This week, Kittah Gimmel celebrated an important milestone: We began learning the Sh’moneh Esrei! The girls made sure they were dressed appropriately, in nice shirts and Shabbos shoes, and ready for their journey. After a long “trip,” they finally arrived at the grand palace entrance. With excitement, the girls entered the main lobby, where Kittah Gimmel was one of the few privileged to step into the hallway leading up to the throne room. For the very first time in their lives, the doors opened and they entered the magnificent throne room, as Chazal describe the Amidah as standing directly in front of the Kisei HaKavod, the throne of Hashem.
To bring the concept of standing before the King of all kings to life, the third graders did a memorable activity to understand what it means to speak to a king. Together, they wrote a message to President Biden, requesting a class vacation at the White House. Though the president couldn’t speak with them, they walked away with a meaningful lesson: While people on Earth may have limited availability, Hashem, our King, is always there to listen to us, and does what’s best for us. He doesn’t have “office hours”; instead, he invites us to stand before Him in t’filah three times a day! What a gift it is to have this key in our hands! With siyata diShmaya, we hope to continue our journey in t’filah with enthusiasm and meaning.
