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Nitzavim 5754Volume 17 · Issue 3
Voice of the Soul
…the world.” The reign of evil is the tumult of Rome—and the request and prayer is that it closes its mouth. This is primary, before the dissipation of all wickedness like smoke. As soon as its mouth is closed and…
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Shelach 5757Volume 18 · Issue 34
Eyes of the Wise
Prayer of Deliverance
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VaYakhel 5765Volume 1 · Issue 6
Half-Shekel: The Value of Life
The Sabbath prayer discusses four perceptions of the Creator. “There is nothing like Your value, and there is nothing besides You, anything other than You is impossible, and none is comparable to You.”
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Vayeishev 5762Volume 22 · Issue 11
Lessons in Martyrdom
Prayer for Yishmael
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Korach 5762Volume 22 · Issue 30
Gone in an Instant
The Rambam states (Hilchos Tefillah 2:1), “In the days of Rabban Gamliel, heretics abounded among Israel, and they oppressed Israel and lured them to turn away from God. Once he saw that this was greater than all human needs, he and his court arose
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Rosh Hashanah 5766Volume 3 · Issue 5
Face of Judgment
…to prevail in judgment. The Day of Judgment, of which we say in the Musaf Prayer, “Let us recount the power of the day’s sanctity for it is awesome and frightful,” retains its fearsomeness and harshness. The judgment…
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Miketz Chanukah 5771Volume 7 · Issue 13
Lights of Gratitude
…tal. In any event, there is no commandment to speak of it, to read the Megillah of Antiochus or the Book of the Hasmoneans. In the prayer of Al HaNissim that we recite in the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer and in Grace…
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Naso 5772Volume 8 · Issue 30
Complementary Week
In the Musaf Prayer of Rosh Hashanah, by the Verses of Shofar, we say, “You were revealed in Your cloud of glory over Your holy people to speak with them. From the heavens, You sounded them Your voice and You were revealed to them
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Ki Seitzei 5772Volume 9 · Issue 2
Catalyst of Renewal
The verse that he cites is preceded by a prayer of King David (v.12), “Do not give me over to the will of my oppressors, because false witnesses and breathers of evil have risen against me.” They have risen to obliterate me; they have risen against “me,” meaning their intent
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Vayechi 5765Volume 10 · Issue 14
Cornerstone of Hope
This revelation emerges from the Jewish People, as we say in our Sabbath Afternoon Prayer, “You are One, and Your Name is One, and Who is like Your nation Israel, the nation of oneness upon earth.”
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Shemos 5775Volume 11 · Issue 13
Joining the Exodus
Now, let us understand correctly another prayer that we also recite every day—at least three times. In the Blessing of the Fathers in the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer, we praise the Creator and say, “And He remembers the kindnesses of the Fathers, and He brings a redeemer
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Ki Savo 5774Volume 11 · Issue 3
The Longing of Israel
It must be so, for as we know, the shofar of Rosh Hashanah is primarily the shofar of the Giving of the Torah. The prayer where we recite the Verses of Shofar begins, “You were revealed in Your Cloud of Glory over Your holy people to speak with them,” which is discussing the Giving of the Torah. Indeed, one of the ten reasons
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Ki Sisa 5776Volume 12 · Issue 25
In Anticipation of Transcendence
It is well known that ““Remember” and “Guard” were said in one utterance. This is stated in the Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 27a) as well as in our prayer books (in Lechah Dodi).
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Emor 5747Volume 13 · Issue 29
Oath of Life
states (Bava Kama 16a), “The spine of man after seven years,” subsequent to his death, “turns into a snake. But this only applies to one who did not bow at Modim.” This is the blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer where we concede everything to God, and the concept of bowing is concession. By law, wherever there is an obligation to concede and give thanks, there is an obligation to bow.
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Nitzavim-Vayelech 5749Volume 14 · Issue 3
Monumental Occasion
It is therefore well understood why during the Ten Days of Repentance, when man is examined as the full world, he has communal status, and the Creator is near to him in prayer. The great nation, the community of Israel, is always answered in prayer. “For which is the great nation that has the Lord near to it, as God our Lord whenever we call to Him.” But of the individual, it says, “Seek
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Beshalach 5752Volume 15 · Issue 18
Fearful and Faithful
“For this reason, one must juxtapose redemption to prayer, just as they had juxtaposed song after their faith and the Splitting of the Sea….” As it appears, the intent is to explain that the Splitting of the Sea was done in a state that compelled their song—it emerged from
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Mishpatim 5752Volume 15 · Issue 20
Rational Decision
The passage of Pesichas Eliyahu from the words of the sages (Tikunei Zohar 19a) can be found in most prayer books today. Some recite it daily, some weekly, and some at other occasions, but all have come across it at least once.
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Devarim 5752Volume 15 · Issue 40
Betrothed With Faith
The second time was by the horrific deaths of the Ten Martyrs, including Rabbi Akiva whose flesh was scraped with iron combs (Berachos 61b). It is cited by the sages and elaborately in the prosaic prayer of Yom Kippur that begins, “These I will recall…,” which our Sephardic brethren recite on the Ninth of Av. In the words of the prayer, “Fiery angels on high cried bitterly, “Is this Torah and is this its reward…? A Divine
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Vayeira 5757Volume 18 · Issue 8
Three Inversions
Ultimate Future will be universal. As we say in our High Holiday Prayers, “Let all who has the Breath of Life in his nostril declare, “God Lord of Israel is King, and His Kingship dominates over all.””
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Nitzavim-Vayelech 5757Volume 19 · Issue 4
His Children His Servants
The Sephardim begin from Rosh Chodesh Elul and continue until Yom Kippur. The Ashkenazim, however, have another custom. They sound the shofar after the Morning Prayer from Rosh Chodesh Elul but only begin rising early to plea for pardon on the Sunday before Rosh Hashanah. If the festival is on a Tuesday or Wednesday, they begin on the previous Sunday (Orach Chaim 581:2).
