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...
28 Feb RAV MOSHE FEINSTEIN ZT”L ON HIS 37 TH YAHRTZEIT: A MODEL FOR ALL OF US, AS REMEMBERED BY A TALMUD
It is hard to believe that this Taanis Esther will already be the 37th yahrzeit of the Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Zt”l, Zy”a. There was a time that, when you said ‘Reb Moshe,’ everyone all over the globe instantly...
21 Feb REVITALIZING OUR DAVENING – PART ONE
I would like to take my dear readers on a personal journey. Let me explain. I’ve been reflecting lately upon a vital component to a successful life – and that is to daven to Hashem properly. After all,...
14 Feb SPENDING PRIVATE TIME WITH HASHEM
As we get further from the Sinai experience, our spirituality level decreases. This phenomenon is known as niskatnu hadoros, the generations become smaller. For this reason, no Talmudic authority known as an Amora ever disputed a Tanna, a Mishnaic authority....