01 Jun USING OUR HEADS IN SHUL

Here, on the eastern
coast, early summer finally
seems to be here. As the
plants start to bloom and
the temperatures rise,
Klal Yisroel continues to
collectively learn Pirkei
Avos and continue our
spiritual blooming as well.
During the days of sefira, we commemorated
the ethical improvement and spiritual climb
that our forefathers achieved from the moment
of the Exodus until they were deserving of
greeting G-d Himself forty-nine days later
at Mount Sinai. Therefore, it is particularly
fitting during and after this time of the year
to learn Pirkei Avos, the premier syllabus for
proper ethical behavior in Yiddishkeit.
Pirkei Avos is prefaced with the statement,
“Kol Yisroel yeish lahem cheilek L’Olom
Haba – Every Jew has a reserved portion in
the Afterlife.” The Chida reveals a remarkable
gematria. If you take the last letter of each
word in this statement, “Kol Yisroel,” etc.,
their numbers total to 541, the exact gematria
of Yisroel. This again emphasizes the special
privilege that each and every Jew has: An
automatic spot in the Eternal World. This
is one of the reasons why we are known
as Yidden for, as the Gemara reveals in
Masechtas Menachos, the letter yud is what
Hashem used to create the Afterlife. Thus, we
are all Yidden since we all have a passport to

the World that was created with the yud. So, it
follows that Pirkei Avos, which instructs us on
how to live a moral and spiritually productive
life, is prefaced with the Jew’s ultimate goal
and ambition: To achieve the supreme joy of
the Afterlife.
The study of Pirkei Avos contains lesson
after lesson on how we can improve our daily
behavior. Let me share with you one powerful
example. In the second perek, we are taught,
“Al taas tefilasecha k’va, ela rachamim
v’sachanunim lifnei HaMakom – Do not allow
your prayers to become fixed and habitual but
rather let them be sincere and concentrated
expressions of supplications for mercy before
Hashem.” The Tanna is warning us that since
we say a prescribed formula of prayer day
after day, it can easily become mere lip service
and a habit-like ritual.
Because of this Mishna, I was always against
putting on the Chazzan’s lectern a list of times
like Brochos 7:30, Rabbi Yishmael 7:40,
Yishtabach 7:54 etc. For there is no example
of making ones prayers “fixed” more than this!
I’d like to offer a mighty challenge. The next
time you go to shul to pray, tell yourself that
you’re planning to use your mind as much
as your mouth in the synagogue. For proper
service of Hashem has more to do with the
mind and the heart than with the mouth. Of
course, we have to say our prayers but, as the
Chovos HaLevovos tells us, prayer without
concentration is like a body without a soul and

a peel without the fruit. Thus, I believe it is
not wrong to say that we go primarily to shul
to use our heads even more than our mouths. It
is for this reason that the Gemora categorically
states,”Aizehu avoda shee b’leiv hevai omer
zu tefillah-What is the work of the heart? It is
none other than prayer.” Thus the emphasis is
on the heart/mind and not the mouth. Although
it is true that Hashem is “Kai-l shomeah
teffilas kol peh- Hashem listens to even the
prayers that emanate just from the mouth.”
This is however the lowest rung, the weakest
level of prayer.
Let me tell you what made me realize this
idea. In another Mishna in the first chapter
of Pirkei Avos, Shimon HaTzadik teaches us
that the world stands on three pillars, Torah,
Avodah (which is the service of Hashem), and
Gemilas Chasodim, acts of kindness. As we
know, Yaakov Avinu introduced Torah to the
world; Yitzchak introduced Avodah, while
Avraham pioneered Gemilas Chasodim. The
Chida explains more profoundly that there are
three areas of challenge in one’s life: the world
of action, the world of speech, and the world of
thought. He explains that Torah is the success
for the arena of speech. Gemilas Chasodim
is the success for the realm of action. Lastly,
it is Avodah, especially prayer, which is the
ultimate success for the world of thought.
Thus, we see revealed that, if one wants to
excel at Avodas Hashem, he or she needs to
use their heads while praying to Hashem.

May it be the will of Hashem that we train
ourselves to use our minds as often as we can
whenever we open the Siddur or Bentcher,
when we say Krias Shema or the Shemonah
Esrei, and in that merit may Hashem fulfill all
our prayers, blessing us with long life, good
health, and everything wonderful.