WITH OUR WHOLE נשמה
January 6, 2023
If Hashem didn’t lead me to that specific place at that specific time, I would have missed out on everlasting inspiration.
Had the opportunity one morning to daven Shacris at the great Bobov Chasidic Center in Boro Park. It is a popular place, where people gather three times a day to daven. They have Minyonim for Shacris, Minche and Maariv round the clock. You can always be on time for davening in Bobov. Whenever you arrive there is a new Minyan ready to start.
One morning, after finishing my morning prayers, I happened to pass by the main synagogue, when I noticed a special Tish taking place. The Bobover Rebbe was speaking to a large crowd of his Chassidim. Just then he happened to be speaking about the prayer כל הנשמה תהלל י-ה הללוי-ה, which we recite every morning. His talk caught my attention when he said, “dont think that the words only mean, every Neshoma should praise Hashem. There is a deeper message to keep in mind when reciting those words. כל הנשמה, with our entire נשמה, with our whole being, we are required to praise Hashem. We must give it our ALL throughout davening”. What is interesting he bemoaned, “that even while we are saying the words כל הנשמה, our entire Neshoma is not consciously there with us. At least when we announciate these words, our entire concentration should be there”. What the Rebbe was trying to point out was, how much effort one is required to put in, to be conscious of Hashem Presence while davening. That we need to be focused and praise Hashem with ALL our ability. We must make sure our minds are not elsewhere. Our prayers must be wholesome and complete, with our fullest concentration, with complete heart, mind and soul present.
Never have I forgotten those words, I happened to luckily hear on my way out. Daily they ring in my ears, especially when saying כל הנשמה. Prayer is not just about mumbling words and getting done. Most important is to be fully cognizant before whom we stand in prayer and to put our entire heart and soul into understanding the words we are conveying. To cherish the opportunity we have been given, to speak to Hashem directly without any median. Connecting ourselves to our Creator, our life giver and supporter. Our words need to affect us and awaken within us a closer relationship, through our understanding of the significance of the words we utter. We must know what we are talking about when speaking to the king. Speaking to the king and not knowing what we are talking about while speaking to him, is a lost opportunity. Could have had meaningful communication with our creator.
To receive Hashem’s full blessings, we must ask properly. With ALL our heart and soul, with ALL our feeling. With an understanding that our lives totally depend on Hashem’s graciousness.
All blessing Emanates from Him alone
All time total visits: 2079