26 Dec REVITALIZING OUR TEFILOS – PART TWENTY

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 numerical values of fifteen
since it is used in connection to salvation,
as when Moshe Rabbeinu Davened for
Yehoshua, “Y-ah yoshi’acha mei’atzas
meraglim – May Hashem save you
from the counsel of the spies.” [Rashi,
Bamidbar, 13:16].
We ask, “Es tzemach Dovid Avdecha
meheira satzmiach – May the sprouting
of Dovid, Your servant, quickly grow.”
The Eitz Yosef explains that we refer to
the future scion of Dovid as Es Tzemach
because one of the names of Moshiach is
Tzemach. The Iyon Tefilah adds that we
use the language of sprouting because the

Medrash Shochar Tov cites that, “Ein ha-
geulah ba’ah al uma zu b’vas achas, ela

kima kima – Salvation won’t come to this
nation in one shot, but only gradually.”

Thus, the process is compared to the
sprouting of a plant. He concludes that
this is why we say ‘meheira,’ that it
should be speedy and not too gradual of
a process.
“V’karno torum Bi’yishu’asecha –
His horn should be elevated with Your
salvation.” The Alos Tomid teaches us
that every moment in which we hope for
salvation, we fulfil two mitzvos m’divrei
kabolah, from the Prophets. The first
mitzvah is found in Chavakuk [2:3], “Im
yismahmai’ah chakeih lo, ki vo yavo –
Even if he is delayed, hope for him for he
surely will come.” The second one is in
Tzefanyah [3:8], “Lachein chaku li, n’um
Hashem – Therefore hope to Me, says
Hashem.”
“Ki lishu’asecha kivinu kol hayom
– For Your salvation we hope every
day.” In a very fundamental Gemora in
Shabbos [31a], Rava reveals to us what
the Heavenly Tribunal will ask each of us
on the day of our final reckoning. First,
we will be asked, “Nasatah v’nasata
be’emunah? – Did you do business with
integrity?” Then we will be asked,

“K’vata itim laTorah? –
Did you make fixed times
every twelve hours to
study Torah?” The third
question will be, “Asakta
bpirya v’rivya? – Did
you try to have a Jewish
family?”
Now, what do you think
the fourth question will
be? I would have thought
perhaps, “Hispalalta
b’minyan? – Did you
Daven regularly in a
quorum of ten? Or, “Shamarta Shabbos?
– Did you religiously keep the Shabbos?”
Maybe I’d have thought, “Nasata
tzedakah? – Did you give charity?” or
“Achalta kosher? – Did you eat Kosher?
“Hanacta tefillin? – Did you don the
tefillin?” Shamarta taharas hamishpacha?
– Did you keep family purity?” Any of
these would certainly be expected.
Yet, the fourth question is a shocker!
“Tzipisa li’yeshuah? – Did you hope for
salvation?” I’m afraid many people will
be stumped by this question. Indeed, the
Shaarei Teshuvah in Orach Chaim
[118:1[ quotes the Ariza”l as saying
that when we say that we hope for
salvation every day, we should have
in mind that with this request we
will be able to acquit ourselves in the
affirmative when asked by Hashem,
“Tzipisa li’yeshuah?” The Shaarei
Teshuvah adds from the Mahar”i
Tzemach, zt”l, zy”a, that at this point
we also Daven to be saved from any
pega’im ra’im, bad happenings. And,
he comments that he has seen great
benefits from this Davener. The Olas
Tomid elaborates that one should
Daven to be healthy, if sick to be
cured, for one’s livelihood, and for
anything else that needs salvation.
“Ki lishu’asecha kivinu kol hayom.”
The word ki can be rendered ‘because
of.’ The Chid”a, zt”l, zy”a, explains
that we are worthy of salvation simply
because we hope for it every day.
The Gemora in Sanhedrin [104b]
relates that there was a woman who
lost her husband and shortly thereafter
buried a son, lo aleinu, rachmana
litzlan. Rabban Gamliel lived right
next to this widow and they shared a
common wall. Every night, Rabban
Gamliel heard her crying bitter tears.
With true empathy, the Gemora tells
us how Rabban Gamliel cried along

with her until his eye lashes fell out.
This story is also recorded in Eicha
Rabbosi with an addendum. When
Rabban Gamliel heard her cry, he also
remembered the destruction of the Beis
HaMikdash, the Temple, and cried for
it as well. The Aleinu Lishabei’ach
explains the connection. Rabban Gamliel
realized that such a double tragedy can
only happen because we are bereft of
the protection of the Temple. Calamities
occur because we don’t have the defense
of the ketores-the holy incense. Tragedy
happens because we don’t have the
mizbei’ach, the altar that makes peace
between us and our Father in heaven.
When we say this blessing hoping for
salvation, we should reflect that so many
people today are in financial distress
because we don’t have the shulchan that
brought financial stability to Klal Yisroel.
Likewise, an event such as October 7th
could only happen because we don’t have
the protection of the Beis HaMikdash.
We conclude this blessing, “Baruch
Atah Hashem, Matzmiach keren yishuah
– Blessed are You Hashem, Who will
sprout the horn of salvation.” The Otzar
HaTefilos comments that the first time
this blessing was said was by the angels
when Klal Yisroel miraculously crossed
the Yam Suf. May it come the time that
we witness the final salvation with the
coming of the Moshiach and the building
of the Beis HaMikdash, bimheira
biyameinu speedily in our day.