As Klal Yisroel was standing at the edge of the Red Sea, in obvious danger, they yelled out to Hashem (14;10). Rashi tell us that they davened as their forefathers had davened.
The Avos, even at the peaceful times of their lives, davened their tefilos were always the same- as if they were under distress and their only salvation could come from Hashem. The first time Klal Yisroel was faced with a danger and could not rely on nature was at the Yam Suf. The Egyptians were at their back and the water was in front of them, nowhere to go, no one to rely on, they called out to Hashem- their only salvation. That is what the prayers of the Avos looked like everyday- every tefila was of total reliance on Hashem.
R’ Yerucham Levovitz zatza’l explains that this concept is basic in our relationship with Hashem. The nations of the world’s relationship with Hashem is through teva- nature. Everything they want or need can be found in nature and that is who they turn to when they’re in need- אֵלֶּה בָרֶכֶב וְאֵלֶּה בַסּוּסִים .Klal Yisroel has a personal relationship with Hashem everything we receive is directly from Him. We rely purely on Hashem and His will and nothing in nature can or does influence our relationship. וַאֲנַחְנוּ בְּשֵׁם-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ נַזְכִּיר -there is no nature at all. This relationship changes what our prayers are to look like. You can rely on nature to sustain you, on horses and chariots to lead you to war. If you do, there will be many times that you don’t have to beg and plead to get what you need- if you plant, you will harvest, if you work hard you will see results- naturally. In your everyday life there will be no need for tefila. Klal Yisroel relies solely on Hashem, everything we get or do is directly from him. If we need a fruit to eat or if we need the waters to split- to Hashem they are all the same- all we have to do is yell out and ask Him. The Avos- who lived with this recognition that every breath, every meal, every miniscule happening in this world, is a direct gift from Hashem, when they davened their tefila was one of total reliance on Him- for that is all we can rely on.
R’ Shimshon Pincus says that purpose of many of the tzoras we suffer, is to come to the realization that everything- big or small, is from Hashem. If we would daven- before calamity strikes, the way we do when we are under distress- a tefila of total reliance on hashem, there would be no need for most of the difficulties we face.
A very Happy Birthday to Zevi B.
Showing posts with label Tefilah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tefilah. Show all posts
14 January, 2011
01 January, 2010
Parshas Vayichi
כב וַאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ, שְׁכֶם אַחַד--עַל-אַחֶיךָ: אֲשֶׁר לָקַחְתִּי מִיַּד הָאֱמֹרִי, בְּחַרְבִּי וּבְקַשְׁתִּי
The Targum and Rashi explain the words 'sword and arrow' to relate to tefilah. The Brisker Rav explains that there are two types of prayers. We have the Siddur, the daily tefilos that the Anshe knesses Hagdolah implemented. We also have prayers that a Jew can say anytime - speak directly to Hashem- our own words our own tefilah. The difference between them is the same difference between a sword and an arrow. A sword is sharp and can do damage even when a small child is carrying it- it's own sharpness is what damages. An arrow does not have its own power, it needs a bow and someone to shoot it in order for it to damage. The strength of the shooter is what damages. The prayers that Chazal were misaken are like a sword. There is a sharpness to them, the words are potent and full of meaning. When a jew says the words of the Siddur- as weak and lowly as he feels- they can cut through the heavens and have a desired effect. The Nefesh Hachaim says that one should daven from a siddur, for the words and letters themselves, without the meaning of the words, have a certain strength to them. Then we have prayers that are like arrows- the words are made up by us, but they don't have the sharpness of Chazal. In order for those tefilos to have the desired effect we must put our strength into them. We must really direct all of our energies to the prayer to shoot it through the heavens. That is the reason why when one is troubled he goes to a gadol to pray for him. The tefilos we say when we are in trouble, the ones that we say on our own, need more power then the ones that we say everyday.
Mazel Tov to my grandmother, Uncle Yossi and Mendy B. on the birth of a baby boy. May he be a source of nachas for the whole family.
The Targum and Rashi explain the words 'sword and arrow' to relate to tefilah. The Brisker Rav explains that there are two types of prayers. We have the Siddur, the daily tefilos that the Anshe knesses Hagdolah implemented. We also have prayers that a Jew can say anytime - speak directly to Hashem- our own words our own tefilah. The difference between them is the same difference between a sword and an arrow. A sword is sharp and can do damage even when a small child is carrying it- it's own sharpness is what damages. An arrow does not have its own power, it needs a bow and someone to shoot it in order for it to damage. The strength of the shooter is what damages. The prayers that Chazal were misaken are like a sword. There is a sharpness to them, the words are potent and full of meaning. When a jew says the words of the Siddur- as weak and lowly as he feels- they can cut through the heavens and have a desired effect. The Nefesh Hachaim says that one should daven from a siddur, for the words and letters themselves, without the meaning of the words, have a certain strength to them. Then we have prayers that are like arrows- the words are made up by us, but they don't have the sharpness of Chazal. In order for those tefilos to have the desired effect we must put our strength into them. We must really direct all of our energies to the prayer to shoot it through the heavens. That is the reason why when one is troubled he goes to a gadol to pray for him. The tefilos we say when we are in trouble, the ones that we say on our own, need more power then the ones that we say everyday.
Mazel Tov to my grandmother, Uncle Yossi and Mendy B. on the birth of a baby boy. May he be a source of nachas for the whole family.
15 September, 2009
Point to ponder- Yomim Noraim
During our weekday Shemona Esrah we have one brocha where we daven for the abolishing of the wicked- 'velamalshienim'. And one brocha asking for the welfare of the righteous 'al hatzadikim'. In the shemona esrah of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, both of these tefillos are found in the brocha of 'Ata Kodosh'. We say 'U'vechain Tzadikim'- where we ask that the Tzadikim should live to and enjoy the times of Moshiach. Then we ask 'Vechol haresha kula kason techleh'- the evil in the world should disintegrate.
Why is it that during the year we first ask for the abolishment of evil- sur m'rah and then the asai tov- the longevity of the righteous, while on the Yomim Noraim we switch the order to first aseh tov and then sur m'rah?
Why is it that during the year we first ask for the abolishment of evil- sur m'rah and then the asai tov- the longevity of the righteous, while on the Yomim Noraim we switch the order to first aseh tov and then sur m'rah?
27 November, 2008
Parshas Toldas
Chazal tell us that Avraham was supposed to live until the age of 180 years. In order not to see Esav stray off the right path- which happened when Esav turned 13, Hashem took away five years from him and he died at the age of 175 years. R' Yossef Chaim Zonnefeld explains, that is why the Torah expresses Yitzchoks teffilas in such a strong manor. The consequences of Yitzchoks teffilas being answered at the time that they were meant that Avraham was going to have to die five years before his time. R' Yossef Chaim added that the gematria of the words 'Vayosar lo Hashem'- and Hashem listened to his prayers, is 748- which is also the exact value of the words 'Chomish shanim'- five years.The price Yitchok payed for his prayers to be heard was five years of his Father Avrahams life. This was told over to R' Aron Kotler Zatzal- whose yartziet is this Shabbos- his reaction was that this vort had to been of said with Ruach Hakodesh.
Lzchus, Aryeh Leibish ben Elta Nechama Maltshi (Teitelbaum), Bentzion ben Elka (Chroman), Gavriel Noach ben Freida Bluma (Holtzberg), and Rivka bas Yehudis (Holtzberg / Rosenberg), Rochel Golda bas Gittel (Pasikov)
Lzchus, Aryeh Leibish ben Elta Nechama Maltshi (Teitelbaum), Bentzion ben Elka (Chroman), Gavriel Noach ben Freida Bluma (Holtzberg), and Rivka bas Yehudis (Holtzberg / Rosenberg), Rochel Golda bas Gittel (Pasikov)
14 November, 2008
Parshas V'yiarah- Tefilas Avos Tiknu
The Gemora teaches us that the three tfillahs were instituted by the three Avos 'Tefilas Avos tiknu'. Someone (Y.R.) once asked me, why is it that just because the Avos davened are we obligated to daven?
R' Eliyahu Lopian explains the concept of 'Tfillahs Avos tiknu' with a parable. We all know what to do if you want to speak to someone in London- we pick up a phone and just call. Did you ever think about what it took for you to make that call? Someone (Alexander Graham Bell) had to invent the technology, investors were needed to further the idea, companies to run it and to lay down the telephone line or to send up the satellites etc.. After all that work, all we have to do is pick up the phone and dial. That is what the Avos did for us. Avraham invented and set up the technology for the Tefilah of Shachris, Yitzchok and Yaakov did the same for Mincha and Marriv. It is thanks to them that we have the ability to just stand up and talk to our Father in heaven. The Korbanos are what gave us the obligation to pray three times a day. As the Gmorah says that the Tefilas are also in place of the daily sacrifices brought in the Bais Hamikdosh. It was the Avos that gave us the opportunity to daven three times a day.
Point to ponder. Why does the Torah interupt the story of the destruction of Sedom and the salvation of Lot with the posuk that tells us that Avraham instituted Shachris?
R' Eliyahu Lopian explains the concept of 'Tfillahs Avos tiknu' with a parable. We all know what to do if you want to speak to someone in London- we pick up a phone and just call. Did you ever think about what it took for you to make that call? Someone (Alexander Graham Bell) had to invent the technology, investors were needed to further the idea, companies to run it and to lay down the telephone line or to send up the satellites etc.. After all that work, all we have to do is pick up the phone and dial. That is what the Avos did for us. Avraham invented and set up the technology for the Tefilah of Shachris, Yitzchok and Yaakov did the same for Mincha and Marriv. It is thanks to them that we have the ability to just stand up and talk to our Father in heaven. The Korbanos are what gave us the obligation to pray three times a day. As the Gmorah says that the Tefilas are also in place of the daily sacrifices brought in the Bais Hamikdosh. It was the Avos that gave us the opportunity to daven three times a day.
Point to ponder. Why does the Torah interupt the story of the destruction of Sedom and the salvation of Lot with the posuk that tells us that Avraham instituted Shachris?
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