When
we daven, we have the opportunity to reach great spiritual heights. The
Anshei Knesses HaGedolah, which included the final Neviim
(prophets), arranged the Shacharis Tefillah to allow us to reach a heightened
level of kedushah and an awareness of Hashem step by step; similar to the
four levels of increased kedushah found in the Bais HaMikdash--beginning with
the lowest level of Kedushah (the Har HaBayis--the Temple Mount ) and
culminating in the highest level of kedushah (the Kodesh HaKodoshim--the Holy
of Holies), as follows:
Shacharis begins with the Birchas
HaShachar--corresponding to the Har HaBayis; followed by Pesukei
DZimrah--corresponding to the Azarah ( the Temple Courtyard); then Krias
Shema (and its brachos)--corresponding to the Heichal (the Holy), and
culminating with Shemone Esrei--corresponding to the Kodesh HaKodashim (the
Holy of Holies). For further detail , see Nefesh Shimshon, Siddur HaTefillah
by HaRav Shimshon Pincus, Ztl, pages 36-42.
As you daven before Hashem,
visualize yourself progressing through the different sections of the Bais
HaMikdash, elevating yourself with increasing levels of
Kedushah.
Special Note Four: The following rulings of HaRav Yisroel
Belsky, Shlita, were published in Halachically Speaking (Volume 2, Issue
33).
It frequently occurs in public places that there is one person in a room who is cold in the winter and wants to close the window, or is hot in the summer and wants the window to be open. All others in the room disagree. In the winter, the Halacha is that the window must be closed in deference to the chilled individual, and in the summer the Halacha is that the window must be open, once again, in deference to the hot individual. Use of an air conditioner has a different permutation. One who is afraid that he will become sick from the cold blowing air has the right to turn off the air conditioner,
notwithstanding the protest of others.
Having stated these Halachos, we
bring a fascinating point made in the Sefer Shaarei Orah (Vol 1, p. 20) based
upon the teachings of HaRav Avigdor Miller, Ztl. HaRav Miller notes that
there are days during the year which are extremely cold and other days which
are very hot. No matter how much one complains, he is unable to change these
weather conditions with mere words. Instead, he must tolerate and accept the
situation--he must work with the circumstances that surround him. It would
be silly to walk out without a coat or shoes in below-freezing weather just
to make the point that you would rather be in warmer environs. In fact, you
are not, and you must appropriately approach the current state of
affairs.
This is not only true about the weather. The great middah of
Savlanus, or patience, must be applied again and again in situations that
face us throughout the day. Whether it is someone spilling a little coffee
on you, or another cutting you off with his car and making you miss the
traffic light, or whether it is a customer or client testing you to the
limit, or a family member (even one younger than you) insulting or deriding
you, you must cope and overcome your initial instincts and reactions. In
fact, in many of lifes instances, Hashem makes the circumstances themselves
assist you to help better your character. You know, for instance, that you
want to keep your job so you control yourself and do not shout back at the
boss. You want to make the sale, so you grin and bear the incessant
complaining. You want to live in peace with your neighbor, so you let him
walk over your grass all the time. You dont want to get a ticket, so you
sit waiting at a red light with no one else anywhere to be found at 2 AM.
These situations are all G-d-given opportunities to improve your patience.
It is up to you to use these Heaven-granted situations to build up your
Savlanus in other circumstances in which you may not feel so intimidated--or
sense the need to hold back. These more advanced character-building
situations frequently appear in the home with close relatives (without
getting too descriptive), and with close friends.
Today, test your
patience in **all** situations, not only the easy situations, the G-d-given
muscle-building circumstances in which you know that you must control
yourself, but also in those more delicate situations at home where you are
either the Boss--or in which know that you are otherwise definitely right.
Additionally, consider those situations in which you are alone in the car or
in your office and have a real opportunity to vent your frustrations--with no
one but Hashem listening--and demonstrate that you are not only in control of
the car or the computer, but more importantlyof
yourself!
Important Numbers
