The bracha of Modim, Thanks, continues with Tzur chaiyenu, Hashem is the Rock of our lives. The Maggid Tzedek explains the metaphor simply: Hashem protects us like an impenetrable rock. The Eitz Yosef gives it a deeper meaning: Just...
We next ask Hashem, “R’tzei Hashem Elokeinu b’amcha Yisroel uvis’filasam – Favor Hashem our G-d, Your nation Yisroel and their tefilos.” We first ask Hashem to favor us. For if, G-d forbid, He doesn’t favor us, then He despises...
In this all-encompassing sixteenth blessing, we ask Hashem, “Shema koleinu – Listen to our voices.” In his sefer Beis Elokim, the Mabit explains that we choose to say the words our voices, to ask Hashem that even if...
The Gemora teaches us, “Im ein daas, havdala minayin – Without knowledge, how does one differentiate?” This is the reason why on Motzoi Shabbos we say the havdala the insertion of Atah chonantonu within the blessing of Atah chonein,...
The blessing of Es Tzemach, where we Daven for salvation, is the fifteenth bracha of Shemone Esrei. Perhaps we can say that the number fifteen hints to Hashem’s Name Y-ah [a yud and a hei], which has the...
The Maharal, zt”l, zy”a, in his Chidushei Aggados on Shas, asks the following question. When we say the primary Chanukah prayer of Al HaNissim, the focus is on the miracle of the conquest against the Syrian-Greeks, “T’mei’im b’yad t’horim...
The Maharal, zt”l, zy”a, questions a seeming contradiction between two Gemoras in Masechtas Shabbos. First, the Gemora states that the time of the mitzvah of lighting the menorah, is from when the sun sets until people cease to be around...
At this time of the year, when walking in the mall or other shopping areas, it is common to hear the jingle, “Tis the season to be jolly, Tra-la-la la-la, la-la, la-la.” We are so inundated by...
In the fourteenth blessing of the Shemone Esrei, we focus on the city of Yerushalayim. We must know as Jews that the most beautiful and important city in the world is not New York City, Los Angeles, Dubai,...
The bracha of Al HaTzadikim, where we pray for the welfare of the righteous ones, is the thirteenth blessing of the Shemone Esrei. Perhaps this is because thirteen is the gematria, the numeric value, of ahava, love, and...