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(Sources: Sifsei Chaim, Beur Tefillas Shemoneh Esrei, Sefer HaChinuch, Rav Schwab, Iyun Tefilla, Nesiv Bina, Gateway to Happiness)

Al Kein 7

v’simloch aleihem m’heirah l’olam va’ed

(Sources: Sifsei Chaim, Beur Tefillas Shemone Esrei, Sefer HaChinuch, Rav Schwab, Iyun Tefillah, Nesiv Binah, Gateway to Happiness)

 The Gemara in Berachos (30b) teaches that one’s inner posture at the outset of Shemone Esrei is significant. A person should not begin prayer out of grief, nor from laziness, levity, or idle chatter. All of these states undermine kavanah. Rather, one must approach Shemone Esrei with koved rosh—a sense of gravity and presence. The Gemara explains that this koved rosh is not somberness, but simchah shel mitzvah—the joy that flows from spiritual purpose.

In “What Does Hashem Want – part 1,” we wrote about the crucial importance of the brachah of “Hashiveinu” in Shemoneh Esrei and suggested that we place great emphasis on this brachah at least until after Yom Kippur.

(Sources: Sifsei Chaim Beur Tefillas Shemoneh Esrei, Midos veAvodas Hashem, Tefillah Vaad Beis, Rav Schwab, Iyun Tefillah, Shemoneh Esrei, Nesiv Bina)

Shemoneh Esrei 22

Oh, to be one unified family!

Hashiveinu Avinu l’sorasecha, v’keirvanu Malkeinu la’avodasecha, v’hachazireinu bis’shuvah sh’leimah l’fanecha