“When Pharaoh acknowledges his wrongdoing and asks Moshe to stop the plague of hail (barad), Moshe agrees and explains he has to leave the city to pray, ‘And Moshe exited from Pharaoh and from the city.’ (Shemot 9:27-33)

His exit from the city is significant enough to be mentioned twice. Why is it significant? Does this teach us anything about the proper place to pray?

Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch adds that Moshe left the city for PR purposes, so it would be clear to all that he was not praying to the idols.

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[This idea] focus[es] on the aspect of ‘sur me’ra‘ – turn away from evil – avoiding certain circumstances and environments that are detrimental to proper prayer.

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Alongside the stated importance of eliminating outside influences and creating an intentional framework – a set place, in a building, in a synagogue, with a community…

One must disconnect from the impurities and distractions of the outside world to enter a space of intentional prayer while remaining cognizant of people’s needs in order to pray for them with the proper intention.”