Parshat Vayechi - 5764

A Prayerful Thought for Year 2004

In the last verse of “Shlishi” in Parshat Vayechi, Yaakov says to Yoseph regarding the City of Shechem, a city that has been a thorn in our side from ancient times till the present, "which I conquered from the Emorites with my sword and my bow." This is quite strange, in that it was not Yaakov who conquered that city at all - it was the two brothers Shimon and Levi - and they were roundly condemned by their father for their ferocity in that conquest! However, Onkelos translates figuratively, using in place of "my sword and my bow" "my prayers and my requests."

In light of this statement by Yaakov, it is quite possible that Shimon and Levi might not have been as "successful" as they were - in killing all the males of that city in bloody retribution for the violated honor of their sister, Deena, for they executed their vengeance and emerged unharmed - were it not for the prayers and requests that they, in effect, "forced" their father, Yaakov Avinu, to make in their behalf!

The Brisker Rav explains this somewhat unusual translation of "sword" and "bow" as referring to two aspects of prayer. One aspect is that of the prayers formulated and enacted by the Men of the Great Assembly, in the years preceding the Destruction of the Second Temple (perhaps anticipating the greater need the Jewish People would have for means of worshipping Hashem even without a Temple). These prayers have the power of a sword. A sword can easily be used effectively by (almost) anyone, as can the prayers which these great Torah Scholars enacted. Also like a sword, they don't require great precision. A little "kavana," attention to meaning, during the opening three blessings of the "Shemoneh Esray," the central prayer for the Jew in the morning, afternoon and evening of each day, and one has fulfilled the obligation of prayer!

However, the second aspect of prayer, personal requests, "tefilot" unique to the individual, require a higher standard. Jewish Tradition and Law advise "Anyone who has a sick relative in the house should approach a wise man to ask for mercy." These requests, though of a personal nature, are paradoxically most effective when delivered by an expert. These are the ones compared to the arrows shot by an archer. My personal experiences with archery were great fun, but not too effective in terms of producing "bulls' eyes." (The above, of course, is not to imply that one should not pour out one's heart before the Almighty in Prayer for one's own personal needs, and indeed that is the majority of the content of the "Shemoneh Esray.")

Just as a bow requires great physical strength to pull back the bowstring, so does making a personal request of the King of Kings require great spiritual strength. In addition, just as great precision is required of the archer to hit his or her target, so also is great "precision" in the form of "kavana" required of one who stands before Hashem to ask for a personal response. A prayer for a personal need is accepted by Hashem only if a person puts "nafsho bechapo," his or her whole being concentrated in their hand, as it were, outstretched for "Tzedakah," as we are taught by Chana, through her anguished prayers for a child.

At this time, near the beginning of Year 2004, it wouldn't hurt us to do some national introspection as well. Now, as perhaps throughout our history, the greatest need of our People is Unity - in all arenas of conflict. If we could only silence the "noise" of Religious and Secular Jewry banging against each other in Israel, and the cacophony created by the different factions within Judaism in the United States and elsewhere in the Diaspora! Then we might be able to create a single voice, or at least harmony within the Jewish choir.

If somehow we can restore the "Kol Yaakov," the authentic spiritually modulated "Voice" of our People, we can hope to produce meaningful and effective "Tefilot," and be like the Temple Choir of Leviim that celebrated each day with a Psalm, "and then we will find favor and be appreciated for our clear reasoning, in the eyes of G-d and Man."

Rabbi Pinchas Frankel
Rabbi Frankel is an Educational Coordinator at the OU

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