Weekly Tefilah Focus

Elul 5785

What Does Hashem Want? As we begin this period of 40 days of unique opportunity and closeness to...

Read more: Elul 5785

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. 

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.

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.