27 Aug 18 Ways to More Effective Prayer (Part 5)

We will continue now our crash course on skillful prayer. We are taught in the third perek of Masechtas Kallah Rabosi, “Kol hamevakeish shalom, ein tefiloso chozeres reikom – Whoever pursues peace, his prayer is never turned back empty.” In other words, his prayers are always answered. The baraisa then backs it up with a gematria. The gematria of shalom, peace, is 376. It is the same numerical value as shavei’a, to cry out, which is also 376. This is to bolster the fact that a peace-loving person has great potency in their petition. As the High Holidays approach, many shuls look for someone to daven from the omud to represent them on Rosh HaShanah, the Day of Judgement and on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. It is obvious that we want a powerful ambassador to present our community’s case at this pivotal time of the year. This is why we are taught that we look for someone who is m’urov im habrios, one who blends well with all people, because the best ambassador that we can find is someone who has the trait of shalom, who gets along with all people. So, if we want to strengthen the potency of our supplications, we must realize that by increasing our tolerance and sculpting a pleasant demeanor to all people, we are greatly enhancing our tefilah powers. Effective Way Number Six: In the beginning of Parshas V’eschanan, the Medrash reveals to us that there are ten terms for prayer. Then, the Medrash reveals that the highest level is V’eschanan. The word v’eschanan shares the root word of chinum, for free. Thus, the most powerful way to approach Hashem is to ask Him to give us a freebie, although we don’t deserve it. The posuk says, “Tefilah l’ani ki yatof – The prayer of the poor when he feels faint,” and as the Mishna Berurah tells us, we should pray like a beggar who goes around to people’s doors. Indeed, in Selichos we say, “K,dalim u’churoshim dafaknu d,losecha – Like the needy and the poor, we bang on Your doors.” Rav Schwadron, zt”l, zy”a, wonders, usually a poor man doesn’t bang. He knocks respectfully and timidly. However, explains Rav Schwadron, “If the poor man hasn’t eaten in three day, he bangs.” Our best prayer is when we portray to Hashem that we desperately need him. The Gemora says, “Hayored lifnei hateiva – They [the shliach tzibor] went down to daven from the omud. Indeed, in Rav Heinneman’s shul in Baltimore, the chazzan goes down a step before standing by the omud. This is in sync with a posuk in Tehillim, “Shir hama’alos, mimamakim karosicha Kah – A Song of Ascents, from the depths I called You.” This is to express that we are not asking Hashem because we feel we deserve it but we are praying to Him as our Father in Heaven to give us a matnas chinam, a free gift. Like we say in the final stanza of Avinu Malkeinu, “Avinu Malkeinu, chaneinu v’aneinu ki ein bonu ma’asim, aseh imonu tzedakah v’chesed v’hoshi’einu – Our Father, our King, do for us for free, and answer us because we don’t have deeds, perform for us charity and kindness and grant us salvation.” The smart davener knows that Hashem appreciates it when we approach Him with humility rather than with an attitude that it is coming to me and I surely deserve it. In the merit of learning more about tefilah, may Hashem answer our prayers and bless us with long life, good health, and everything wonderful.