----- Forwarded Message -----From: "'Chicago Aneinu' via chicago-aneinu" <chicago-aneinu@googlegroups.com>To: "Chaya Miriam Wolper" <myysbyy@aol.com>Sent: Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 6:19 PMSubject: [chicago-aneinu] Hakhel Community Awareness Bulletin - The Power of Mincha--
24 MarCheshvan 5784
We especially note that Chazal (Brachos 26B) learn from a Pasuk in this week's Parasha (Bereishis 24:63) that Yitzchak Avinu instituted Tefillas Mincha. We remind our readers that in Praying With Fire II, Rabbi Heshy Kleinman, Shlita brings the powerful teaching of the Rashba (Shailos U'Teshuvos HaRashba 5:1): Just as the Aseres Yemei Teshuva is the Eis Ratzon (most auspicious period for Heavenly Grace) of each year, so, too, is our daily davening of tefillas Mincha the Eis Ratzon of each day. Eliyahu HaNavi actually waited until Mincha time to pleadfully exclaim "Aneini Hashem Aneini--O' answer me Hashem, O' answer me!" Chazal therefore teach that we should be ever-so-careful with Mincha--for although we are in the middle of the day's activities, and people, places and events swirl around us--a Kavannah-laden Tefillah can soar to unparalleled heights at this most efficacious time of the day. Let us focus--for we have an Aseres Yemei Teshuva-like opportunity every day-and do not have to wait ten months to attain it!
Additional Notes on Tefillas Mincha:
1. One is required to wash his hands before each Tefillah. If one is in a situation where it is impossible to wash his hands before Mincha, he/she should at least clean them with a cloth or other midi demenaki--'item that cleans'.
2. If possible, one should try to give Tzedakah before each Tefillah, as well.
3. One should attempt to arrive in Shul to daven Mincha in plenty of time before it begins, so that he can sit down and recite Ashrei without the feeling that he is 'chapping a Mincha'. If one did come late to Mincha and finds the Tzibbur already davening Shemone Esrei, he should immediately begin reciting Shemone Esrei, without first reciting Ashrei. After davening, he should then recite Chapter 145 of Tehillim as a regular Kepitel.
4. HaRav Chaim Friedlander, Z'tl, writes that when one does not think about his business affairs on Shabbos, he is demonstrating his Emunah that all of his Parnassah really comes from Hashem--and that it is not one's personal powers and strengths that give him his livelihood. Likewise, he continues, when one davens Mincha with Kavannah in the middle of a busy work day or in the middle of a busy day at home--he/she is affirmatively demonstrating that all of life is b'yad Hashem--and that Hashleich Al Hashem Yehavecha VeHu Yechalkelecha--cast upon Hashem your burden and He will sustain you" (Tehillim 55:23).
5. After davening Mincha, it is a wonderful idea to spend an extra few moments learning a Mishna, a Halacha, a Pasuk with Rashi, or reciting a Chapter of Tehillim slowly--so that one takes the elevated time and continues to remain elevated for a few moments longer. Over the course of a year, one will have learned an extra 365 Mishnayos, Halachos or Pesukim, or recited 365 chapters of Tehillim. How beautiful!
Dovid HaMelech (Tehillim 130:7) teaches: "Ki Harbeh Imo Phedus…and with Him is abundant redemption." The Radak explains that Hashem has already saved us many times—from Mitzrayim, from Bavel and from Tzaros Rabbos over the course of this long Galus—and so too will He redeem us from this troubled Galus, for He is not lacking in ways to redeem us—Hashem's power is very literally unlimited and unfathomable.
Hakhel Note: Let us have this Kavannah in mind when we recite this Pasuk daily.
POINTS AND POINTERS ON THE
MITZVAH OF HACHNOSAS ORCHIM
RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PARASHA
A. In the beginning of last week's Parasha, we find that Avrohom Avinu exerted extra special efforts to fulfill the mitzvah of Hachnosas Orchim even when in the epitome of his own pain. Perhaps there is a not-so-subtle lesson here. When a person is experiencing pain, he should not only look inward to himself, feeling sorry for himself and in need of tender loving care--but also using the moment in some way to appreciate the pain of another, and perhaps in at least some small way to help someone else out who is concomitantly undergoing a painful experience, or has a need of some kind as well. Thus, even at a time when one looks inward--he is using the moment as a sublime moment of growth--never forgetting the world around him that he is very much a part of as well!
B. HaRav Moshe Feinstein, Z'tl, asks why it pained Avrohom Avinu so greatly that he had no guests and that he could not fulfill the Mitzvah of Hachnosas Orchim. Why should there be anything to be mitzta'er about--if there are no guests, there is simply no chiyuv, no obligation?! After all, would one be pained if it is not Pesach and he has no Matzah?! HaRav Moshe explains that Avrohom Avinu had such a love for Chesed, such a desire to do the Mitzvah, that he still longed for it even if it was actually not there for him to do--just like a person on a low level who desires a piece of Boston cream pie cannot rest--even if he has to travel several miles--in order to satisfy the physical desire. Moreover, HaRav Moshe adds, Avrohom Avinu wanted to fulfill the Mitzvah especially when he was sick and suffering--because the yisurin he would feel for the sake of the Mitzvah would be precious and cherished by him.
C. There are two Machnisei Orchim mentioned in the Parasha--Avrohom and Lot. In comparing the two acts of Hachnosas Orchim, a person may think that the act of Lot was much greater because the Mesiras Nefesh of Lot was seemingly outstanding--knowingly putting his life and the life of his family in danger by bringing guests into his home in the face of the people of Sedom. Nevertheless, we see from the Torah's detail of Avrohom's Chesed, and how Chazal learn and derive lessons from it, that Avrohom's Chesed was oh so much greater. Why? What made Avrohom Avinu's Chesed more elevated? It is said in the name of the Bais HaLevi that Lot was doing Hachnosas Orchim to angels--and he knew it. Even with Mesiras Nefesh--this cannot compare to the Hachnosas Orchim that Avrohom Avinu showed to simple wayfarers--even if it was without risking his life to do so.
Remember--this is the way of Avrohom Avinu, this is our legacy!
D. One additional note: Chazal (Shabbos 127A) teach that Hachnosas Orchim is greater than Kabalas P'nei HaShechinah--as we see that Avrohom Avinu interrupted his speaking to Hashem in order to greet the strangers. Chazal do not say: Gadol Hachnosas Orei'ach YoserMiKabalas Pinei HaShechinah--that it is greater to bring in one guest than to greet the Shechinah--rather, it is Hachnosas Orchim--in the plural--the bringing in guests as a way of life that is greater. When one has established Chesed as his way of living, as a life goal and a life love; when one has established his life as an open heart to others--then that is greater than the one time greeting of the Shechinah. One can and should by no means take the greeting of the Shechina lightly. However, when it is for the purpose of actually fulfilling what Hashem wants from him in life--a life role and goal of giving--then one can and should interrupt everything else--including greeting the Shechinah itself--to fulfill it!
CONNECTED OPPORTUNITIES
Chazal (Avos 4:2) teach that we should run to perform Mitzvos--and to run from Aveiros--a simple enough instruction, with no additional thought seemingly necessary. However, Chazal do indeed add a word of further explanation--"For the reward of a Mitzvah is a Mitzvah, and the reward of an Aveira is an Aveira". A Mitzvah is not simply one grand act, and an Aveira one devastating misdeed. A person's deeds simply do not stand alone. One moment's action leads to the next, and a 180 degree turn away from the previous act requires much effort. Indeed, if one studies his day, he will find that Mitzvos may be more bunched at certain times--such as in Shul in the morning where davening, tzedakah and other chesed may be performed in tandem, or in the evening when you know it is time to study, and to help this person in this way and that person in that way. On the other hand, one gesture of anger, one word of ona'as devorim or lashon hara leads to another and to another--for once you start it is simply harder to stop, and sets the tone for your next moment of life. One can truly aid (and encourage) himself if he bothers to mentally note (and perhaps actually notate) during the day when he has fallen prey to the mud of one aveira sticking him on to the next one--and, to the contrary, when he has encountered the beautiful medley of Mitzvos being performed in joyous concert. Every act that we perform has ramifications--not only to others and to the world--but to ourselves--because it will guide and direct us onto our next step important in life--which, like the one before it, is always an irreplaceable one!
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Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Fw: [-aneinu] Hakhel Community Awareness Bulletin - The Power of Mincha
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