Eikev 5773

This week's parsha includes the mitzvah of prayer. We are commanded to serve Hashem (10:20) and with our hearts (11:13). How do we serve Hashem with our hearts? The Rambam explains that this means through prayer. By quoting verses, the Rambam shows that prayer is commanded right from Scripture; the time to pray and how to pray were ordained by the Sages. Nachmanides disagrees with the Rambam and holds that prayer in general is a rabbinic mitzvah; the only time that prayer is a scriptural mitzvah is at a time of need.