Skip to main content

The Articulater


Suppose that I could map out all the different issues I have to face. Additionally, I understand that because Yerushalayim itself, and the Bais Hamikdosh specifically, and the Avoda in the Bais Hamikdosh, actually gives me a way to manage everything in front of me. But, don’t suppose because this is the truth! Therefore, if I use the Shmone Esray properly I can figure out a Messila L'elokaynu, a defined path through all the issues I'm dealing with, until I can articulate it well -- which would be The Journey… our journey. This is the Nechama that can come from every time I daven Shmone Esray. The way I articulate in how I express myself is so important in the same way that it is so important when listening to someone to carefully hear how they are phrasing and describing something… until you really understand and therefore can guide them on a path to be able to deal with whatever it is they are feeling. That's what Yerushalayim does. And, that's what the Shmone Esray is supposed to do for us.


 We ask for when we say, “Ado-nai Sifasai Tiftach” -- to give us the means to articulate our issues in such a specifically understandable way and therefore be better equipped to figure out each issue. There have been times when I have asked a parent who's desperately davening for a child, what they are davening for. I get these non-specific answers like, “Oh, just to help her”. And I have to ask, “But how do you want Hashem to help her? What do you want HaShem to do?” But, somehow, some parents cannot articulate the help that they want. They can't even say it. They can't even imagine a path through a situation. Have you ever seen someone so overwhelmed by a problem that they cannot even imagine any way out? 

Part of the Shmoney Esray’s function is to help someone articulate and specify what his or her issues are, and that is the starting point from where to then figure out a path. 


Therefore, what we are asking for when we say “Hashem!”, Sifasay Tiftach” is, "let me open gates!” It is almost like saying, “open this gate!” That is why one of the systems of Kavanos for Davening the amidah is that you picture a bunch of courtyards, and that you go step by step, and open these huge gates. As you open these gates (in Yerushalayim, in your mind) you get closer and closer to the King with each gate through which you pass.


Concepts Shared by Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y

for more see:

https://thefoundationstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Nachamu-Week-3_part-2_FINAL.pdf
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Birchat Hamazon

By: Machberes Avodas Hashem The Chafetz Chaim taught: "At the conclusion of the main portion of Grace after Meals we add a series of,' May the All Merciful.' We add numerous such petitions, indicating that a request to God after the performance of a mitzvah is especially acceptable before Him (Michtevei haRav Chafetz Chaim, page 45)." One of the primary issues of the Exile is, "You wrapped Yourself in a cloud that no prayer can pierce (Lamentations 3:44)." It is more difficult to pray during the Three Weeks than other times during the year because we experience this "cloud." With COVID unfortunately around, this year proves to be even more difficult because our time in shul has changed drastically, and we have never experienced the pain of the three weeks while in a situation similar to the present state of the world. We can use this strategy of the Chafetz Chaim, that of praying immediately after the performance of a mitzvah, so that we may feel t...
Post a Comment
Read more

What do I want?

  What am I waiting for? I want to hear the   sound of the “big Shofar” as a call to action to my   Neshama.   You created me to “do”, to overcome, to maximize, to grow, to achieve “ Gadlus ”.    I need you to relate to me in my greatness, hence “ Bishofar Gadol”. I can break down the walls using the sounds of the Shofar blowing.   Meaning when I respond to the alert of “ Tika Bishofar Gadol ”   with my action of blowing my Shofar by articulating what it is   I want , then Hashem responds in kind.     I want to articulate my “Want” from a place of greatness, from my highest self.. This hearing and responding with the sounds of the Neshama / Shofar is what I think is a prayer. Prayer allows me to be free!   לחרותינו  Prayer has no limits , as described in this Bracha of the gathering together of all the exiled nation of Israel. So I want to use this Bracha as my way of saying, “ I want to be “ Tefillah ” ( P...
Post a Comment
Read more

Creation

 All was destroyed during the month of Av. Creation began on Elul, and, so it will again. We recite this prayer for the New Month focusing on Creation. “God created the world in order to do good to an other (Derech Hashem 1:2:1).” Creation was an expression of absolute love, the “other” had done nothing to earn it. This is why Elul, the month of Creation is also the month of intense love between God and Israel. I recite this prayer imaging myself participating in the final Heavenly planning meetings before Creation. I am not praying as one who has already existed and experienced success and failure, but as one who has the opportunity to see the world before Creation, and request in this moment of intense love all that I could possibly need and want. I use this prayer to prepare for all my Elul prayers until the 25th of the month when Creation began. For what shall I ask? What will I need to succeed? How will I define success? What do I hope to achieve? Rabbi Simcha Weinberg
Post a Comment
Read more