21 Sivan 5768

Special Note One:  We received the following correspondence from one of our readers:

“I would like to point out the slight difference in pronunciation between the word “Ohev”--who loves, and “Oyev”--enemy.  Perhaps, homiletically, one can claim that our goal should be to turn an Oyev into an Ohev, and that is why they are so close in etymology.  To me, there is a more practical difference.  Every night, at Maariv, in the second brocha, we conclude with “Ohev Amo Yisroel--that Hashem loves His people.”  When one is tired, or is not careful, he can easily slur the words to be, Chas V’Shalom, Oyev Amo--the enemy of His nation.  Just change one letter and the word can have the opposite meaning, and the opposite effect of what you want.  Perhaps by being careful to daven out loud we will not fall for these kinds of hurtful mispronunciations.”

Hakhel Note:  Thank you very much for your comment.  Sometimes we forget the sheer potency of our Tefillos.  Rabbi Yissocher Frand, Shlita, in the name of the Alter of Kelm, brings this point home beautifully from this week’s Parsha, Parshas Korach.

In the Parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu davens to Hashem about Koach’s gathering:  “Al Teyfen El Minchasan--please do not take heed of their offering to you” (Bamidbar 16: 15).  Why did Moshe Rabbeinu have to daven in this way--could anyone at all have ever thought in their right minds that Hashem would pay attention to the offering of the rebellious Korach and his cohorts?  Moreover, the “Pi Ha’Aretz”--the crack in the earth that swallowed up Korach and his group--had already created in the 6 Days of Creation (Avos 5:8)--so what did Moshe Rabbeinu have to worry about?!  The clear lesson to be gleaned is that the sincere entreaties, even of the wicked, even of the mutinous, are incredibly powerful.  All the more so, a well-enunciated, meaningful prayer.

One other point on this topic: Some may fall onto the habit of coming to davening a few minutes late, and “expertly” skipping in perfect order what one “may” skip, based on the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Chapter 52.  However, the Mishna Berura (ibid, seif koton 1) writes that the Magid warned the Bais Yosef to come to Shul early--so that he could daven in Shul early without skipping--for one who davens with skipping is “MeHapech HaTzinoros”--harms the regular channels of Tefillah to Shomayim.

Before davening, we should take a moment to be conscious of the power of our Tefillos, and to the literal importance of every word--recited in order!

Special Note Two:  We provide our readers with three powerful excerpts from the Sefer Shaarei Teshuva, written by Rabbeinu Yonah.

1.    “It is the same [with Teshuva] as with a garment that needs washing.  A little washing will suffice to remove the surface dirt, but only after much washing will it become entirely clean, as it is written “Wash me thoroughly for my transgression” (Tehillim 51:4).”  Hakhel Note:  How would you like your clothing to come back from the cleaners---why should your soul be any worse?

2.    “It is for him who trusts in Hashem to hope, in the gloom of his anguish, that the darkness be the cause of light, as it is written (Micha, 7:8): ‘Rejoice not against me, Oh my enemy, though I have fallen, I shall arise: though I sit in darkness, Hashem is light onto me.’  Chazal explain this Pasuk as follows:  ‘If I had not fallen, I would not have risen, if I have not sat in darkness, it would not have been light onto me’ (Medrash Tehillim, 22).”  Hakhel Note: Is it any wonder then that we are reminded of this with night preceding day--every single day?

3.    “Shlomo HaMelech teaches in Koheles (9:4), ‘For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’  The meaning of this is that even the lowliest person alive can add ‘Maalos HaNefesh--can grow spiritually within’--which is something that the wisest, most righteous deceased person cannot do.  [Shaar 2:24]”

From the above excerpts we can get a glimpse from the Rabbeinu Yonah as to how crucial it is to proceed through the everyday affairs, including the daily difficulties and tribulations, of life with a pure and thinking spirit.  The ups and downs, trials and tests, pain and suffering, are intended to--and do--lead somewhere.  Every precious moment of life should be appreciated and not squandered--used for its purpose, and not wasted.

Our goal should be to make our “garment” cleaner and cleaner, and we will surely see a glowing light at the end of the tunnel!  As we will now be approaching the last quarter of the year (Tammuz-Av-Elul), we should begin to focus on our daily perspectives and attitudes.  When getting up in the morning, while traveling and even while working or taking care of our household tasks--do we make the most spiritual use of our time?

We should not only claim that life is precious--we should prove it!

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Reprinted with permission from Hakhel MIS