There are times throughout the year where it is an especially powerful time to daven, or there is a time in someone’s life where they need a special prayer said.
Chief Rabbi Amar Publishes Call to Recite Psalms for Soldier's Release
15:09 Jun 27, '06 / 1 Tammuz 5766
(IsraelNN.com) In the wake of the ongoing captivity of IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit in the Palestinian Authority, Rishon LeZion and Israeli Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar has published a call for the recitation of sections from the Book of Psalms, with the prayer that the merit of the psalmist, the Biblical David, will be invoked for the sake of Shalit's release.
The chapters the rabbi recommends be recited are Psalms 70, 13, 142 and 126.
Sunday evening, a large prayer gathering was held for the sake of the missing soldier at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. Approximately 5,000 people attended the prayers, which were led by former Chief Rabbis Mordechair Eliyahu and Avraham Shapira.
Worldwide, women in particular are saying tehillim. In addition,
remember to say the Tfilla of the Shelah HaKadosh -- the Parents Prayer
for Children. The Shelah Hakodosh explains that Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan
is an opportunity to daven for ourselves -- and our children,
specifically that our children follow in the proper path. When Rosh
Chodesh Sivan falls on Shabbos, we say this special prayer on Thursday
(during the day). You can download it for free using this link:
www.artscroll.com/images/siteimages/prayer.pdf
Worldwide Seder Night Effort to Unite Jews with Shema Prayer On the Passover Seder night, Wednesday night, April 12, Jews worldwide will unite in saying the Shema prayer before beginning the Seder.
This effort to unite the Jewish people in saying the Shema is coordinated by the Shema Yisrael Now committee, based in Chicago. The Shema Yisrael Now Committee seeks to raise awareness of the importance and special protective power of the Shema prayer. The Seder night is a time when Jews of all backgrounds join with their families and communities and as such, is an opportune time for this “prayer of unity”effort.
This worldwide effort has the support and encouragement of prominent Torah authorities and rabbis.
The Chicago-based Shema Yisrael Now effort is five years old, and since its inception, thousands of Jews from all backgrounds have made the commitment to say the Shema prayer two times a day, with maximum concentration.
In the difficult time in which we are living, it is particularly important that Jews be aware of the special protective power of the Shema prayer and how critical it is to twice a day properly accept G-d’s sovereignty over the world.
The power of the Shema to protect is clearly illustrated in the Torah, when it describes how the Jewish people should prepare for war. In Devarim 20:2-3 the Torah relates how the Cohen is to address to those assembled for battle. The first words of the Cohen are “Shema Yisrael.” The commentator Rashi explains, “Even if there is no merit in you but the recitation of the Shema alone, you are worthy that He should save you.”
HoRav Mattisyahu Solomon shlita of Lakewood Yeshiva has pointed out that the Shema prayer serves as our protection and is tantamount to being “our atomic shelter.” As such, he has said, our Shema prayer must be built with precision.
When saying the Shema, one should concentrate on accepting G-d’s absolute sovereignty. The first verse in particular represents fulfillment of the commandment to accept G-d’s absolute sovereignty. When saying Shema, one should have in mind, “hear, understand and accept” G-d’s absolute sovereignty.” We therefore accept to sublimate that every part of our personalities and possessions – even our very lives –to G-d’s will.
The basic Shema prayer that many will recite on the Seder night is comprised of six words:
[red]Shema Yis-ra-el A-do-noi E-lo-hei-nu A-d-noi E-chad[/red]
Translation: Hear, Israel, Hashem is (now) our G-d, Hashem is the One and Only.
This is followed by the whispered recital of the following words:
[red]Ba-ruch Shem Ke-vod Malchuso Le-Olam Va’ed [/red]Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all eternity. This refers to our silent aspiration that the entire world should soon recognise Hashem’s glory.
These twelve words IY”H will reverberate through the world, at numerous seder tables in different countries. Your Shema prayer will be an invaluable link in the chain. Those intending to participate and commit to saying Shema twice a day, morning and night, with maximum concentration can get more information at the Shema Yisrael Now website.
The Seder Night Shema effort is coordinated by the Shema Yisrael Now.
More information on the Shema effort can be found at _www.skokiekollel.org/shema_ (http://www.skokiekollel.org/shema). Information by phone can be obtained at 847-840-4269.
Before the Seder night, please pass this on to as many Jews as possible from your phone books, e-mail lists and address books.
March 7, the 7th of Adar, is the yarzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu, zy"a ( monday night thru Tuesday)
As Moshe Rabbeinu brought us the Torah, how fitting it would be to learn Torah, on his yarzeit, l'ilui nishmaso.
[link=http://www.frumtoronto.com/prayer/zivug tefilah.pdf target=_blank]click here to open the special Tefillah for Zivugim.[/link].
[link=http://www.frumtoronto.com/prayer/tefilah parnossah.pdf target=_blank]click here to open the Davening for Parnossah Tefillah.[/link].
[link=http://www.frumtoronto.com/prayer/tefilah find lost objects.pdf target=_blank]click here to open the Davening for finding lost objects.[/link].
[link=http://www.frumtoronto.com/prayer/10 steps to greatness.doc target=_blank]click here to open the article 10 Steps to Greatness by Rav Avigdor Miller Z"tl[/link].
'MI SHENICHNOS ADAR MARBIM B'SIMCHA'
The month of Adar is one filled with Simcha. Let us help increase the Simcha of everyone by including some special Tefillos.
Please include in your Tehillim (said in gatherings or individually)the following prayer dedicated to the the shidduch crisis as a whole, not for people on a list but for everyone effected by it, including the singles, and their parents. [link=http://www.frumtoronto.com/prayer/zivug tefilah.pdf target=_blank]click here to open the special Tefillah for Zivugim.[/link].
Other tefillos to be included, would be to daven for Parnassah. [link=http://www.frumtoronto.com/prayer/tefilah parnossah.pdf target=_blank]click here to open the Davening for Parnossah Tefillah.[/link].
If there is an object that you cannot find, here is a Tefillah to help you locate it.
[link=http://www.frumtoronto.com/prayer/tefilah find lost objects.pdf target=_blank]click here to open the Davening for finding lost objects.[/link].
10 Steps to Greatness by Rav Avigdor Miller Z"TL[link=http://www.frumtoronto.com/prayer/10 steps to greatness.doc target=_blank]click here to open the article 10 Steps to Greatness by Rav Avigdor Miller Z"tl[/link].
Segula for Parnossah -- this Tuesday, Feb. 7 - 9th of Shevat- week of Parshas Beshallach.
There is segulah for parnossah from Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, to say Parshas Ha'Mon twice with the Targum (sh'nayim mikra ve'echad Targum), on Tuesday of Parshas BeShalach which this week.
Parshas Ha'Mon can be found in an artscroll Siddur right after Shacharis.
The Targum can be found in a chumash.
Parshas Ha'Mon describes how the Hashem sent the Mon (Manna) to Bnai Yisrael in the desert.
We hear from Eretz Yisrael that Rav Kaduri, zt'l, was buried today on Har Hamenuchos. What a loss for klal yisrael, that this holy, great tzaddik is no longer in our midst. Our hearts are broken and we can only hope that this is the final kapara that will soon lead to yemos haMoshiach.
Tfillos l'ilui nishmaso will continue.
Our way is not like certain non-Jewish sects which gash their bodies in mourning. Instead we redouble out acts of chessed, our tsedaka, our tfillos, our tehillim, our limud Torah, our commitment to mitzvot.
As such, it is all the more fitting to join the worldwide tehillim effort for today, Erev Rosh Chodesh Shvat, and say as many tehillim as you can, for klal yisrael. We do this with complete faith that "Hatzur Tamim Palo" everything Hashem does is for the best, and surely, Moshiach will be coming very soon.
and from Lazer Brody
Darkness
With the passing of Rav Kaduri, of blessed and saintly memory, some people are telling me that they just don't feel the light of Hashem, and that they'd be much more inclined to strengthen their faith and observance if they could receive a mini-revelation and a small taste of Hashem's light rather than more bad news. They had heard that Rav Kaduri would lead us to Moshiach, and now this hope has floated away too.
Before his death, the famed Toldos Aaron rebbe, Rebbe Aaron Rota zatza'l, warned that the time before Moshiach would be a period of deep spiritual darkness - the supreme test of faith. But, those who don't get discouraged - and cling to their pure and simple faith - will invoke the Divine compassion that is not only needed to survive turbulent times, but shall also hasten the Geula.
The death of tzaddikim is a "hastora", the concealment of Hashem's Divine light. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev teaches that the period preceding Moshiach is a "hastora betokh hastora", or double concealment. But, just like Olympic gymnastics, for level of difficulty you score higher points. When emuna (faith) comes hard, the rewards are beyond our wildest dreams. Hold on, don't give up hope, and keep the faith no matter what - that's the key to staying on your feet in this insane world. Above all, be happy and don't ever despair. Hashem can hide all He wants, but He's always here - close by.
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky's psak (Orchos Yosher, page 100) is quoted that the study of the laws of Tefillah takes precedence over the study of all other topics--for we daven three times daily (over 1,000 times a year). If we know the halachos of Tefillah, we have consistently acted properly, but if we do not, it amounts to a huge mistake.
One of the seemingly great paradoxes in Hilchos Tefillah is how one should view himself both prior to and during Shemone Esrei.
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 95:2) writes that prior to beginning Shemone Esrei, one should picture himself as if he is actually standing in the Beis HaMikdash. The Mishne Berurah (Orach Chayim 94, seif katan 3), based on the Gemara in Berachos (30A) amplifies this concept by adding that one should feel as if he is actually standing in the Kodesh Kodoshim itself. Of course, with all of the current replicas, facsimiles, photo plates, schematics and drawings, this has become much easier for us to visualize.
The paradox? The Shulchan Aruch is also posek that we are to place ourselves in two other places before commencing Shemone Esrei:
In Orach Chayim 98:1, the Mechaber rules that just as when one is about to stand in front of an earthly king, he would clarify and crystallize his thoughts, certainly should he do so when he imagines himself as standing in front of the King of Kings-Who knows all thoughts. The picture here is of one being alone in the Throne Room before, not just any earthly King, but the King of Kings, who knows what you should be thinking.
So, at this point, we should view ourselves both as in the Holy of Holies and in audience with the ultimate King. Perhaps we can reconcile this by surmising that the Kodesh Kodoshim is the equivalent of the inner recesses of the palace, even though this may not be how we would ordinarily picture it.
However, the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 98:3) then writes that our in Tefillah we should beg Hashem for mercy--just as a poor person begs at the door.
How can we imagine ourselves in the Holy of Holies, and/or standing in the magnificent palace of the King, directly in front of not only the King, but the King of Kings, and be begging at the door simultaneously? Could a pauper asking for a dollar find himself in the Kings palace, much less a palace that even the Kohen Gadol only fearfully entered on Yom Kippur?
It appears that there are three separate and distinct thoughts that we should bring to mind before the 1,000-plus Shemone Esreis we recite each year (approximately 20,000 brochos annually):
1. The Place: Wherever we are, we are in the Kodesh Kodoshim(!), for we are davening--and our tefillos perforce travel--through the most sacred place on Earth-the Kodesh Kodoshim-to reach the Heavens (Brachos 30A).
2. Hashem's Greatness: We are in audience with the World's Creator and the World's Supervisor--Who knows all thoughts, hears all pleas and can grant all requests.
3. Our Humility: Truth be told, we can do nothing on our own. Everything, literally **every**thing, is Hashem's gift to us. We must knock on the door and plead for **every**thing. Hashem, as the Ba'al HaBayis, knows how to best respond to a person's sincere requests.
Thus, the Shulchan Aruch teaches us exactly how to focus on, and appreciate, the great meeting we are about to experience. The actual experience will be measured by the quality of our focus and appreciation of this precious time.
Practical Suggestion: L'Havdil, at a stop sign, we are taught to Stop, Look and Listen. As you prepare to begin Shemone Esrei, spend three moments--to appreciate the Place, to understand in front of Whom you are standing, and to reflect upon who you are--and try to draw it all into the private audience, known as your Shemone Esrei.
Reprinted with permission from Hakhel MIS
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www.hakhel.info
The Network of Women's Tehillim Groups in Eretz Yisrael in cooperation with ANEINU will be encouraging women to make a special effort to get together and say extra tehillim, as we do on many fast days. In the times we are in this is all the more pertinent.
Since 10 Teves is the day that the Heavenly Court sits down each year, to decide if the Beis HaMikdash will be built in our day, that this is a good time to really daven for Moshiach and that we all be zoche to see the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash, bimhera b'yameinu.
[blue]Tuesday night and Wednesday, the 7th of Cheshvan[/blue], is the [red]yahrzeit of HaRav Meir Shapiro[/red], ZT’L, R’ Yehudah Meir b’R Yakov Shimson, who dedicated his life to passing the light of Torah on to future generations.
Those who have benefited from the study of Daf Yomi, or from the students of Yeshivah Chachmei Lublin, are encouraged you to do any or all of the following on his yahrzeit l’ilui nishmaso:
• Learn Torah-especially Mishnayos
• Give Tikun
• Dedicate your Daf Yomi shiur or Daf Yomi study to his memory
• Think about how you can implement some improvement in your Daf Yomi
• Study
• Give Tsedaka
• Say Tehillim
• Encourage someone to learn Torah
--- l'lui nishmato
May we all be zoche to see our Tzadikim with T’chiyas Hamesim speedily in our days!
JOIN OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR PRAYERS ANSWERED. Our Rabbis tell us (Bava Kamma 92A) that "He who prays on behalf of a fellow friend with similar needs, Hashem answers him first." Kol Hamitpalel is an organization that matches people with similar needs for whom they can pray. The service is STRICTLY ANONYMOUS and FREE. Miraculous stories abound of those who prayed and were answered. Kol Hamitpalel was featured in Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation's Chesed Magazine and numerous Gedolim have spoken about it. You can contact Kol Hamitpalel at 646-294-4355.
15:20 Aug 12, '05 / 7 Av 5765
by AruzSheva
[blue][b]Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu [/b]has composed a special prayer for Jewish women around the world to [i][b]say prior to lighting Sabbath candles tonight[/b][/i]. According to Rabbi Eliyahu, every woman should light [i][b]two additional candles [/b][/i](with olive oil being preferred). One candle is [i][b]in honor of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess[/b][/i], one of the most important scholars in Talmudic times, a student of Rabbi Akiva, and an active participant in the Bar Kochba rebellion. The [i][b]other is in honor of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai[/b][/i], the pre-eminent kabbalist and author of the Zohar. Rabbi Eliyahu states that one should light these honorary candles, say the following prayer, and then continue to light the Shabbat candles. The text of the prayer is:[/blue]
[red]"May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, that you will have mercy upon us and upon our children, on the nation that sits in Zion and in the Holy Land, and on the holiness of the nation of Israel, and on the holiness of the Land, and on the completeness and security of the nation and the Land. Especially in this period in which a great danger hovers above us in the Holy Land. Master of the Universe: Do this for your sake and not for ours, do this for the sake of your great and awesome Name, that it should not be desecrated amongst the nations and give us salvation!!! And all those who plot evil on your nation, the House of Israel, annul their plans, and ruin their thoughts, and the following verse should come true of them: "Fear and dread should fall upon them with the strength of Your arm they will seem like stone." (Shemot 15:16) And also the following verse should be true of them: "You will blow a wind and you will carry them off and the storm will dash them, and you shall be happy with G-d, in the Holy One of Israel you shall be praised." (Isaiah 41) And we should merit the coming of the Messiah, and the building of Ariel [the third temple]. Our eyes should behold Your merciful return to Zion, Amen, may it be Your will."[/red]
Important Numbers
