Feature Tidbit Let's be Fair to G-d Those TT readers with a collection of back issues who took a peak at last year's Matot-Mas'ei issue, will have noticed that the lead "tidbit" was an editorial prompted by terrorist attacks in Machane Yehuda. Earlier this week we had a dramatic demonstration of what could have happened — but didn't B"H — when a terrorist with a car loaded with gas canisters, flammable liquids, and several kilo of nails failed to carry out his planned attack, and instead, almost incinerated himself. Many are the times when we add a
chapter or two of T'hilim to our regular davening in times of trouble. Psalms 20 and 130
are the leaders in this category, and other chapters often join them in expressing to G-d
our worries and fears, and prayers for His Divine assistance. In my shul in Ramot Eshkol,
at the conclusion of Maariv this past Sunday, we said Psalm 100, Mizmor L'Toda, a song of
thanksgiving, to thank G-d for what didn't happen earlier that day. I am aware of other
settings where something was said in thanks to G-d for His watching over us. Actually,let's take a look at davening. Take the weekday Amida. Three brachot of praise, 13 brachot of request, 3 brachot of acknowledgement and thanks (which include requests too). The ratio favors requests. But now look at another factor. What kind of bracha of the Amida usually gets put on automatic pilot, which brachot are said by rote, mechanically. And which are the ones that most often get said with serious Kavana? Can it be that the requests for forgiveness, health, prosperity, and the like, are said with deep feeling (sometimes), but the thanks (as expressed in Modim) for our very lives, for G-d's daily miracles, for Torah and Mitzvot that He gives us (as expressed in NODEH of Birkat HaMazon) often do not get the Kavana they deserve? Let's be fair to G-d. Let's gratefully acknowledge all His gifts, the obvious ones and the subtle ones. This is not a lot to ask, but it is so very important. [The Matot - Mas'ei Homepage] |
