Partners In Prayer - Siddur

  The Chiddushei ha-Rim says in the name of the Ari HaKadosh that each Shabbat we regain the crowns of “Na’aseh V’Nishma,” that we lost after the sin of the Golden Calf.  This means that on Shabbat we have the opportunity   to study Torah with God as our study partner , “ Panim el Panim.,” Face to Face, as did Moshe, and as we did at Revelation !   If so, asks the Chiddushei ha-Rim, why do we not experience this? He answers, either because we do not want it enough, or because we do not feel pain over its absence during the week, or we don’t expect it.   I thought that perhaps that perhaps the Kavanot we find in the Siddur before performing certain mitzvot are not just to prepare our minds to fulfill the midsole with proper intentions, but to allow us to create expectations that the mitzvah will be great; we will experience the most wonderful tefillin of our lives, the most powerful Shabbat, the greatest prayer. I find that Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat immediately...

  “God will have reigned, He will have donned grandeur.” When a person accepts the Yoke of Heaven to the point of being willing to give his entire spirtual being to God; he creates a Holy Garment so to speak, in which God robes Himself as He sits on His Throne.   If you take the first letter of each Hebrew word of, “Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad,” “Shin” = 300, “Yud” = 10, “Yud” = 10, “Aleph” = 1, “Yud” = 10, “Aleph” = 1, the total is 332, which is the gematria of “Lavesh”: “Lamed” = 30, “Vet” = 2, and “Shin” = 300.  This is to remind us that if we recite the Shema with proper Kavanah to accept the Yoke of Heaven and to love God with our entire Soul, we create a “Levush,” a garment for God. Divrei Shmuel – Rabbi Shmuel Weinberg of Slonim Psalm of the Day – Friday:  We enter Shabbat having transformed all our actions into Royal Garments for God. Kabbalat Shabbat : Our Shabbat clothes reflect the Beautiful Garments we made for God with our acceptance of S...

  “Come (Moshe invites us)! Let us sing to God, let us call out to the Rock of our salvation.”  This is a call from Moshe to r emember that every moment and every challenge is an opportunity to, “Come” to God, to, “Sing” to Him ,   and to “Call out to our Rock of Salvation.”  This is a call to Teshuva at the beginning of Shabbat, the day of Teshuva.  (Rabbeinu Menachem HaMeiri: Chibbur ha-Teshuva)   To be used in Kabbalat Shabbat. By:  Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y 

“Sing to God a new song, sing to God, everyone on earth.” The “New Song,” is the song of the World to Come, and Shabbat which is a ‘Taste of the World to Come,’when “everyone on earth,” will acknowledge God.   There will be no distractions from our attachment to God or our song. Each day, as does each Shabbat, will offer a new level of attachment, leading to a new song. (Rabbeinu Moshe Alshich ha-Kadosh)   To be used for Kabbalat Shabbat. By:  Rabbi Weinberg, n''y

“Light is sown for the righteous, and for the upright of heart, gladness.” The “Light,” refers to the light we create with our Mitzvot. Even in those moments when our hearts are stirred to Teshuva and we achieve the status of,   “Righteous,” that light is planted and hidden from us.  If we hold on to those moments and reach even higher in our Service of God to God because of the Teshuva stirrings, the light will burst forth and we will merit, “And for the upright of heart, gladness,” and we will be able to serve God as we should, in joy and happiness. (Rav Matisyahu Solomon – Matnat Chaim)   Kabbalat Shabbat:  We use the stirrings of Shabbat to pray for our “seeds of light,” to burst forth so that we can achieve serving God with happiness. Use this verse whenever you have a powerful moment when your soul is stirred to reach higher to God. By:  Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y

  “Play music to God on a harp, with harp and sound of chanted praise.” There is a debate over which form of praise is considered more elevated: Voice or musical instrument. This verse indicates that voice comes to enhance   the instrument, which is more elevated. (Sha’arei Chaim)   We sing Kabbalat Shabbat to enhance the “Musical Instruments” of the Angels playing in the Beit Hamikdash in heaven. By:  Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y

  “Mighty is the King,   Who  loves justice.  You founded fairness.   The justice and righteousness of Jacob,  You have made!” It is worthwhile to remember when we are upset over a terrible loss, that God, “Who loves justice,” gave us what we lost, so that we could achieve atonement and “the justice and righteousness of Jacob.”  God gave us that which we lost to provide an opportunity of justice! Kabbalat Shabbat : We acknowledge that all we own is a gift from You, God, even if we will ultimately lose it. By: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y