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Posts Tagged ‘david hamelech’

I previously blogged (here) with an insight from Rav Shimshon Pincus to distinguish between Tefilah and Bakasha – Prayer & Supplication.

Rav Shimshon Z’L would often say that we spend so much of our time in Prayer and it is therefore imperative that we develop an appreciation for the “Art” of proper prayer. “We Daven anyway” – he would say…so it is just a good idea to work on our Tefilah.

He often mentioned that one of the reasons we find it so hard to daven, is because when we “roll out of bed” in the morning and into Shul, we estimate the power of our Prayer with the way we actually feel when we begin to Daven! We think to ourselves, how much does Hashem actually approve of this Tefilah!? I’m tired, I’m restless, my concentration is weak and my eyes are dry…surely this particular Tefilah cannot carry that much weight in the heavenly spheres!

This is a big mistake!

Our Tefilos are infused with the dynamite of its creators (our forefathers, Avraham, Yitzhok and Yaakov, introduced Shachris, Mincha and Ma’ariv respectively and the Anshei Knesses Hagdolah created our precious Siddur) and when we pray, we are literally invoking their power to carry our Tefilos to the Kisei Hakavod!

Moreover, when a Jewish woman reads from a Sefer Tehilim, she needs to know that even if her eyes are dry at that particular moment..and even if she cannot find the ability to cry, the fact is, David Hamelech himself is reading her words and infusing her prayers with his koach!

 - As Chazzal teach us – the lips of the one who created the Sefer is moving in his grave when we repeat his teachings!

There is no such thing as a “dry” prayer!

Maybe we think it’s dry…..but that’s only because we mistakenly believe that we are using our own energies to bring the prayer to its proper place. However, when we understand that our prayers are charged with the special power of its creators, we realize that we can reach the heavenly throne by climbing on their shoulders when we pray.

Another aspect to understand, is that when we start working on the quality of our prayers, the tears will come…it will happen, it just takes getting used to…

Then there is Bakasha – Supplication.

Supplication means begging from Hashem – constantly – and asking him to help you and guide you in all that you do.

Unlike Tefiloh which has set times of the day, Bakasha means reaching out to Hashem whenever, wherever and forever!

Rav Shimshon would say that where he lived in Ofakim, it was like a “jungle” outside with no less that “1000 cars” that his children would have to pass each morning on their way to Cheder!

He once said the following:

“Do you know that each one of those cars is like a wild beast, like a lion in its capacity to cause harm chas v’shalom to our children”!…and what about the spiritual beasts that our children encounter on their way to school!!…filthy billboards..newspapers…bad friends.. etc!!

Parents need to be constantly reaching out to Hashem in Prayer and supplication to watch over the physical and spiritual welfare of their children!

<Heard from Harav Shmishon Pincus Z’L>

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David Hamelech writes; “Lecha Hashem Hagedulah, V’hagevurah etc…

In this Psalm, David Hamelech lists various ‘strengths and attributes’ of Hashem Yisborach. However, in the 6th Midda which he introduces, he inserts an attribute which seems to veer from the previously identified middos, in that it doesn’t seem to identify the greatness of Hashem.

This midda is called “Ki chol Bashamayim U’vaaretz” – which Chazzal categorize and define as “Da Achid shamayim Va’artez” – Hashem connects Heaven & Earth”.

The truth of the matter is, herein lies an incredible testimonial to the greatness of Hashem and indeed, a calling to all of us.

In our lives, we know that there exists spirituality and physicality. There are the lofty pursuits on one side and the mundane on the other. We recognize that we are a combination of intellect and soul, (but) housed in a physical body with its own set of desires and limitations.

We sometimes draw the conclusion that these facets of our being are completely independent from each other. We think that only when we are in the Shul or Beis Medrash, can we tap into the spiritual wellsprings of our being. However, when we are at the workplace, on the street, or even while we are engaged in eating, we tend to see this as the pursuits related to, and restricted by our physicality.

This type of thinking is a big fallacy.

David Hamelech’s praise of Hashem in this Psalm, recognizes the fact that Hashem unites Heaven and Earth and has provided us with this template, to illustrate that this is in fact our task on this World!

On Shavuos, Hashem gave us his greatest gift of all; his Holy Torah! Hakadosh Baruch Hu himself ‘plays’ with (“Mishtasheia”) and ‘learns’ from his precious Torah. Indeed, there is no greater manifestation of the sublime, than G-d’s Holy Torah which is the blueprint for all of creation!

..and yet, Hashem gave this Heavenly gift to us Humans with all of our physical trappings and limitations. Hashem then tasked us with the responsibility to learn Torah and to physically perform Mitzvos, thereby connecting Heaven and Earth.

Our Mitzvos are seemingly Earthly; we create Tzitzis from wool and Tefilin from leather straps. We shake a Lulav and make a Bracha over an Esrog. We blow a Shofar etc. etc. Yet, when we make a Bracha over the performance of these Mitzvos, we say “Asher Kideshanu B’mitzvosav” – You (Hashem) make us Holy through the performance of (these) your positive commandments!

Indeed, this is the message for us to internalize. We must realize that Hashem wants us to emulate his ways by connecting Heaven & Earth and in so doing, to achieve the greatness and purpose of our existence!

If Hashem wanted to be strictly worshiped by Angels, he wouldn’t have created Human beings with all of our physical flaws, desires and limitations.

Instead, Hashem fused us with the sublime (our Holy Neshamos – our Chelek Elokai M’ma’al) and the mundane (our physical bodies with all of its desires etc.) and placed us in this test riddled place called Earth.

He instructs us to take our souls which desires nothing more than to forge a heavenly connection (D’veykus) and to cleave to the Rebono Shel Olam – and to merge it with our bodies in the performance of mitzvos and service to Hashem.

There is no contradiction between Shamayim and Aretz in the service of Hashem. In fact, the most ideal way to serve Borei Olam, is by infusing the mundane with the spirit of the sublime and Holiness.

This, then, is why we are here in the first place, to connect Heaven and Earth through learning Torah and performing Mitzvos in every situation and wherever we find ourselves.

<Heard From HaRav Shimshon Pincus Z”L>

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There is an inyan of making 100 berachos a day. This was enacted by David Hamelech during his reign, as a means of bring a yeshua to Klal Yisroel. During this time, there was a terrible plague brought on Klal Yisroel, where 100 Jewish people were dying every day. Hashem, was upset with us for our sins and Klal Yisroel was feeling the wrath of Hashems anger.

With this enactment, David Hamelech was able to reverse the terrible decree and bring an end to the plague. What was it about this 100 berachos that made the proper impression on Hashem and why didn’t David Hamelech pursue the more standard channels of Tefiloh, Bakasha, Atzeres etc. which Jews have employed throughout the ages to implore Hakadosh Baruch Hu to bring yeshuas to our people?

The answer is simplistic in its beauty, yet profound at the same time.

When a child falls on the floor and gets a nasty gash on his leg, would you say it would be an appropriate time for the mother to take out a tehilim and start reading psalms? Of course not! Tehilim is a beautiful way to reach out to Hashem..but right now the child is on the floor bleeding..he might need stiches etc. Now is NOT the time for saying tehilim, now is the time for ACTION. Hashem wants us to call an abulance and bring the child to the doctor immediately.

There is a proper time and place for everything.

David Hamelech with is genius, saw that a tremendous calamity had struck our people; that G-d was angry with us and was killing 100 of our people daily. One of the biggest sources of strife, is when there is a lack of proper communication (ask any marriage counselor) between two parties.

David Hamelech understood that now was the time for immediate action. A Yom Tefilah, a day of Fasting etc., these are all wonderful things..but right now people are dying!

The more important approach in this crucial period of time, was to break the ice; to bring back  and restore the level of communication between Hakadosh Baruch Hu and Am Yisroel.

That is the purpose of Meah Berachos – reciting 100 blessings a day.

When you literally come knocking at Hashems door 100 times a day..to say, thank you for my bread, thank you for allowing me to relieve myself, thank you for this nutritious lunch, thanks for my eyesight, for the roof over my head…etc., it is difficult for Hashem to remain angry with his beloved Am Yisroel when we reach out to him in appreciation 100 times daily.

Sure there is a time for our precious tefiloh and tehilim. However, to stop a plague requires an immediate operation. Restoring the basic communication with our Father in heaven accomplishes this.

<Heard From Rav Shimshon Pincus>

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