(I am trying to make a habit of sharing these “Tefillah Thoughts”, thoughts that have become central parts of my own davening. Shorter in format than other posts have been. Not all of them are well-founded. Just sharing ideas that have become important and meaningful to me as I say the words in the Siddur. You can decide for yourself if they add meaning to your own davening, or if you just aren’t as convinced as I am.)

In the post from just before Shabbos, I wrote about Anshei Keneses haGedolah‘s choice of the word “umeivi — and Who brings” the redeemer, rather than sending him. And how it colors a way to read that entire sentence.

Another thought, which I know is not the authors’ original intent, but it speaks to me anyway…

וְזוֹכֵר חַסְדֵי אָבוֹת,
וּמֵבִיא גוֹאֵל לִבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם,
לְמַֽעַן שְׁמוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה:

… And who Recalls the lovingkindnesses of the ancestors,
and Who brings the redeemer to their children’s children,
for the sake of His Name, with love.

Many of the adults of our grandparents’ generation were Holocaust survivors. When I was young, it seemed to me like most people above a certain age had a number on their arm or a story to tell. A generation that were taken well beyond the normal call of duty. “Chasdei avos”!

If only Hashem would Choose to bring His redeemer to us, the literal “children’s children”!