16 May WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME – PART ONE
One of the special features of the wonderful Yom Tov of Shavuos is the reading of Megilas Rus. While it is a fascinating and delightful story, its linkage to the celebration of matan Torah, the giving of the...
09 May REVITALIZING OUR DAVENING – PART NINE
After we pray for assistance to repent, we can now ask Hashem for forgiveness. It would be phony to petition for forgiveness before we show an attempt at repentance. Thus, we pray to Hashem, “Slach lonu Avinu, ki chatonu –...
02 May REVITALIZING OUR DAVENING – PART EIGHT
In the fifth bracha of the Shemone Esrei, we ask Hashem, “Hashiveinu Avinu l’Sorosecha - Return us, Our Father, to Your Torah.” Since in the previous blessing we asked for knowledge, the first pursuit for which we want to...
25 Apr REVITALIZING OUR DAVENING – PART SEVEN
The middle brachos of the Shemone Esrei are the petitions that we ask Hashem for the full gamut of our needs. The first petition, for knowledge, starts in a peculiar way. It is the only bracha of...
18 Apr REVITALIZING OUR DAVENING – PART SIX
Shemone Esrei where we proclaim to Hashem that “You are Holy,” and conclude with blessing Hashem for being the “Almighty Who is Holy,” is somewhat peculiar. In all the ensuing blessings, we thank Hashem for gifts that He gives...
02 Apr OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AT THE SEDER – PART TWO
Last week, we spoke about the great opportunity to ask from Hashem for our needs on the night of the Seder. Rav Elya Dushnitzer said in a Shabbos HaGodol drasha that Mordechai HaTzaddik had an option to wait...
28 Mar OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AT THE SEDER – PART ONE
(We interrupt our series on tefilah to speak about Pesach.) At the end of Magid, the Hagaddah informs us of one of the mission statements of the Seder. “B’chol dor v’dor chi’yev adom liros es atsmo ki’ilu hu yatza...
21 Mar REVITALIZING OUR DAVENING – PART FIVE
As we continue our travels through tefilla, we just finished the second bracha in the Shemone Esrei. At this point, when the chazzan says over for us the Shemone Esrei, we chant the lofty prayer of Kedusha. As...
14 Mar REVITALIZING OUR DAVENING – PART FOUR
How exciting it is for me to be able to deepen my understanding of prayers and take you with me on my travels! In the mussar portion of the Chok...
08 Mar REVITALIZING OUR DAVENING – PART THREE
As I continue to take you with me on my journey of prayer discovery, let me share with you a sage idea from the Chachmei Chabad. In Krias Shema we say, “Va’avad’tem meheira,” (If we follow idolatry) we will...