This ethnographic reflection examines the intersection of Jewish prayer practice, social encounter, and spiritual transformation through a personal narrative of morning prayer (Shacharit) on a Florida beach. The author employs participant-observation methodology, documenting his experience of solitary prayer while wearing traditional religious garments (tallit and tefillin) in a secular public space. The study explores the tension between keva (fixed liturgical text) and kavvanah (spiritual intentionality) in Jewish worship practices. A critical incident occurs when the author encounters a homeless individual, triggering initial fear and avoidance behaviors rooted in class privilege and social prejudice. The analysis reveals how ancestral wisdom—specifically, the Jewish folk teaching about potential divine messengers—can interrupt prejudicial responses and facilitate compassionate engagement. The narrative demonstrates how encounters with social marginality can transform prayer from routine recitation into profound spiritual experience. The author's emotional response to the homeless individual catalyzes a deeper connection to divine presence, suggesting that authentic prayer emerges through recognition of shared humanity across socioeconomic divides. This study contributes to understanding contemporary Jewish spiritual practice, the ethics of social encounter, and the role of compassion in religious transformation within modern urban contexts.