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9.
BARECH ALEINU
It
is fascinating to note that this is the only bracha of Shemone Esrei that
begins with the word Barech--specifically
seeking bracha at the outset. Perhaps
this is an allusion to the fact that while it may be easier to have Bitachon
in other areas--Hashem will help me with Teshuva, Hashem will provide the
Refuah, Hashem will provide the Geulah--it is more difficult to have a
complete trust in areas of Parnassah. After
all, don’t I earn a living because of my expertise, my skill, my unique
abilities, my training, in my profession or job?
So, at the outset, we clear and clean our minds--ridding ourselves of
western thoughts and beliefs--as we aver that our Parnassah comes only
because of Your Blessing--which we whole-heartedly ask for.
Moreover, when we recognize that our livelihood, our
sustenance--every dollar and cent, every agorah, is from Hashem--then ipso
facto our monies will be blessed because we will seek, earn, keep and
possess only honest funds--as we recognize it all as emanating from Hashem.
We then follow with the word Aleinu
to emphasize that we want the bracha of Barech
to apply not only to us, but to all our people--so that no one is tempted by
his Yetzer Hora to follow any inappropriate means of moving money into his
pocket, and so that people who currently do not have enough to make ends
meet can see and savor Hashem’s blessing of sustenance with joy .
Accordingly, we daven for those who are indigent, for all those
currently in need, and for all of our brethren.
The Sefer Ya’aros Devash
notes that the Ikar of Parnassah
comes not through Din, but through Rachamim, and so it is essential that we
have the proper Kavannah in this bracha, imploring Hashem’s Rachamim upon
us and upon all of K’lal Yisroel.--Barech
Aleinu --let the words sink in--and flow out!
-----------------------------------
HaRav
Gamliel Rabanovitch, Shlita, asks why it is that we ask first in this Bracha
that Hashem bless this year with prosperity, and only afterwards, in the
next succeeding Brachos, do we daven for Hashem for the Geulah.
After all, shouldn’t we have our priorities in order?!
HaRav Rabanovitch writes, in truth, our Ikar
Tefillah for the Geulah is for the Tza’ar HaShechina that is currently
in Galus, and it is this Tza’ar that we must experience and feel [Hakhel
Note: Especially on a day like
today] while we are davening for the Geulah.
However, if we are too troubled and bothered by our personal Tirdos
and Tzaros, then we will be davening for the Geulah essentially so that we be relieved of all of our suffering.
We therefore daven now that Hashem bless us with sustenance and
prosperity--so that our prayers for the Geulah can be more pristine--for the
Shechinah to come back home, and for us to join Him!
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HaRav Chaim
Friedlander, Z’tl, asks why we
ask that Hashem give a Bracha to HaShanah HaZos--this year.
He explains that Shanah is related to Shinuy--meaning change, and
over the course of a year there are changes (hot and cold, rain and drought
etc.) We accordingly ask that
Hashem infuse his Bracha into each and every one of the changes that occur
throughout the year. It is for
this reason that we begin the Bracha not simply with Bareich Aleinu Hashem,
but with Bareich Aleinu Hashem Elokeinu--the word ‘Elokeinu’
is especially emphasizing Hashem’s Hashgacha Pratis over each and every
aspect of our Birchas HaParnassah through the vicissitudes of the year.
We then quickly add “V’Es Kol Minei Sevuasah L’Tova--that all
of the specifics, and all of the changes, turn out for our good.
We do not mean only our physical good, but our spiritual good as
well--through our recognition that each and every Bracha came from Hashem
and was not the product of Kochi V’Otzem Yadi--and through our utilization
of the Brachos wisely--to meet our true purpose in this world (and not as an
end in and of itself). If we can
elevate our Gashmiyus in this way, we will demonstrate that we are ready for
the Brachos of Geulah, which are soon to follow (yes, the double entendre is
intended)!
----------------------------------
The
bracha of Bareich Aleinu contains words which change depending upon the time
of year--either VeSein Bracha or VeSein Tal U’Matar LiVracha.
This relates directly to the thought conveyed yesterday-- we ask that
Hashem bless the year (Shanah) and
all of its changes.
There are then two different nuscha’os, or texts, which
follow--depending upon our custom, you recite either VeSabeinu
Mituvecha or VeSabeinu MiTuvah--and
the meaning changes depending upon your custom.
The Mishna Berurah (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 117, seif katan 1)
writes that it is the opinion of the Magen Avraham in the name of the Rosh,
and the Maharshal, that we recite VeSabeinu
MiTuvecha, while in the
Siddur of the Arizal [as well as in the Ma’aseh Rav and in the Iyun
Tefillah] the nusach is MiTuvah.
What is the difference between Mituvecha
and MiTuvah? The Rosh
writes that MiTuvecha refers to Hashem, and not to the year, i.e., we are asking
Hashem to satiate us from His goodness.
The Sefer Ya’aros Devash
beautifully adds that by MiTuvecha we
indicate that we want our sustenance to come from that which is good
to Hashem--with not even a speck of gezel or in proprietary associated
our livelihood or funds. HaRav
Chaim Friedlander brings a second interpretation of VeSabeinu
MiTuvecha as well. He
writes in the name of the Sefer Avnei
Eliyahu that we are asking Hashem that a little Gashmiyus in this world
satiate us because it is MiTuvecha--because
it emanates from Hashem, so that the spiritual overtakes the material.
As Rashi writes in Chumash (to Vayikra 26:5), one can eat even a
little and still feel satiated inside. The
second nusach--VeSabeinu MiTuvah does
not refer to Hashem or His goodness, but
instead [according to the Gra and the Iyun Tefillah] refers to Eretz Yisroel,
which is the Pnei Ha’adamah just referred to in the bracha. We
ask of Hashem that He give us from the good with which Eretz Yisroel was
blessed, as the Eretz Zavas Chalav U’Devash!
Note: HaRav Friedlander
points out that there is only one nusach in the bracha of Mai’ain Shalosh
(Al HaMichya)--according to all opinions it is VeSabeinu
MiTuvah--referring to Eretz Yisroel and its goodness.
--------------------------------
It is interesting to
note that the bracha both begins with Barech
and ends with Mevarech--indicating
that sustenance is a particular area in which one must especially recognize
its true Source (from beginning to end!).
In fact, in the Birkas Kohanim (Bamidbar
6:24 et.
al.), the first word is also related--Yevorechecha.
Rashi there brings Chazal that the Kavannah is Yisborchu
Nechasecha--may your possessions be blessed!
We would think that the holy and limited words of the Birkas Kohanim
would be involved with more ‘sublime’ matters.
However, the very fact that this is the only word of the Birkas
Kohanim in which bracha is directly utilized--and this is pashut
p’shat according to Rashi--teaches us how we have to especially
recognize that bracha is only from Hashem in financial matters--and act and
behave accordingly. Three final
notes from HaRav Schwab Z’tl (in the monumental Rav
Schwab on Prayer--a must for EVERYONE’S home):
a. WE had previously
asked Hashem to bless Hashanah HaZos--this year.
In the last words of the bracha, we recite that Hashem blesses the
years--in the plural--as an expression of our Emunah Sheleima that Hashem
will bless future years as well. b.
If a person has difficulties with Parnassah, he should add his own
personal tefillah just before he closes the bracha with Baruch Atta Hashem.
c. Even though a
person’s Parnassah has been decided for the year on Rosh Hashanah, we ask
that Hashem to increase the predetermined amount--in the merit of our
expenditures for Shabbos and Yom Tov and for the support and promotion of
Torah learning...if we use the money we have for the right reasons...the
more Bracha
one can expect in return!
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SECOND SET --------------------------
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Since the First Bracha of Shemone Esrei, we have
not began a Bracha with the term ‘Bareich’--bless
us with. Here, we will ask
Hashem for the blessing of Parnassah and sustenance.
We note that the first word in Birkas Kohanim is ‘Yevarechecha’--bless
us, which Rashi (Bamidbar
6:24
),
quoting Chazal, writes refers to
blessing one with prosperity. With
this word, then, we especially emphasize our absolute recognition that all
of our monetary matters, all of our wealth and all of our possessions are a blessing
from Hashem. Indeed, the second
word of the Bracha--‘Aleinu’--upon
us is a direct request that Hashem bring these blessings down upon us.
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, Shlita, points out that there are only three
brachos in Shemone Esrei (after the First Bracha) that begin not only with
the one name of ‘Hashem’
or with ‘Atta’, but with ‘Hashem
Elokeinu’--they are Bareich
Aleinu Hashem Elokeinu, Shema
Koleinu Hashem Elokeinu, and Retzei
Hashem Elokeinu.
In his unique and unparalleled manner, HaRav Chaim explains that
each reference is based on a specific Pasuk--Lema’an
Yevarechecha Hashem Elokecha (Devarim
14:29
); Hashem
Elokim Shemah Tefillasi (Tehillim 84:9); and Hashem Elokecha Yirtzecha
(Shmuel II 24:23)!
------------------------------------------------
The next phrase of the Bracha is Es
HaShana HaZos--this year. HaRav
Chaim Kanievsky, Shlita, explains that every year one has a different gezeirah
relating to Parnassah, and that one therefore does not as a matter of course
remain wealthy, middle class or poor. We
see this in real life with those around us--and
this is our opportunity to daven for success now.
Furthermore, we ask for V’Es Kol Minei Sevuasah--every
single aspect of the Parnassah--to be LeTovah.
HaRav Chaim explains that even if there was r’l
a gezeirah lera’ah, we ask
Hashem for it now to be changed to Tovah.
The Sefer BeRumo Shel Olam
adds that our Kavannos should include that our Parnassah be given to us BeNachas
Velo Betza’ar--with calmness and serenity and not with pain, and
additionally, that the indigent of K’lal Yisrael be taken out of their
dire straits as well. Thus, the
term LeTovah has both a quantitative and qualitative meaning--and we
should keep them both in mind!
------------------------------------------------
The next phrase of the Bracha is V’Sein
Bracha Al P’nei HaAdamah. The
Eitz Yosef beautifully notes that
with this phrase we pray that “Shelo
Yihei Ein Briyah Tzarah B’Chaverta”--that all peacefully coexist in
their attainment of Parnassah, without the trials and tribulations of
undercutting another, looking good at the expense of another, unfair
competition, etc. The next two
words of the Bracha are V’Sab’einu
MiTuvah/MiTuvecha--there is a dispute among the authorities as to what
the proper girsa is.
The G’ra rules that the proper word is MiTuvah--i.e.,
from the goodness of the Land, referring to Eretz Yisrael.
Indeed, the Eitz Yosef brings
that the last letters of the words P’nei
HaAdamah V’Sa'b’ei'nu MiTuvah
constitute the letters of Yud-Key-Vav-Key--providing weight to this girsah.
The Rosh, however, teaches
that we should recite the word MiTuvecha--i.e., asking Hashem that we be satiated from His
Goodness. In the Sefer Ya’aros Devash, HaRav Yonasan Eibishitz, Z’tl, adds an important
insight towards the girsa of MiTuvecha:
“If c’v there is some
taint of issur in one’s food--if
it comes from any kind of gezel,
if there is some prohibited matter within the food, or even if the meal is
eaten together with the wrong company--then the Ruach HaKedushah that is in the food leaves it, and the Ruach
HaTumah that replaces it is digested with the food, and leaves its
negative mark on the character of the person who consumes it.”
If, instead, we are satiated MiTuvecha--from
the bounty of Hashem, and in the permissible and appropriate way that Hashem
would like us to eat, then we will actually imbibe holiness and purity from
our food. Accordingly, the Ya’aros
Devash writes, one should daven ‘me’od
b’kavannah’ when reciting the words V’Sab’einu
MiTuvecha that the food he
consumes come from and through the proper sources--so that one attains a
purity from the food he consumes--“and if he does so, Hashem will listen
to his Tefillos--and no sin will befall him when eating foods(!).”
-----------------------------------------------
The next phrase of the Bracha is U’Vareich
Shenaseinu KaShanim HaTovos--and bless our years like the good years.
What do we mean by the ‘good years’?
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, Shlita, writes in his Sefer Ta’amah D’ikra, that
this refers to two specific years--years in which the fruits were never as
plentiful in Eretz Yisrael as they were in those two years.
These two years were: (i) the year that Bnei Yisrael entered Eretz
Yisrael; and (ii) the year that Bnei Yisrael were exiled from Eretz Yisrael.
In the future, HaRav Chaim writes, all
years will be like those years--and that is what we mean with the words U’Vareich Shenaseinu KaShanim HaTovos--that we will be zoche to the Geulah--i.e., that time when all our years
will be like those two years! The
Siddur Siach Yitzchak interprets
the phrase as referring even to our times--explaining that we are davening
for goodness in gashmiyus from
which will come not additional ta’avos
or a yeridah of any kind (as in Vayishman
Yeshurun VaYivat--as one waxes fat, he may rebel), but
rather goodness in gashmiyus from
which will come Hatzlacha in ruchniyus--i.e.,
the opportunity to grow in Torah and Yiras Shomayim without deterrents and
disturbances, just as the past good years when we were blessed with gashmiyus
and ruchniyus together!
-----------------------------------------
The
next phrase of the Bracha is Baruch
Atta Hashem Mevarech HaShanim--blessed are You Hashem, Who blesses the
years. HaRav Shimon Schwab,
Z’tl, in the monumental work Rav
Schwab on Prayer (Artscroll), provides us with the following insight at
the conclusion of our Bracha: “If a person has difficulties with his Parnassah,
he should add his own personal tefillah
here just before
Baruch Atta Hashem Mevarech HaShanim.…The Bracha concludes in the
present tense, in expression of our Emunah
Sheleima that HaKadosh
Baruch Hu will fulfill His promise to
bless the future years that are to come….
Additionally,
although our livelihood for the present year has
already been decided on Rosh Hashanah, nevertheless, we ask HaKadosh
Baruch Hu here to increase the predetermined amount, in the merit of our extensive expenditures in
the areas of Shabbos and Yom Tov, and for the support and promotion of Torah
learning. The more we expand our
efforts for these objectives, and practice them on a large scale, the more
we can expect the blessings of HaKadosh
Baruch Hu in return--Im Hosif
Mosifin Lo--if one adds on to the expenditures for these Mitzvah
purposes, then Hashem will add to his income.”
In a different vein, HaRav Chaim Friedlander, Z’tl, notes that the
word HaShanim (the years) is
related to the word HaShinuyim
(the changes). In the broader
world view, HaRav Friedlander writes, changes and variations may prove more
harmful than helpful. Indeed,
some people may be heard to say “Hopefully the economy won’t be worse
than it is now.” People
recognize that change brings with it the unknown.
We know that with Hashem’s protective embrace of us, His
blessing--He will be Mevareich these Shinuyim, these changes--even if they
are part of what others consider to be economic downturns or seasonal
cycles….and we pray here that they will be for our good--as Hashem adds
on to all the blessing He is already providing us with!”
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