Description: Rinah 04
She’arim BiTefillah
Rinah 04
The first foundation that Tefillah is built upon is Emunah. Obviously, one needs to believe in Hashem’s existence and that He created the world, and He is with us in a very real way, no less than all the things we can feel and touch. However, truly this isn’t even termed Emunah. This is classic Rav Shimshon Pincus zatzal! He says, that the knowledge of Hashem’s existence is really a simple fact, which is obvious to anyone who isn’t totally blind. The song that the world sings in praise of Hashem is audible to anyone who isn’t totally deaf! Although there are many who don’t see or hear, but to us who do know of Hashem’s existence, and our eyes have been opened up, all we need to do is look around and think, ‘who created all these,’ and the fact of metzius Hashem is something pashut, simple and undeniable, which doesn’t require Emunah to believe and accept!
What then is the mitzvah of Emunah?
The mitzvah of Emunah is to believe that Hashem is omnipotent, and can do anything, and there is nothing that is beyond His ability. Emunah is to believe in what is beyond our capability to fully understand and process. We can’t truly express what Hashem’s abilities are, how much power He possesses, and what He can do. When a person is suffering through a difficult time, things are terrible, and he becomes depressed and despondent, losing hope due to his situation, he is being tested in his Emunah. If someone truly has Emunah shelaimah, total belief, knowing that Hashem holds the solution for every situation, no matter how bleak and impossible it is, Hashem can change it! Hashem has that power. If someone has that belief, he would have hope!
Think of someone who chas v’shalom is suffering from an untreatable illness. He hears that a doctor has just come to the hospital, who is the only person in the world who has had success treating this illness. Wouldn’t he be filled with joy and hope? Even though he doesn’t know if the doctor will take him as a patient, and he doesn’t know if the doctor will have any success treating him, and who knows how many other unknown variables there are, nevertheless, the simple fact that this doctor exists, and he is here now – will fill the sick person with a ray of light – a sliver of hope, and change his mood and outlook.
If someone is staggering under a mountain of debt, and has exhausted all options, and faces the worst consequences of his debt, and then hears that a friend he had forgotten about is coming to visit him, and this friend is very wealthy, he will be full of happiness, and you will be able to physically see the change in his demeanor and expression as he suddenly has some possibility of hope – no matter how small!
If so, by the same token, were we to truly believe in Hashem’s ability to save us, to help us, to heal us, although we don’t know if He will, we don’t know if we deserve it, we don’t know what Hashem’s plan is, but the mere fact that it’s possible, that there’s hope, that’s there’s someone who can help – would fill us with hope, and banish our feeling of despair! If we don’t feel this, it’s because we are missing a level of Emunah.
At times, when someone is in a very difficult situation, they will daven to Hashem, and pour out their hearts, but the approach is of someone who is complaining to a friend, and telling them of all their suffering. They might tell Hashem, ‘Oh, it’s so difficult, and I’m giving up, there’s no way out!’ This is a beautiful level of closeness – but it’s not Emunah! If you believe in Hashem’s ability to help, then that is not the way you would address Him! The thought process would be, ‘I’m talking to someone who has all the answers – let me beg Him to help!’
Imagine someone who has been trying to get an appointment with a doctor, lawyer, banker, whatever, and try as hard as he can, he’s not getting the appointment, and he desperately needs their help. He goes to a Starbucks to get a coffee, and strikes up a conversation with a random stranger, and all of a sudden realizes that this is the person he’s trying so hard to get an appointment with! Wouldn’t he be overcome with joy at this amazing opportunity that just presented itself? That’s how every Shemonah Esray is!
She’arim BiTefillah
Rinah 04
The first foundation that Tefillah is built upon is Emunah. Obviously, one needs to believe in Hashem’s existence and that He created the world, and He is with us in a very real way, no less than all the things we can feel and touch. However, truly this isn’t even termed Emunah. This is classic Rav Shimshon Pincus zatzal! He says, that the knowledge of Hashem’s existence is really a simple fact, which is obvious to anyone who isn’t totally blind. The song that the world sings in praise of Hashem is audible to anyone who isn’t totally deaf! Although there are many who don’t see or hear, but to us who do know of Hashem’s existence, and our eyes have been opened up, all we need to do is look around and think, ‘who created all these,’ and the fact of metzius Hashem is something pashut, simple and undeniable, which doesn’t require Emunah to believe and accept!
What then is the mitzvah of Emunah?
The mitzvah of Emunah is to believe that Hashem is omnipotent, and can do anything, and there is nothing that is beyond His ability. Emunah is to believe in what is beyond our capability to fully understand and process. We can’t truly express what Hashem’s abilities are, how much power He possesses, and what He can do. When a person is suffering through a difficult time, things are terrible, and he becomes depressed and despondent, losing hope due to his situation, he is being tested in his Emunah. If someone truly has Emunah shelaimah, total belief, knowing that Hashem holds the solution for every situation, no matter how bleak and impossible it is, Hashem can change it! Hashem has that power. If someone has that belief, he would have hope!
Think of someone who chas v’shalom is suffering from an untreatable illness. He hears that a doctor has just come to the hospital, who is the only person in the world who has had success treating this illness. Wouldn’t he be filled with joy and hope? Even though he doesn’t know if the doctor will take him as a patient, and he doesn’t know if the doctor will have any success treating him, and who knows how many other unknown variables there are, nevertheless, the simple fact that this doctor exists, and he is here now – will fill the sick person with a ray of light – a sliver of hope, and change his mood and outlook.
If someone is staggering under a mountain of debt, and has exhausted all options, and faces the worst consequences of his debt, and then hears that a friend he had forgotten about is coming to visit him, and this friend is very wealthy, he will be full of happiness, and you will be able to physically see the change in his demeanor and expression as he suddenly has some possibility of hope – no matter how small!
If so, by the same token, were we to truly believe in Hashem’s ability to save us, to help us, to heal us, although we don’t know if He will, we don’t know if we deserve it, we don’t know what Hashem’s plan is, but the mere fact that it’s possible, that there’s hope, that’s there’s someone who can help – would fill us with hope, and banish our feeling of despair! If we don’t feel this, it’s because we are missing a level of Emunah.
At times, when someone is in a very difficult situation, they will daven to Hashem, and pour out their hearts, but the approach is of someone who is complaining to a friend, and telling them of all their suffering. They might tell Hashem, ‘Oh, it’s so difficult, and I’m giving up, there’s no way out!’ This is a beautiful level of closeness – but it’s not Emunah! If you believe in Hashem’s ability to help, then that is not the way you would address Him! The thought process would be, ‘I’m talking to someone who has all the answers – let me beg Him to help!’
Imagine someone who has been trying to get an appointment with a doctor, lawyer, banker, whatever, and try as hard as he can, he’s not getting the appointment, and he desperately needs their help. He goes to a Starbucks to get a coffee, and strikes up a conversation with a random stranger, and all of a sudden realizes that this is the person he’s trying so hard to get an appointment with! Wouldn’t he be overcome with joy at this amazing opportunity that just presented itself? That’s how every Shemonah Esray is!