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Ki Sisa 5763Volume 10 · Issue 22
Transitional Stage
Rashi explains, “The time has arrived for you to see of My glory what I will allow you to see, for I wish and need to teach you the order of prayer, for when you had to request mercy for Israel, you mentioned to Me the merit of the Fathers. You are under the impression that if the merit of the Fathers ends, there is no more hope. I will pass My entire
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Ki Sisa-Purim Kattan 5774Volume 10 · Issue 23
Joy of Living
…hem to My holy mountain, and I will grant them joy in My house of prayer.” The true and great joy beyond compare was that of the Holy Temple. One who did not see its great joy had never seen…
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Shoftim 5774Volume 11 · Issue 1
Signposts of the Torah
continuing his request for mercy. This was until the beginning of the appeasement on Rosh Hashanah, the first of Tishri. But the entire preceding month elapses with pleas, with requests, and with appeasements. Elul is entirely a month of prayer.
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Behar 5775Volume 11 · Issue 22
Twofold Aspiration
We find two methods to the order of the counting. The familiar and standard order can be found in prayer books, on calendars, even on bulletin boards. In this method, the counting follows the seven attributes by which the Creator acts.
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Tazri'a-HaChodesh 5776Volume 12 · Issue 30
Creators of Destiny
In the wording that the Men of the Great Assembly instituted for us (cf. Berachos 33a), the central blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer of festivals concludes, “Blessed are You, God, Who consecrates Israel and the times.”
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Devarim 5776Volume 12 · Issue 42
Sanctuary of Time
Prayer of Return
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VaYakhel-Shekalim 5746Volume 13 · Issue 22
The Power of Acceptance
Lawfully, there is a question whether it is permissible for women to recite the Musaf Prayer. They do not contribute the half-shekel and they therefore have no association with the Musaf Offering. According to many later Halachic authorities, it is forbidden for them to recite the Musaf Prayer; the blessings would be in vain.
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Ki Sisa-Parah 5750Volume 14 · Issue 23
Words of Purity
Indeed, the Torah we were given altogether is His Torah, the Torah of God (cf. Shemos 13:9). We say this every day in the prayer of Uva LeTzion, where the Creator calls the Torah, “My words that I have placed in your mouth” (Yeshayahu 59:21), which describes the Giving of the Torah. When we came to receive it, we obviously did not come
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Tazri'a Metzora 5750Volume 14 · Issue 25
Labor of Learning
But there are two methods of revelation—from Him to existence and from existence to Him. Of this, we say in the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer, “He bestows good kindnesses and He acquires everything.” In other words, His existence is revealed when He bestows good kindnesses, and His existence is revealed when everything returns to Him after it accomplishes its task and completes its mission. Then, He reacquires
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Naso 5750Volume 14 · Issue 30
Sheath of Light
We are not revealing secrets. It is one of the better-known calculations. If I am not mistaken, it is printed in some prayer books as the numerical value of the Hebrew word Amein, which conveys the very same concept.
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Miketz Chanukah 5752Volume 15 · Issue 14
The Light of Torah
“Rava said, ““I am a wall” refers to the Assembly of Israel, “and my breasts are like towers” refers to houses of prayer and houses of learning.”” In his opinion, the verse is speaking in the name of the Assembly of Israel, and we follow his view when we refer to ourselves in the prayer of Hoshaanos, “The nation that declares
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Ki Sisa 5752Volume 15 · Issue 23
Sale of a Nation
Moshe Rabbeinu accepted his testimony and said, “Go and inform him so that he can stand in prayer from there, and I from here, and together we will plead mercy for them from the Holy Blessed One.”
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Behar 5752Volume 15 · Issue 29
Price of Transcendence
In the Prayer of Dew, Israel is even called “Fearsome ones whom You led like sheep.” And fearsome ones means they cast fear on all who see them (Shir HaShirim 6:4-10; Rashi; Ibn Ezra; Shemos Rabbah 15:6). They are staunch and mighty
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Bechukosai 5752Volume 15 · Issue 30
The Sweetness of Light
And this is always how it is and how it must be. As we say in the Lechah Dodi prayer, “The final product lies in the initial thought.” The initial thought always aims for the final product. But the stages to reach it must be in reverse from the form of the revelation. The revelation begins from
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Nitzavim 5751Volume 15 · Issue 4
Gifts for the Poor
In the poetic prayer of Adon Olam, we say, “Master of the World Who was King before any being was created,” corresponding to His proclamation, “I am the beginning.” This state precedes us. Later, we say, “And after all ends, He alone, the Fearsome
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Shemos 5756Volume 17 · Issue 16
Key to the Future
The blessing after the Reading of Shema in our Morning Prayer concerns the Egyptian Redemption. “From Egypt, You redeemed us, from the house of slaves, You liberated us.” The passage continues with all the forms of Heavenly governance that joined to bring it about. “He is exalted and transcendent, great
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Chayei Sarah 5756Volume 17 · Issue 9
Brilliant Scholars
does it mean when it says (Chabakuk 1:13; Berachos 7b), “Why do You look on at the treacherous, remain silent when a wicked man swallows one who is more righteous than he?” This grievance against the Creator—this prayer, this complaint—was expressed by the prophet Chabakuk. But what does it mean?
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Behar 5757Volume 18 · Issue 29
Light of Goodness
The heart is always about focus. Its task is to place everything on one point, which is directed to where it should be directed. Prayer is therefore called service of the heart (Taanis 2a). Rav Chaim of Brisk originates that the essence of prayer lies not in requesting but in standing before God (Chiddushei HaGrach to Rambam Hilchos Tefillah 4:1). The sense of standing
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Vayeira 5758Volume 19 · Issue 7
Built With Kindness
A question is raised by Tosafos (ibid.) from the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer where there is no mention of His Kingship.
