Aspaqlaria

Keeping Torah and Values in Focus

Author: Micha Berger

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Gratitude / Shemoneh Esrei

Tefillah Meanings: Evening, Morning and Afternoon

You might have thought that the fourth “ve’al” was “for Your wonders and good things which are at all times, [meaning:] evening, morning and afternoon.” But that would be very problematic, as we would be overlooking all the miracles that happen at night. … [Instead,] we are giving the times when we praise Hashem: Shacharis, Minchah and Maariv.

Thank You Hashem 1

Gratitude / Shemoneh Esrei

Tefillah Meanings: Thank G-d!

Of all the paths to Torah that the shevatim developed, when it came time to rebuild the Jewish People and our nature ever since, is Juda-ism — a religion in which hoda’ah is fundamental. …

And so Modim is not “only” an expression of thanks to our Creator, it is also the Jew’s central means of connecting to Him.

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Daily

Tefillah Meanings: Exists Through His Word, part II

The berakhah of Shehakol is a Chiasm, a symmetric layout of topics. The focus is Hashem as Master of that which He created. We may eat this meat, or enjoy this morning coffee, but we do so knowing that Hashem provided it to us for a single Ultimate Purpose.

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1- Bereishis / Shabbos

Tefillah Meanings: Like a Date Palm

“צַ֭דִּיק כַּתָּמָ֣ר יִפְרָ֑, כְּאֶ֖רֶז בַּלְּבָנֹ֣ון יִשְׂגֶּֽה׃ – A righteous person blooms like a date-palm,he thrives lie a cedar in Lebanon.” … So to me, while davening, this verse means to me (and again, I am not claiming this is the author intended):A tzadiq blossoms like a tamar – a tall tree but like Tamar the tzadiq puts the other one first. His focus is not on his own greatness, but on others.He thrives like a cedar in Lebanon – once one defines oneself by their place in connection to others, can one thrive strong and proud like a cedar.

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1- Bereishis / Ashrei / Daily

Tefillah Meanings: Your Kingdom

What is the difference between malkhus (kingship) and memshalah (rule)? [This question adds meaning to three different lines in the siddur.]
… And so, we return to our original line from Ashrei: “מַֽלְכוּתְךָ֗ מַלְכ֥וּת כׇּל־עֹלָמִ֑ים, וּ֝מֶֽמְשַׁלְתְּךָ֗ בְּכׇל־דּ֥וֹר וָדֹֽר׃”
Malkhus is truly eternal. Memshalah will only last from generation to generation, through the course of history until its culmination. When all people will serve Hashem, will work together bring His Plan to reality.

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Amidah / Shemoneh Esrei

Destroying Evil

The next berakhah I found a relationship to requires skipping ahead to “VelaMalshinim… — And for the informers, let there be no hope”.
… It also fits the Sanhedrin’s intent of asking Shemu’el haQatan to compose this berakhah. We aren’t praying for people to “get theirs”, although much of the berakhah acknowledges that this may be necessary. What we are praying for is for the world to be a better place. Hopefully that could happen through the wicked changing their ways.

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1- Bereishis / Birkhas haMazon / Chessed

Tefillah Meanings: Everything

A wealthy person is one who realized they have enough, exactly what Hashem deems they need to accomplish what they’re supposed to in life.

But to have everything is to be in a position where one can give to others.

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Birkhas haMazon

Tefillah Meanings: Beris and Torah

In Orach Chaim 186:1, the Arukh haShulchan discusses whether in Birkhas haMazon women should say “וְעַל בְּרִיתְ֒ךָ שֶׁחָתַֽמְתָּ בִּבְשָׂרֵֽנוּ וְעַל תּוֹרָתְ֒ךָ שֶׁלִּמַּדְתָּֽנוּ – for Your covenant which You sealed in our flesh; for Your Torah which You taught us;”…

The Jewish People are subject to two covenants with Hashem: Beris Avos, and Beris Sinai. That is what this line is referring to — the Beris seals in our flesh is Beris Avos, and the Torah is part of Beris Sinai. While women aren’t obligated in either Milah or Torah study, they are members of both covenants.