Hakhel Email Community Awareness Bulletin
FOCUS ON TEFILLAH ARCHIVE
19.
SIM
SHALOM
A.
HaRav Yonasan Eibeschutz, Z’tl, writes that Shalom is the “Kesher
HaNechmad”, in which all of Klal Yisroel unites.
Accordingly, when one davens for Shalom, he is praying that there
should no longer be any Machlokes, Kinah, or Sinah, but rather that we
should unite with Ahavah
Achvah and Reius. In fact,
HaRav Eibeschutz continues that one should have Kavannah here to fulfill the
Mitzvah of the V’Ahavta L’Reiacha Komacha! The Sefer Olas Tamid specifically adds that we should daven to be free of war
and of chayos (perhaps our contemporary form of this would be terrorist
attacks).
B.
In the Kuntres Avodas
HaTefillah, HaRav Meir Birnbaum, Shlita, brings from the Rabbeinu Bachya
and the Malbim that we should have Kavannah for the Shalom of our bodies,
household, community, and all of our possessions--that no bad or pe’ga
occurs to them.
C. As we
have noted, the Bracha of Sim Shalom (in Nusach Ashkenaz) contains the word
Shalom itself four times and the
Shoresh of the word Bracha six times!
With this, we can well understand why every Siyum concludes with the
bracha of Shalom--Hashem Oz LeAmo
Yitein--Hashem Yivarech Es Amo BaShalom.
As Rabbeinu Yonah writes: “Shalom
Hu Kollel LeChol Tov SheBaOlam V’Ein Tachlis Letoalto--Shalom includes
all good of the world and there is no end to the benefit it provides.”
Accordingly, although we may be tired at the end of Shemone Esrei--just
as at Neilah we lift our spirit to provide that essential last stage of
Kavanna--so too here should we make sure to rise to the great occasion of
asking Hashem to shower us with the bracha of Shalom in every
circumstance--personally and behalf of all of Klal Yisroel!
--------------------------------
A.
The Sefer Boruch SheAmar
explains that the term Sim is the
first word of this Bracha, in which we ask Hashem to provide Shalom, Tova,
Bracha, Chain, Chesed and Rachamim upon us and all of Klal Yisroel.
The term Sim (place)
is especially used, because unlike Tein(give)
which may imply that it can be taken away, we instead ask--that the
Bracha not only come but be placed--and remain
with us!
B.
The Bracha of Sim Shalom follows directly after Birchas Kohanim and
obviously mirrors its three Brachos--Yivarechecha,
Ya’er, and Shalom.
Ya’er is represented in
Sim Shalom by the words ‘Ohr Panecha’.
The Kuntres Avodas HaTefillah
explains that we ask that Hashem shed His light upon us in a way that
clearly shows His love for us to all.
C.
We further recite that Hashem has given us a Toras
Chaim. What is the Toras Chaim? The Kuntres
Avodas HaTefillah brings from HaRav Pam, Z’tl, that it is a Torah that
teaches us how to live!
---------------------------
A.
The Tzeidah L’Derech
explains that the term Shalom comes from the root Shalem
meaning completeness and fullness. This
is why Shalom is all-encompassing--for it includes freedom from war, freedom
from jealousy, freedom from sickness, etc.
Even Hashem’s Name is Shalom--for Hashem is everything!
It is thus no coincidence--as it never is--for this bracha to be the
final one in Shemone Esrei--for through it we ask for the completeness of
all of the other Brachos.
B.
At Mincha (Nusach Ashkenaz) and Ma’ariv, we ask not only for Sim
Shalom but for Shalom Rav--a great amount of Shalom.
HaRav Chaim Friedlander, Z’tl, explains that it is because these
hours can be a greater period of Din, and so the Bracha that we need for
Shalom is greater.
C.
We conclude our Shemone Esrei with a request for blessing all of Klal
Yisroel with peace. Oh, how we
should have Kavanna in these final words.
We have Boruch Hashem completed our Series on the Nineteen Brachos of
Shemone Esrei. Next week, we
hope to focus on our personal Tefillos in Elokai Netzor.
May Hashem accept all of our Tefillos this Rosh Hashana on behalf of
our people--and may we witness the sweetness of HaMevarech
Es Amo Yisroel BaShalom!
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