Partners In Prayer - Siddur

  עַל־הַצַּדִּיקִים In the Bracha in Shemone Esrai of עַל־הַצַּדִּיקִים, we are given the ability to access the “Tzadik”.  It is leverage.  Similarly when we begin the Shemone Esrai with a Bracha of Avos.   We don’t have to be at the level of the Tzadik,  yet through tefillah we are given access to much much more!  In this Bracha we first can daven for them!  How humbling it is that Hashem grants us the ability to daven for those much greater in stature, just as we are able to daven for Hashem Kavyochal   Who is also called Tzadik.  And there is more! We get to ask to be placed in their Chelek of Schar ! So if I am worried that I am not deserving of the things I need, I can certainly ask Hashem to grant me the safety and security  presented to the Tzadik.וְשִׂים חֶלְקֵֽנוּ עִמָּהֶם לְעוֹלָם וְלֹא נֵבוֹשׁ כִּי בְךָ בָּטָֽחְנוּ! I think one can therefore use this Bracha when seeking protection from enemies that wield free choice; as ...

The 28th of Shevat is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Menachem Nachum Twersky (ben Yochanon) of Chernobyl, the Rachmistrivka Rebbe (1840-1937). Grandson of Rav Menachem Nachum (author of Meor Einayim).   “And they shall take a portion for Me.” Rashi explains that they should separate their gifts for God’s Name. This is a problem, as are we not obligated to fulfill all the Mitzvot for the Name of God? Why would the Torah insist on this specifically with the construction of the Mishkan? It is known (Zohar II 246a) that the Divine Presence in the lower worlds is God’s Tzimtzum, Constriction of His Being, so that it can exist in the physical world. We are also taught that the Divine Presence rests only on the Children of Israel, as the Sages teach (Berachot 7a) that Moshe requested that the Shechinah rest only on Israel, and not on the other nations. We also know that even in the diaspora, we have not abandoned God, and He therefore continues to rest His Presence on us, focusing on the righteous ...

  “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed over Amalek (Exodus 17:11).” “Were, then, the hands of Moses making war? But what the verse refers to is this: As long as the Children of Israel   were looking upwards, they were victorious (Rosh Hashanah 29a).”   This means that they constantly contemplated ways to ascend higher, and as a result the learned men, the Tzaddikim of the generation, became important in their eyes for they longed to reach the Tzaddik’s level. And since within the Children of Israel itself, the head (Tzaddik) did not bow downward, therefore in the entirety of the nations too, Israel, which is called the “Head” of the nations, prevailed and subsequently ruled. However, when within the Children of Israel the heads of the people were not held in esteem, so too in the totality of nations was Israel defeated. And so it is always whenever Jews look upwards and heed the Torah and teachings of those who are above them, they are ...

The 12th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Shmuel (ben Yeshaya) Halevi Horowitz (1972). Born in Eretz Yisrael, he first became interested in Breslov Chassidus after reading Reb Alter Tepliker’s Hishtapchus Hanefesh (whose yahrtzeit   he shares). He went to Uman for Rosh Hashana for three years and spent three months in a Russian jail after being caught.  Sadness and melancholy are like dust which fall upon the heart of a Jew which is thus unable to burst into flame and be inspired with the love of God.  With their Holy Spirit, the true leaders of the generation blow away the dust, the melancholy, from the heart of the Jews. Thus they inspire the hearts of Israel toward God. (Likkutei Eiztot, Simcha #26)   Use the blessing of the Righteous in the Amidah to pray for them to inspire us with flaming love of God, so that our hearts will be filled with the Highest Joy. By: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y