Description: Kriah 08
She’arim BiTefillah
Kriah 08
There’s a fascinating approach to Tefillah, which we have to investigate and understand. Let’s begin with a brachah we say in Shemonah Esray every day. Refainu. We daven that Hashem should heal the sick people, and we end off, Rofei Cholei Amo Yisrael. Referring to Hashem as ‘the healer of the sick people in Yisrael,’ needs to be understood. Hashem heals everyone! When we say Asher Yatzar we correctly refer to Hashem as ‘Rofei Kol Basar!’ Hashem heals all living creatures. Hashem gives life to all of us, every Jew and non-Jew alike and equally, as we say in Borei Nefashos, Hashem is ‘lihachiyos nefesh kol chay,’ He gives life to all the living. In what way is Hashem the ‘healer of the nation of Yisrael?’
This demonstrates an important aspect to tefillah. Tefillah is a method to relate to Hashem, and communicate with Him. It is an expression of our bitachon in His ability to do all and everything. But tefillah should also be viewed as simple hishtadlus.
When we are faced with a problem, we try various different forms of hishtadlus. In the case of sickness, generally a person will try to remedy himself, by taking over-the-counter drugs, resting up, drinking a lot, so that the body’s natural disease fighting mechanism should kick in and defeat the illness. If that doesn’t work, they would go to a doctor and get whatever treatment they can get from him.
When we daven to Hashem, we recognize that Hashem gives life to all living things, and we are living by His will. But there’s another aspect to tefillah. Hashem is also an expert doctor – just as He can do everything, He can heal just as a doctor heals. We are asking Hashem to intervene and treat us, just as we would try to get an appointment with a top doctor and beg him to take us on as a patient. Someone who is in dire financial straits will try to get an appointment by a wealthy man to get a loan. Hashem has all the money in the world – we will try the same with Hashem! There’s a measure of simple hishtadlus when davening, simply asking Hashem to employ the abilities He has, as a doctor or wealthy person, or powerful person, to intercede on our behalf.
This is difference between what we say in Asher Yatzar and what we say in Refa’ainu. In Asher Yatzer we are referring to Hashem as the creator of all living things and the One who gives them life. In this respect, He is Rofei Kol Basar. But in Shemonah Esray we are approaching Hashem as our father, our benefactor, and asking Him, Hashem! You are our personal doctor! Please take us on as a patient and heal us! You are an expert healer. You are Rofei Cholei Amo Yisrael! The head doctor of Klal Yisrael so to speak.
This is the simple beautiful understanding of the pasuk in the Torah, where Hashem addresses Klal Yisrael and says, ‘Ani Hashem Rofechah,’ I am Hashem your doctor. Just as a patient waiting in a room, is approached by the doctor, who introduces themselves, ‘Hi, I am Dr. So and So. I am your doctor today!’
This approach in tefillah is very important, and distinct from davening to Hashem as the creator of the world. Both types of tefillah are essential and necessary. We don’t know which kind of tefillah will work, and we need to relate to Hashem on all levels. Sometimes davening as a hishtadlus is the answer, sometimes appealing to Elokim the creator of the world is the answer. But we need to understand what we are doing, when we are engaging in each unique form of tefillah.
She’arim BiTefillah
Kriah 08
There’s a fascinating approach to Tefillah, which we have to investigate and understand. Let’s begin with a brachah we say in Shemonah Esray every day. Refainu. We daven that Hashem should heal the sick people, and we end off, Rofei Cholei Amo Yisrael. Referring to Hashem as ‘the healer of the sick people in Yisrael,’ needs to be understood. Hashem heals everyone! When we say Asher Yatzar we correctly refer to Hashem as ‘Rofei Kol Basar!’ Hashem heals all living creatures. Hashem gives life to all of us, every Jew and non-Jew alike and equally, as we say in Borei Nefashos, Hashem is ‘lihachiyos nefesh kol chay,’ He gives life to all the living. In what way is Hashem the ‘healer of the nation of Yisrael?’
This demonstrates an important aspect to tefillah. Tefillah is a method to relate to Hashem, and communicate with Him. It is an expression of our bitachon in His ability to do all and everything. But tefillah should also be viewed as simple hishtadlus.
When we are faced with a problem, we try various different forms of hishtadlus. In the case of sickness, generally a person will try to remedy himself, by taking over-the-counter drugs, resting up, drinking a lot, so that the body’s natural disease fighting mechanism should kick in and defeat the illness. If that doesn’t work, they would go to a doctor and get whatever treatment they can get from him.
When we daven to Hashem, we recognize that Hashem gives life to all living things, and we are living by His will. But there’s another aspect to tefillah. Hashem is also an expert doctor – just as He can do everything, He can heal just as a doctor heals. We are asking Hashem to intervene and treat us, just as we would try to get an appointment with a top doctor and beg him to take us on as a patient. Someone who is in dire financial straits will try to get an appointment by a wealthy man to get a loan. Hashem has all the money in the world – we will try the same with Hashem! There’s a measure of simple hishtadlus when davening, simply asking Hashem to employ the abilities He has, as a doctor or wealthy person, or powerful person, to intercede on our behalf.
This is difference between what we say in Asher Yatzar and what we say in Refa’ainu. In Asher Yatzer we are referring to Hashem as the creator of all living things and the One who gives them life. In this respect, He is Rofei Kol Basar. But in Shemonah Esray we are approaching Hashem as our father, our benefactor, and asking Him, Hashem! You are our personal doctor! Please take us on as a patient and heal us! You are an expert healer. You are Rofei Cholei Amo Yisrael! The head doctor of Klal Yisrael so to speak.
This is the simple beautiful understanding of the pasuk in the Torah, where Hashem addresses Klal Yisrael and says, ‘Ani Hashem Rofechah,’ I am Hashem your doctor. Just as a patient waiting in a room, is approached by the doctor, who introduces themselves, ‘Hi, I am Dr. So and So. I am your doctor today!’
This approach in tefillah is very important, and distinct from davening to Hashem as the creator of the world. Both types of tefillah are essential and necessary. We don’t know which kind of tefillah will work, and we need to relate to Hashem on all levels. Sometimes davening as a hishtadlus is the answer, sometimes appealing to Elokim the creator of the world is the answer. But we need to understand what we are doing, when we are engaging in each unique form of tefillah.