Tag Archive for Parshat Vaetchanan

Prayer: A Chart

August 12, 2013 Tefilla/ Prayer No comments
There is a Torah level commandment and there is a Rabbinical level commandment, Praying is a Torah level. Generally speaking, one should be a bit more careful with a Torah level commandments. Apparently one can fulfill his duty of prayer by talking to G-d in private with no time frame attached. However, if one wants to get the maximum results, he should follow the guidelines in which the Sages have instructed.

 

 

The nucleus of the prayer is the Amida, otherwise known as the Shemoneh Esrei. Amida means to stand; it’s also said in silent, individually. The RAMBAM – Maimonides advised, one who wants to form a strong bond with G-d should recite the first bracha of the Amida with concentration. The Shemoneh Esrei, which refers to the original eighteen brachot, now nineteen, is recited three times a day (Shabbat four) .There are four levels of prayer, concentration, found in the prayers and the Amida is at the climax.

In order to have good prayer, one has to have good concentration and in order to have good concentration one cannot speak during certain prayers. For example, one is allowed to say Amen before BARUCH SHE’AMAR, the first of four levels. Between BARUCH SHE’AMAR and BARUCHU, which is the second level, it is still permissible. However, in the next level, which is between BARUCHU and the AMIDA, one is only allowed to say Amen between paragraphs. The last and most intense in concentration, between GA’AL YISRAEL and the AMIDA, there should be no recitation of the Amen. While one is in the middle of the AMIDA and the Chazzan and the minyan (congregation) recites the KEDUSHA, you are prohibited to utter Amen, or for that matter, anything. One should just remain quiet and concentrate on the KEDUSHA and after they are finished, resume your AMIDA.

The Intensity of Prayer

August 4, 2013 Tefilla/ Prayer No comments
   The great Avraham, our forefather, was extremely charismatic and one whose kindness to others was widely known. He was labeled G-d’s servant. He had a son, Yitzchak, who, like his father, had a very hard time having kids. The Torah describes Yitzchak praying in one corner and his wife Rivka praying in the other corner. We read in the Torah “G-d answered him”. Rashi, who is one of the main commentaries on the Torah, asks why was Yitzchak’s prayers answered over Rivka’s? He answers, Yitzchak is a tzadik the son of a tzadik while Rivka is a tzadaket the daughter of a rasha.

The Taz, who was one of the leading lawmakers, concludes from the above passage that if there are two people who want to go up to the bima to be a chazzan, (one who leads the prayer), one comes from a good family background, while the other fellow comes from a not-so-good family background. Even though they are both shomer mitzvot, religious (Shabbat observant), equal in good character, nevertheless because the father of one of them is non-observant, the tzadik ben tzadik is picked. This is the understanding we derive from Rashi.

“However”, the Taz continues “I don’t hold that way. We know, it’s common knowledge.” A person who is a Ba’al Teshuva – a person who becomes observant (keeping Shabbat, Kosher, etc.) is on a higher level than the FFB – frum (religious) from birth. The reason is because it’s harder for him to keep Shabbat and not turn on the lights or turn on the TV and watch a ballgame because he’s accustomed to it. It’s probably difficult to give up the non-kosher food, as well. To break away from those pleasures takes a lot of courage. G-d is well aware of the challenges the BT has and is overcoming . He therefore, puts him and his prayers above the rest. For a FFB, to turn on the TV on Shabbat is not even on the radar gun. He was trained since childhood not to turn on the lights on Shabbat.

 

This argument is divided among the Sages throughout the generations.

 

Let’s examine briefly the power of prayer:

 

There was a study taken and published in the New York Times a number of years ago, that people who pray regularly are less likely to get depressed. They are more motivated to do everyday life activities; they’re psychologically uplifted. So it seems like prayer is a tool to increase energy. Does prayer really work? Can it change destiny?

 

We see from the most important part of our history that prayer had an enormous impact. We were slaves in Egypt and destined to be there for four hundred years. “G-d heard their moaning.” As a result of hearing their prayer, their anguish, G-d let them out after only 210 years.

 

What happens when one prays for a sick person and he dies?

 

The hardest thing for a human to realize is that the last word is G-d’s. It’s His world, not ours.

 

The Chovot Halevavot says the very act of prayer elevates and transforms us where we are no longer the same individual we were before. So if there is a heavenly decree against a person, it could very well be annulled through prayer. Since he has been transformed through prayer, he is no longer the same person against whom the original decree has been issued. This is what Moshe tried to do in this week’s Parsha; however again, the last word is G-d’s.

 

Rabbi Bunim was once asked, how can a person who does not wear Tefillin, desecrates the Shabbat, and eats non-kosher, be wealthy, and generally successful? He answered, this is the curse of the snake who is cursed more than all the cattle and beast. “On your stomach, you shall go and eat dust all the days of your life.” We know dust is not tasty, but plentiful; it’s always accessible. Seemingly, G-d blessed the snake and did not curse him. However, a human has to work by the sweat of his brow and have childbirth pains; now that’s punishment.

 

The predicament means it forces him to pray, bond, and get close to G-d. In fact, it’s a big sin when man is in a crisis and doesn’t pray to his maker. The snake, who is provided all its necessities, has no connection with G-d and does not need to communicate. This is the biggest curse anyone can receive.

 

After agreeing to marry Yitzchak, and as she was being escorted to the house of Avraham, the scripture says “She saw Yitzchak for the very first time and she fell off the camel.” Rashi commented he was praying Mincha. R’ Eli Mansour quotes the Netziv of Veloshin who says, “She was awed at the intensity of him praying.” From that moment on, she developed a fear of  her husband, Yitzchak, that remained for the rest of her life. A fear that stemmed from the intensity of prayer; that through this prayer they got their children, Yaacov and Eisav.

 

So perhaps, it’s not the background of a person – but the individual – who can make a difference.
Shiurim by Rabbi Oelbaum

I Want My Prayer to be Heard

July 21, 2013 Mitzvot and Traditions No comments

 

When someone commits to take upon himself an undertaking of any sort, it usually is a sign that he deems it quite important.
So was the case with a fellow named Rabbi Yosef Gutfarb. Rabbi Yosef was a New Yorker who moved to Jerusalem, Israel. He made an undertaking that he will always pray with a minyan.
We Jews pray 3 times a day and the optimal prayer conducted is with a minyan, which consists of at least 10 men present. By the way, that is the only time Kadish may be recited.
It can be quite challenging for one to get up early in the morning, in the heat or cold, and attend prayer services.
What is dedication?
What does it mean to pass a tough test?
If someone enters a freezing cold car at 6:15 in the morning, in the dead of winter, just to get to minyan; now that’s dedication!! Mankind has not figured out a inexpensive way to have the car heating system working so that it’s hot intently. No one looks forward for the car in the early morning experience.
It is equally challenging to pry yourself from the middle of an important business transactions and attend the afternoon services. One can get really involved in their career. Furthermore, evening services are not any easier after a long and hard day at work.
Nevertheless Rabbi Yosef soldiered his way through three decades, whether on business trips all around the world or any sort of unexpected pop-ups; he did not miss a beat of kaddish or one amen of a minyan!!…Talk about longevity!!
Hmm, did someone give Rabbi Yosef the evil eye?
One night Rav Yosef came home after 3:00am and he did not pray the evening services. Since in Shaufat the last minyan is at 11:00pm he calculated he would go to the next town over to search for a minyan. He was confident he would catch one in Zichron Moshe where there was a shul (Bet Hakneset) there, known to be a minyan factory. There are rooms throughout the building where there is always a minyan at any time of day or night; how convenient?
Well mazal was a little difficult that night and to his dismay only one other person was waiting. “Do you think anybody else will come”? he inquisitively asked. “Why are you saying kadish? Are you an Avel-mourning the loss of a loved one?” the man questioned. “No, I just made a commitment many years ago to not to miss a minyan” he replied.
“How could this be? There is always a minyan here!” he nervously thought. What to do? What to do?
“I got it!!”
Rav Yosef then called a taxi company and asked if eight cabs can come to Zichron Moshe Shul (Bet Hakneset). “Only Israeli drivers” he added emphatically.
The dispatcher retorted back, “I don’t have eight taxies at three in the morning.”
“How many do you have?” Rav Yosef asked. “Only five” the dispatcher replied.
“Fine, send them quickly please: don’t forget only Israeli drivers!!
Rav Yosef called another taxi company and asked for three Isreali drivers. The dispatcher said they would come in a few minutes.
The eight cabs all lined up and got out of their cars thinking they came at a tail end of some kind of party. To their dismay they found only Rabbi Yosef and the gentleman.
Rav Yosef told the drivers to turn off their cars and enter the shul “we’re going to pray the evening services, I need a minyan”. He explained his strange appeal by saying, “I haven’t missed a minyan in years”.
The drivers, surprised but intrigued, obliged to the bizarre request.
They all could read Hebrew but not all were familiar with the protocol of tefila -prayer. Some had kipas-skull caps in their pockets, some in their glove compartment in their taxies.
After the prayer Rav Yosef took out his wallet to pay the drivers. All the drivers, one by one refused to take the money. They were all stunned by the audacity of this American Jew who went to great lengths to fulfill his commitment for the sake of praying with a minyan. So impressed by the 15 minute prayer, many of the drivers thanked Rav Yosef for an uplifting spiritual experience. Many told him they have never had such a strong feeling when they prayed like this one time. Some said they haven’t prayed in a while and were honored to participate. They were all glad to have the opportunity to pray with such a person.
Prayer is powerful!! Prayer is uplifting!!
However, there are times when prayers are not answered…… or are they?
What is the most optimal method of prayer where G-d will answer you?
Do I have to cry my eyes out and pound my chest for it to penetrate G-d majestic throne for an answer?
After all, we know prayers with tears pass through the cracks and go straight to heaven.
Why do we even need to pray?
If we are good up-standing citizens wouldn’t G-d see what we need and give it to us?
There are some people who seem like they are showered with gifts from the All Mighty. Well, why can’t we all be on the receiving end like that?
In this weeks parsha we see how Moshe’s request to enter the land of Israel was denied. Even though Moshe prayed like no other soul on earth, G-d refused to allow him entrance.
As a matter of fact, G-d told him to stop because if he would have continued he would have no choice but to honor his request.
Why did G-d tell him to stop?
The Sages tell us it was to our benefit that he stopped. They said if he entered Israel then he would have built the Temple later on. Years later, though, when the nation would sin, since Moshe, a great Tzadik built the Temple, the structure would have tremendous merits. G-d would not have been able to destroy it. He would have no choice but to destroy the nation instead. It’s better to destroy stones then the nation of Israel.
Here we learn a number of things about this incident from the sages. First, there is a broader picture that our short sighted human mind can’t see. Moshe didn’t fully understand the extent of his power and how dear the Temple he would build would be to G-d. Therefore his entrance would be problematic for the Jews later on in time.
So to answer a lingering question we all have; if our prayers are not answered does that mean G-d didn’t listen?
Perhaps, we see from here, it’s for our best interest that things turn out the way they do. Furthermore, sometimes the results of our prayers are delayed such that our children or grandchildren benefit from them.
Okay, perhaps our prayers are answered; perhaps our prayers benefit future generations…whatever and whomever, nevertheless praying 3 times a day!! That’s overwhelming!!
Perhaps this is the best time to let people know. Many people have a misconception about prayer.Prayer is called AVODA- literally-work; it’s one of the aspects of serving the creator. Just like learning Torah, keeping Shabbat, kashrut, tzedaka , be kind to people, just to name a few, so is tefila. By praying one is acknowledging his reliance to G-d and a key aspect of our religion. By acknowledging one gets closer to G-d.
We read in the AMIDA- the silent prayer “give us a health, intelligence, wealth.” G-d knows we need those things. Why do we have to say it?
The AVODA of prayer is to make us realize that G-d is in control and to constantly remind us of that.
Why do we have to know that our great mothers were barren?
It seemed like all of them were. There was no IDF back then. The reason why they suffered and were humiliated so much was because G-d wanted them to pray and their prayers were beautiful, sincere, and mesmerizing.
Between Adam, Eve, and the snake, G-d punished the snake most severely by taking away his taste buds and eating the dust of the earth.
If one thinks a bit; why is that a punishment?
He has no issues of finding and preparing food or having a craving. It seems we have the more severe punishment we have to find food, water, shelter, and energy, all with “with the sweat of your brow”.
It looks like we humans got the short end of the stick.
Not exactly.  G-d was very angry at the snake. He was so upset, that He said to him “I don’t want to see you much- Don’t call me”. Therefore he made him more independent. By praying we are connecting.
Many Chasidim like to pray with their Rebbi. Some would go out of their way on a daily basis and some would travel 6,000 miles more often than not just to have that connection.
Granted, they appreciate their teacher. He probably gave a lot to his students, but don’t they think they’re over doing it a bit?
There was once a business man who was traveling abroad. The concept of “man plans and G-d laughs” could not have been closer to the truth here. He was stuck in this town for Yom Kippur. He Google’s and finds out which shul is closest to his hotel.
Yom Kippur starts and this fellow arrives. “There are probably assigned seats but I’ll take my chances” he says as he strategically explores the shul. He sees someone praying, shaking ,crying and screaming to G-d. “Ah, that’s who I want to pray next to” he thought as he anxiously moves toward him and plants his Talit bag. For the remainder of the night this man wailed, fell to the floor and banged on his chest. It was a sight to see. It put the business man in a real repentance, Yom Kippur mood. He was so glad to sit next to him. He’s my ticket to a good year. Jackpot!! Show me the stairway to heaven. Jimmy Page eat your heart out!
Yom Kippur morning arrives and again the man’s performance was impeccable. The businessman was crying with him. However when the congregation was about to take the Torah out and read the morning portion he began to scream and argue with the Gabai.
” Why did you give that Aliya to him; I wanted it. You’ve been doing this all year; this is a conspiracy. You’re a louse!! This congregation is garbage!!
The business man sat there with such regret and embarrassment.
The business man, in essence did the right thing; it was just lousy mazal.
Many of our sages say praying with a minyan is more powerful then an individual prayer.
There are bad angels that are assigned to intercept ones prayers. Every prayer is heard, however it loses a lot of steam by the time it reaches the heavens. Prayer with a minyan goes to the heavens untouched.
Why?
No matter how good a person is “for the most part” he has issues and skeletons in his closet. While in a miyan there can be many individuals with different merits. The comradely and unison merits of a minyan make a wholesome and attractive package.
Furthermore we are humans after all and our concentration during prayer is not exactly always there. We are creatures of habit and there are pluses and minuses to that. Unfortunately, prayer can be mechanical. However, there will always be at least one individual at any given time who will pray with the up-most sincerity. They will un-knowingly and unconsciously pass the sincere baton to each other throughout the prayer services.
The Chassidim gravitate to where their Rebbi prays because a teacher of Torah is a tremendous giver. Learning Torah requires two parts. We say in the prayer before the Morning Shema, Lilmod u le lamed – to learn and to teach. The combination of the two equals to the full mitzvah-reward of learning Torah. If one only learns and doesn’t give over he doesn’t get the full reward. The teacher gets full reward for the dearest commandment: teaching G-d’s work. He’s a giver that emulates the trait of G-d.
To connect to the Rebbi, one is attached to many merits. Therefore it’s a tremendous benefit to pray with him.
Rabbi Yossi has tremendous merits and for at least one night, these eight taxi drivers prayed with a tzadik and as a result benefited greatly. They felt a spiritual high. A heartfelt prayer by one of those drivers in the confines of a minyan would have transported the prayers all in the minyan including Rav Yossi to the higharchy of the heavens, unabated.
 “first story re-written, originally  from “in the spirit of the maggid” by Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Mesorah publications,ltd, article written with the help from Rabbi’s Baruch Dopelt, Yossi Bilus