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What Does Hashem Want?

As we begin this period of 40 days of unique opportunity and closeness to Hashem, we will focus our segments on one of the Request Brachos in Shemoneh Esrei. Out of all the requests we make in our Shemoneh Esrei, there is only one request that clearly and explicitly is what Hashem desires, as opposed to what we desire. This request is, in fact, also the core focus of these 40 days.

Seriously Anticipating Mashiach’s Arrival

We are within The Nine Days, just prior to Tish’ah B’Av. May we see the salvation before this Tish’ah B’Av.

As mentioned in last week’s segment, our focus in Shemoneh Esrei during this time period should be on the brachos yearning for the g’ulah, our final redemption, and the time when the entire world will recognize Hashem. We present here the brachah of “Es Tzemach David Avd’cha m’heirah satzmiach (The offspring of your servant David may You speedily cause to flourish).” This is the primary brachah (if said with heart and mind) that will enable us to be able to respond YES when asked, after 120, if we yearned for Hashem’s salvation. 

We are now entering into a special time period, often referred to as “The Three Weeks.” Most of us are familiar with at least the basic halachos of this time period, as well as “The Nine Days” period, which is relevant to the last nine days, beginning on Rosh Chodesh Av. While we certainly must observe the halachos, we should strive to maximize the many growth opportunities available in both our relationship with Hashem and our relationships with our brothers and sisters in klal Yisrael. This is a time to foster baseless love of each other, to atone for the baseless hatred that was one of the causes of destruction.

In last week’s segment, we mentioned several examples of where in our tefilos we can recognize that Hashem is the source of all and where we can daven to Hashem that the whole world will recognize that. One example we provided is a pasuk in our tefilah immediately after the last Hallelukah. Many of us may gloss over this powerful pasuk, which originates in T’hilim perek 89 (the last pasuk). This perek is said to be authored by Avraham Avinu. 

B’chasdei Hashem, for over a year and a half, we have been experiencing an abundance of miracles in Eretz Yisrael, and we are of course extremely grateful to Hashem for His continuous chesed. At the same time, we feel the tzaar of our brothers and sisters who are going through extremely difficult and painful times.