Special Features The AZKARA on the occasion of the
SHLOSHIM of ASHER ALEX NEIKOV, HY"D took place at the OU/NCSY ISRAEL CENTER.
"Hosted" by the Center and Yeshivat Shaalvim, the Shloshim was attended by over
200 people including Israel's Minister of Education. When Yaakov prepares for his encounter with Eisav, he first says VA'ESHL'CHA L'HAGID LA'ADONI... - sends words of appeasement and gifts to Eisav. That's 6+1+300+30+8+5 (350) + 30+5+3+10+4 (52) +30+1+4+50+10 (95) = 497. Another SDT FYI - The following material is for your information. It may or may not be applicable; it depends upon the weather in the upcoming period of time, and on some other factors. One should consult with his/her LOR(Local Orthodox Rabbi) vis-a-vis what to actually do or not. The Mishna in Masechet Taanit teaches us that we begin MENTIONING G-d as the Weather-Maker on Shmini Atzeret (Simchat Torah) and we begin ASKING Him for rain on the 7th of Cheshvan. The Mishna then says that if it hasn't started to rain by the 17th of Cheshvan, then individuals would take upon themselves a set of three fast days (Monday-Thursday-Monday). If Rosh Chodesh Kislev comes and it still has not rained, then the religious courts declare a set of three fasts, of the dawn to dark type, with only eating and drinking forbidden. If these fasts pass and our prayers are still unanswered, then the Beit Din declares another 3-fast set,but this time it is a full fast (like Yom Kippur and Tish'a b'Av). If the rains still don't fall, up to seven additional fasts, with additional procedures, can be imposed by the courts, bringing the total to 13 fasts required of the community. If these fasts fail to bring rain, then severe mourning-like rules are put into effect. These Mishnayot describe a worst-case scenario which would have a devastating effect on the country. We, B"H had a rainfall earlier in the season. Rain is predicted for the upcoming months. Some long-term predictions say we are in for a very wet December through February period. Yet, it is the 12th of Kislev (as these words are being typed) and we need rain. The media report that the level of the Kineret is dropping and that we could really use a lot of rain, and soon. In response to the situation, the Chief Rabbinate announced that we should include in the weekday Amida the prayer for ATZIRAT G'SHAMIM. Rabbis seemed to be mixed in their opinions as to whether or not we have reached the point which calls for this addition to the SH'MA KOLEINU bracha. On the next page is the SH'MA KOLEINU bracha of the weekday Amida, with ANEINU BOREI OLAM, the addition for ATZIRAT G'SHAMIM. Some shuls have started to say it; others have not. Some people say it in every weekday Amida; others say it once or twice a day. Should individuals say it? Should it be included in the repetitionof the Amida by the SHA"TZ? Until when should it be said? These are all good questions. We recommend that you (as individuals and as members of congregations) consult your Rav. We present the prayer here in case it can prove useful to you. Some Siddurim have it; some don't. Some have it for Shacharit, but do not printit for Mincha or Maariv. One way or the other, this Special Pull-Out is available to you to use as you determine is appropriate. Here's one additional point to possibly tip the balance in debating whether to say the prayer or not. Rabbi Sholom Gold of Har Nof points out that the S'faradi version of BARECH ALEINU - the bracha into which Ashkenazim simply add the words TAL U'MATAR in the rainy season - is quite long, and uses many of the phrases of the prayer for ATZIRAT G'SHAMIM. Therefore, we need not "worry" about saying this prayer even if conditions are not dire enough to require the prayer. In other words, we needn't (maybe) hesitate and think that maybe our situation isn't THAT bad for us to say VAANEINU BOREI OLAM. It would be appropriate even if we get some rain.) We are not showing ingratitude to G-d by asking under the current circumstances. When IY"H we are blessed with abundant, beneficial rain IY"H in the coming months or so, we can stop adding this prayer. This too should be checked with your Rav. It is also no small suggestion that we should strengthen our KAVANA in davening in general, and the request for rain in particular. Do we mumble V'TEIN TAL U'MATAR LIVRACHA or do we say it? Do we rush through it or do we "say it like we mean it"? Do we say it with our mouths or with our hearts and souls? And once we improve our V'TEIN TAL U'MATAR, what about our S'LACH LANU, our R'FA'EINU, or SH'MA KOLEINU? What about our MODIM and our SIM SHALOM? Get the point? Before we can expect a VA'ANEINU BOREI OLAM to be effective, we have to make sure our davening is truly AVODA SHE'BA'LEV, service of the heart. This does not mean that we should not daven if we are not yet there with our hearts and proper KAVANA. It means that increasing the quantity of our T'filot should be preceded by, or at least accompanied by, an increase in the quality of our prayer. And as long as we're on the subject, it is not just
davening that needs improvement. It is all mitzvot, those between us and G-d, and in the
area of interpersonal relationships as well. We can daven all day long, but unless we show
G-d a marked improvement in all areas of Torah observance and values, can we really be
suprised if He chooses to withhold rain from us? There are no guarantees and there are no
direct, easily indentifiable corelations between our deeds, as individuals and as members
of the community, and what happens to us, as individuals and as a community. But we know
that what happens to us is not random, arbitrary, chance. It is part of G-d's Master Plan
for this world. And we do influence that Plan, sometimes to our detrement, and sometimes,
hopefully, to our benefit. May it be HaShem's Will that we be blessed with abundant,
beneficial rainfall this winter, and may all our prayers be answered favorably for
ourselves and Klal Yisrael. Mazal Tov to the Israel Center’s good friends
and supporters Dr. David & Rena Hurwitz who are being honored this Sunday evening,
December 6th in New York by NCSY’s Ben Zakkai Honor Society at their 4th Annual NEW: Mini-Shiur on Chafetz Chaim on
Shmirat HaLashon at 1:00pm followed by MINCHA GEDOLA at 1:10pm. Sunday-Thursday [The Vayishlach Homepage] |
