{"id":51745,"date":"2021-08-30T16:41:09","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T16:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?p=51745"},"modified":"2021-08-30T16:41:09","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T16:41:09","slug":"weekly-tefilah-focus-special-elul-series-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/weekly-tefilah-focus-special-elul-series-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Tefilah Focus Special Elul Series \u2013 Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Special Elul Series 5782 \u2013 Part 4 \u2013 13 Midos 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before we continue with the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>\u00a0in practice, let us briefly examine the power inherent in our repeatedly reciting the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>\u00a0throughout\u00a0S\u2019lichos<\/em>, culminating with the many repetitions in\u00a0N\u2019ilah<\/em>\u00a0on Yom Kippur.<\/p>\n

\u2022 How does repeating the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>\u00a0again and again help us?<\/p>\n

\u2022 What is the basis of the guarantee of forgiveness associated with \u201csaying\u201d the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>?<\/p>\n

\u2022 How can we be forgiven? \u00a0Where is our\u00a0t\u2019shuvah<\/em>?<\/p>\n

\u2022 Why does the Gemara state that if they \u201cperform\u201d (as opposed to \u201csay\u201d) this order before Me, that I will forgive them?<\/p>\n

One suggestion offered is that when we recite and repeat the words of the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>\u00a0so many times with focus and mindfulness, the words will have an impact upon us.\u00a0 They will lead us to refine ourselves in order to become people of compassion and kindness.\u00a0 That is where the\u00a0t\u2019shuvah<\/em>\u00a0lies and why we repeat again and again.\u00a0 We need to drive it into our hearts and minds until we actually are\u00a0performing<\/em>\u00a0the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In addition to the words leading us to take action to become people who\u00a0live<\/em>\u00a0the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>, there is also an independent aspect of saying the words with focus.<\/p>\n

HaRav Chaim of Volozhin points out that the\u00a0Shemoneh Esrei<\/em>\u00a0was formulated by the\u00a0Anshei K\u2019neses HaG\u2019dolah<\/em>\u00a0(the Men of the Great Assembly) with prophecy and\u00a0ruach ha\u2019kodesh<\/em>.\u00a0 These words contain unfathomable power.\u00a0 Our job is to focus on the words themselves and send them up so that they can accomplish what Hashem intends for each one.<\/p>\n

HaRav Avigdor Miller would carry apple seeds in his pocket.\u00a0 He often spoke about the DNA contained in one tiny seed that could sprout into a tree, producing hundreds of apples.\u00a0 So, too, the words in our\u00a0Shemoneh Esrei<\/em>\u00a0contain very powerful DNA, which will have profound impact\u00a0if<\/em>\u00a0we are focused when we recite them.<\/p>\n

The Maharal writes that Hashem\u2019s \u201cconcentration\u201d on our words is commensurate with the concentration we have while reciting them.\u00a0 If we are able to bear down and focus on the words, our\u00a0tefilos<\/em>\u00a0will have far-reaching effects and bring us great connection with Hashem.<\/p>\n

While the vast majority of us struggle with maintaining\u00a0kavanah<\/em>\u00a0in\u00a0Shemoneh Esrei<\/em>\u00a0(the Satan also knows of the great potential that our\u00a0Shemoneh Esrei<\/em>\u00a0has), this technique of looking at each word before we say the word, has been proven to dramatically improve focus.<\/p>\n

If the words of these great\u00a0Tana\u2019im<\/em>\u00a0and prophets have so much power embedded within them, what can we say about the words that Hashem Himself gave to us explicitly in the Torah? \u00a0Who can even fathom what reciting these sanctified words of the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>\u00a0with complete focus can achieve ?<\/p>\n

The advantage we have in reciting the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>\u00a0as compared to\u00a0Shemoneh Esrei<\/em>\u00a0is that the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>\u00a0contains less than 20 words, a tiny fraction of the number of words in\u00a0Shemoneh Esrei<\/em>.\u00a0 Let us do all we can to focus intently and recite these sanctified words with mind and heart.<\/p>\n

We once again suggest the bookmark card with concise English explanations, which one can use to enhance focus and meaning as we recite the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>.\u00a0 The more we focus and take the words to heart, the more Hashem will focus on us and grant us forgiveness, as we continue to internalize and drive the 13\u00a0Midos<\/em>\u00a0deeper and deeper inside us, becoming people of greater compassion, tolerance, and kindness.\u00a0 Cards can be obtained by emailing 13middoscompanion@gmail.com.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Part 2: Midos 4-6<\/strong><\/p>\n

MIDAH 4<\/strong>: \u05e8\u05d7\u05d5\u05dd\u2013Rachum<\/em>\u00a0(Compassionate)* \/ \u05dc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05dc\u05b8\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9\u2013LiSh\u2019eiris Nachalaso<\/em>\u00a0(for the remnant of His heritage)**<\/p>\n

*in\u00a0D\u2019varim<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 **in\u00a0Michah<\/em><\/p>\n

Rachum<\/em>:<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0Ibn Ezra<\/em>\u00a0understands\u00a0Rachum<\/em>\u00a0to mean that Hashem protects His children from falling.<\/p>\n

LiSh\u2019eiris Nachalaso:<\/em>\u00a0Rachum<\/em>\u00a0dovetails nicely with the fourth\u00a0midah<\/em>\u00a0in\u00a0Michah<\/em>.\u00a0 We are\u00a0family<\/em>.\u00a0 Hashem calls us His family numerous times.\u00a0 He refers to us as children.\u00a0 Since we are Hashem\u2019s children, even if we have sinned, Hashem will help us to prevent us from falling.\u00a0 He will guide us back.\u00a0 If we accept His\u00a0malchus<\/em>\u00a0and return to Him, we will be saved.<\/p>\n

Our task<\/u>:<\/em>\u00a0When it comes to family, even if we have been wronged, we will try to help family members who wronged us.\u00a0 We will do all we can to help them recognize that they hurt us and owe us an apology.\u00a0 We will be hoping for, aiding, and even facilitating, when possible, their return to us so we can restore the relationship.<\/p>\n

We need to realize that all of\u00a0B\u2019nei Yisrael<\/em>\u00a0are our family and treat them the same as we would our own family.\u00a0 This should include\u00a0davening<\/em>\u00a0to Hashem and asking Him to help those who hurt us to realize that they hurt us and to return to us and to Him.<\/p>\n

MIDAH 5:<\/strong>\u00a0\u05d7\u05e0\u05d5\u05df\u2013Chanun<\/em>\u00a0(Gracious)\u00a0<\/em>\/ \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b6\u05d7\u05b1\u05d6\u05b4\u05d9\u05e7 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e2\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u2013Lo Hechezik La\u2019ad Apo<\/em>\u00a0(He does not maintain His wrath forever)<\/p>\n

Chanun:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0If we did not accept Hashem\u2019s guidance and assistance to return to Him, and we fell, and we are now in a painful situation, Hashem may still grant us His graciousness and save us, even though we absolutely do not deserve it.<\/p>\n

Lo Hechezik La\u2019ad Apo:<\/em>\u00a0Although we deserve to fall, Hashem will not hold on to His \u201canger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our task:<\/em><\/u>\u00a0Although those who hurt us are still not acknowledging their wrongdoing and not yet making amends, we should continue to\u00a0daven<\/em>\u00a0for them and not hold onto our anger.<\/p>\n

MIDAH 6<\/strong>: \u05d0\u05e8\u05da \u05d0\u05e4\u05d9\u05dd\u2013Erech Apayim<\/em>\u00a0(Slow to Anger) \/ \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b5\u05e5 \u05d7\u05b6\u05e1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0\u2013Ki Chafetz Chesed Hu<\/em>\u00a0(for He desires kindness)<\/p>\n

Erech Apayim:<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>Hashem is tolerant and delays His \u201canger\u201d and consequence, waiting for us to return to Him.<\/p>\n

Ki Chafetz Chesed Hu:<\/em>\u00a0Although we have sinned against Hashem in a particular area, Hashem looks for the good in us in other areas, and thereby delays His \u201canger\u201d and consequence.<\/p>\n

Our task:<\/em><\/u>\u00a0Although one has hurt us and angered us, we should look for the good in him in other areas of his life and use that as a motivation to continue to be patient with him,\u00a0dav<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Special Elul Series 5782 \u2013 Part 4 \u2013 13 Midos 3 Before we continue with the 13\u00a0Midos\u00a0in practice, let us briefly examine the power inherent in our repeatedly reciting the 13\u00a0Midos\u00a0throughout\u00a0S\u2019lichos, culminating with the many repetitions in\u00a0N\u2019ilah\u00a0on Yom Kippur. \u2022 How does repeating the 13\u00a0Midos\u00a0again and again help us? \u2022 What is the basis of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133662,"featured_media":51746,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[375],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-elul"],"yoast_head":"\nWeekly Tefilah Focus Special Elul Series \u2013 Part 4 - Jewish Holidays<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/weekly-tefilah-focus-special-elul-series-part-4\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Weekly Tefilah Focus Special Elul Series \u2013 Part 4 - Jewish Holidays\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Special Elul Series 5782 \u2013 Part 4 \u2013 13 Midos 3 Before we continue with the 13\u00a0Midos\u00a0in practice, let us briefly examine the power inherent in our repeatedly reciting the 13\u00a0Midos\u00a0throughout\u00a0S\u2019lichos, culminating with the many repetitions in\u00a0N\u2019ilah\u00a0on Yom Kippur. \u2022 How does repeating the 13\u00a0Midos\u00a0again and again help us? \u2022 What is the basis of […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/weekly-tefilah-focus-special-elul-series-part-4\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Jewish Holidays\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OrthodoxUnion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-30T16:41:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1050695240.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Weekly Tefilah Focus\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Weekly Tefilah Focus\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/weekly-tefilah-focus-special-elul-series-part-4\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/weekly-tefilah-focus-special-elul-series-part-4\/\",\"name\":\"Weekly Tefilah Focus Special Elul Series \u2013 Part 4 - 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