highlight this difference. Hence the Sabbath loses its religious significance if the precepts relating to it are adjusted to suit the inclinations or comfort of men. All these considerations apply as well to the laws governing the sexual life of man and wife and the restrictions forbidding certain foods. None have a physiological or psychological rationale. All constitute constraints upon human nature in the interest of the service of God.

In the psalms we actually see a real conversation between Man and his Creator, in a truly encompassing way, if I'm not mistaken. This doesn't exactly correspond to your idea of prayer. – The psalms aren't prayers. Prayers are the commandment of Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv, the commanded prayers for morning, afternoon, and evening.

more context/correction: the photograph was taken in december of 1932, less than two months before hitler became chancellor. the nazi party had already been the largest parliamentary faction for months being most successful in the state of schleswig-holstein where this picture was taken. the flagged building was their district office in the city of kiel. the photographers husband was rabbi dr. arthur posner who was the last rabbi in kiel before the holocaust. the SS had committed a bomb attack on the citys synagogue in the summer of the same year. his family and many other jewish inhabitants of kiel, making up the biggest jewish community in the state of schleswig-holstein at the time, fled to palestine or the usa in the following year.

Every evening we recite: "He creates light and makes the dark." Twice a day we say: "He is One." What is the meaning of such repetition? A scientific theory, once it is announced and accepted, does not have to be repeated twice a day. The insights of wonder must be constantly kept alive. Since there is a need for daily wonder, there is a need for daily worship."