Partners In Prayer - Siddur

The question was raised as to why there are different customs regarding the order of prayer, and how each individual should pray. I replied that it is impossible to adequately explain these things in writing. However, the   following can be revealed:   Our sages teach us that a person entering and leaving the Holy Temple would have to bow 13 times, paralleling the 13 gates of the Temple (Shekalim 6:1,2). These are also alluded to in the Book of Ezekiel, where each tribe will have its own gate when the holiness of Jerusalem is restored to the status it had in the time of the Temple (Ezekiel 48:31). It is known that the Temple here on earth paralleled the Temple on High (Zohar, Volume II 59b). The Holy Temple on High therefore also has a gate for each tribe, as explained in the writings of the Ari (Pri Etz Chaim, Inyan Tefillah). The concept of prayer is therefore the key with which each individual enters through his own gate .  We are thus taught that prayer is, “The ladde...

  The 1st of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yitzchak Meir (ben Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel) of Zinkov, son of the Apta Rav (1855).  “Speak to the Children of Israel and let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart   motivates him you shall take My portion (Exodus 25:2).”  The sustenance that Israel takes and receives from God, as in, “let them take,” is considered by God as is they have given it to Him: “you shall take My portion.” (Rabbi Meir of Apta; Ohr L’Shamayim-Terumah)   “Who gave the heart understanding to distinguish between day and night.” Simply by acknowledging that our understanding comes from God is considered as if we have given a gift to Him. By: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y

It is written that God told Moses, “I will take away My hand, and you will see My back, but My face shall not be seen (Exodus 33:23).” Our sages teach us that this alludes to the fact that God showed Moses the knot of His   head tefillin (Berachot 7a).   God hides Himself in the Infinite Splendor. The place in which God hides Himself is the brilliant concealed Light, which cannot be perceived at all. The Infinite Light of God’s Essence is all the more certainly hidden and incomprehensible. It is written, “From my flesh I shall see God (Job 19:26).” We know that when a person wants to hide himself, he places his hand over his head or face. When God covers Himself, we therefore also say that He does so with His “hand.” [We act this out when we cover our eyes while saying Shema] God’s hand is alluded to by the letter  Kaf , which means, “palm of the hand.” This letter  Kaf , however, also alludes to the Crown [Keter] (Zohar 3:274b). This is the highest of all of the Ema...

Our principal purpose and perfection lies in serving the Lord in complete simplicity, without any sophistication. There are philosophers who say that our principal purpose and reason for existence in the World to, is only to know   everything as it is; for instance, to know a star as it is, to know its essence, and why it is located in such and such specific place. For there is the quality of the thinker, the intellect itself, and that which is conceived by the intellect. They maintain that the goal of our existence in the World to, is that all should become unified. Hence they spend their days in this world contemplating mastering these concepts, regarding this as their purpose. In their opinion, this in itself is the World to Come, except that in this world, where they are enclothed in bodies, they do not derive as much pleasure from the philosophical speculation, but in the World to Come, where they will be divested of their bodies, they will derive great pleasure from it. Accor...

The Chiddushei haRim cites the passage in the Talmud (Shabbat 88a) which says that at the revelation of the Torah at Sinai, God raised the mountain over the heads of the assembled people of Israel and said to them, “if you   accept the Torah, good and well; if not here shall be your burial place!” Tosafot asks the most obvious question: How can the Sages of the Talmud assert that Israel was coerced into accepting the Torah when Scripture states explicitly that the response of Israel was, “We shall do and we shall obey (Exodus 24:7),” thus implying their readiness to accept the Torah on faith?   The answer he offers is that indeed, both are true; paradoxically, the Children of Israel were both coerced into their historic mission and they accepted it voluntarily. Essentially, their attitude was that given by Scripture; a warm and happy response of readiness to assume the burden of service of God.  But the Sages insisted upon a note of reluctance as well, in order to teach s...

It is written that before the Torah was given on Sinai, “They stood beneath the mountain (Exodus 19:17).” Our sages teach us that God tipped the mountain over them like a barrel and said, “If you accept the Torah, good; if not,   this will be your grave (Shabbat 88a).” The question remains, why did God have to tip the mountain over them? They had already declared, “We will do and we will listen (Exodus 24:7).”   I heard from my master the Baal Shem Tov that God tipped the mountain over them to teach us that even if a person does not have any desire for Torah and worship, he is still not free to neglect them. He must force himself, and imagine that he is actually being coerced to do these things against his will. This is very good advice when a person is in a state of Smallness and Constricted Consciousness. He will not neglect to engage in study and worship, even when he has no desire to do so . Then at least, he will have the deed. (Ben Porat Yosef 66) “Attach us to the Good ...

You take the Zechus of Avraham   the Rokeiach says as follows. If you look carefully at the verses before the Karban Pesach in Perek Yud Bais ,(Exodus)  when Moshe is first giving them, (Klal Yisroel) the Mitzvos  that they have to do so he says , “everything has to be ready to go, you have to wear your belts and Naaleichem Biragleichem,   your shoes on your feet. The Rokeach says What do you mean “ shoes on your feet”? Plus shoes on your feet we make a Bracha , a special bracha for shoes so there must be some kind of relationship between the bracha of Hameicheen Mitzadei Gaver and Moshe telling them at before they before they did the first Karban Pesach, and Naaeleichem Biragleichem   You have to wear your shoes. Why do people wear shoes? They wear shoes if they're gonna walk. Who's the first walker? Avraham Avinu, Lech Licha   He says, it is interesting,  let's see if we could take this a little further because you know that we actually do something...

אוזר ישראל בגבורה , Who Girds Israel with Strength Our greatest power we have is our ability to choose.  Real choice contains a battle. In other words without a conflict it is no choice at all . Therefore choice requires strength.  When we make the choice for good, our very nature changes and we elevate ourselves and the world. When that happens we are given the name Israel. To me, it is the time to remind ourselves of the power Hashem has given us to earn the name Israel.  I thank You HaShem for giving us the ultimate empowerment tool! עוטר ישראל בתפארה, Who Crowns Israel with Splendor Since there is conflict in a battle, we are by definition confronting a limitation, either a limited perception, or vision, or thought processes, difficult situations,  ourselves ultimately etc.. when we fight it out until we find our higher desires, our real "Ratzon" and choose accordingly; we are then using the very limitation, or a situation that seemed harsh, or difficu...