- They Are Killing Us
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- Jessie Fischbein
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- As an American Jew, it is very easy to isolate
what is happening to "them" in
Israel from me. My Rabbi said (paraphrased), "Don't think that
what is
happening to the Jews in Israel is only happening in Israel. All Jews
are at risk."
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- As all Jews are at risk, and as this evoked a
powerful emotional response
in me, I am attempting to respond as is appropriate to the situation.
- Using "U'teshuva u'tefilla u'tzedaka
ma'avirin es roa hag'zeira" as a
guide. Repentance, prayer and tzedaka remove (?) the evil of the
decree.
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- Repentance
Repentance has a few components. Stop doing the sin, regret,
acceptance
that you will not do the sin again in the future, and verbal
confession
that you did the sin.
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- For sins that are not so easily abandoned, or
character traits, I guess
an approach would be introspection about whether or not your actions
are
in line with your values. (Prerequisite: what are your values?). If
you
value giving people the benefit of the doubt, are you acting
accordingly?
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- Tefilla
This is mainly what I wanted to talk about. I had a strong urge to
daven
for mercy after seeing this presentation. Tefilla is based on the idea
that we are obligated/ have a right to ask Hashem for our needs (yes,
those are contradictory).
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- We ask for our needs in the framework of the
first three brachos
(blessings) of Shemona Esrei (the silent Amida). If we do not have
kavana (concentration) during the first blessing, we are not yotze
(did
not fulful the obligation to pray).
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- The theme of the first bracha is that Hashem,
the One who related to the
Avos (forefathers), relates to us because of them. ("remembers
the
kindnesses of the Patriarchs"). Because they lived their lives on
a
certain standard, with a certain purpose, Hashem made them into a
nation
to continue that purpose.
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- The purpose is to be a "kingdom of
priests and a holy (kadosh) nation"
whose way of life indicates the existence of Hashem. A nation that
lives
according to a set of principles that are clearly based on wisdom and
truth. This does not refer merely to the laws of the Torah, but that
the
wisdom and truth should permeate all of our lives, in all of our
actions.
- Hashem "brings a Redeemer" to the
Patriarch's children's children, i.e.,
he relates to us, ultimately saving us, "for the sake of His
name, with
love." When we fulfill this purpose. When we live lives that
reflect
His existence. (the quotes are from the first blessing).
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- It is in this framework that we ask for all
bakashos, requests. Now that
we have clarified our purpose, and the framework in which Hashem
redeems
us (i.e., grants our requests), we hopefully underwent a change.
- Instead of person who is moved by desire (I
regularly think of all sorts
of things that I want), I have taken a moment to reflect on the
purpose
of all of the things that I want. What is my purpose and how do the
things I want fit into that purpose?
- Now I am ready to ask for the things I want.
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- We do not change Hashem's mind with the
request. When we make this
change in ourselves, we have a new level of understanding and are
different than we were before (hopefully). Maybe this will merit
divine
intervention.
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- We ask for mercy, that Jews stop being killed,
that we will be safe, so
that we can pursue the purpose He created us for.
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- May we be able to change through our tefilla,
and may Hashem help us.
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