WITH THE YOMIM NORAIM around the corner, some commonly neglected and unknown halachos regarding kavanah during davening will be addressed in this column. We mentioned last week that before starting to daven, one must remove all other thoughts from one’s mind so that he can have kavanah during davening. One eitzah given by the Shulchan Aruch is to imagine how one would remove all thoughts from one’s mind and only concentrate on what he is saying when speaking to a king — and all the more so when speaking to Hashem. However, even this thought isn’t always powerful enough to help one switch gears from being in the middle of something like cooking, working, taking care of the kids, laundry, etc. — and then diving into davening, without thinking about what you were doing prior. So what is the solution? The answer to this lies in another halacha: that one must daven like a poor person who is asking for his needs, and not like one who is trying to just get it over with, as if it’s a burden.1 In fact, according to some opinions, one who doesn’t do this does not fulfill his obligation of davening!2 So it’s worthwhile to delve a little deeper into this halacha and explore how it applies practically. The meforshim explain that one reason for davening is to prevent us from getting too involved in hishtadlus and forgetting that it’s Hashem Who runs the world. By asking Hashem for our needs, we remind ourselves that ultimately our success depends on Him, and not our hishtadlus.
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The meforshim explain that this is one reason we stand with our feet and hands together during the Amidah. The hands and feet are the body parts that one uses the most to get his needs and protect himself or run away from danger. By not moving them during tefillah, we physically demonstrate that even though we do hishtadlus, everything is up to Hashem.3 Furthermore, this is one reason why we start the Amidah with the words “Hashem sefasai tiftach.” We even ask Hashem to help us open our mouths to daven because it is He who gives us the power to speak as well. So, what does it mean to daven like a poor person? One explanation is that just like a poor person has nothing, so too one must realize that his wisdom, health, parnassah, etc. all come continuously from Hashem. Therefore, no person should feel like he can say, “Well, I already have those things,” because, in reality, Hash-
em is the One Who is in constant control of giving them to him, and Hashem wants him to daven for them. In this sense, every person is like a poor person. Based on the above, the Sefer Chasidim says that one who is in special need of parnassah, health, etc. shouldn’t only concentrate during those brachos because then it seems like he doesn’t realize that his success in other areas also comes from Hashem. Rather, he should have kavanah throughout, realizing that Hashem is behind those areas that he is successful in as well.4 One reason people think about work, taking care of lunch, arranging the babysitter, etc. during tefillah is because they are lacking in the emunah that ultimately, no matter what hishtadlus they do, it is Hashem Who makes it all happen. One who realizes this and contemplates the meaning behind davening like a poor person wouldn’t be worried during tefillah about other
1
Shulchan Aruch 98:3
2
See Biur Halacha 98:3, “Yispallel derech tachnunim”; Kaf Hachaim 98:16
Based on Rashba, Perushei HaAggados, Brachos 10b, with application to the halacha to keep hands together, as well as it says in Shulchan Aruch 95:3 in the name of the Rambam
3
4
Sefer Chasidim 158 ,brought in Kaf Hachaim 98:11
5
Based on Alei Shor, vol. 1, p. 113
6
Kaf HaChaim 98:18 in the name of Gurei HaAri
7
See Rema 98:1
See P’nei Yehoshua on Brachos 30b, “B’mishnah,” brought in Mishnah Berurah 98:1 8