Why Not Pray More for Our Needs?
On the holy day of Rosh Hashanah, the greater part of our tefillah (prayer) is for the kevod Malchuto yitbarach, for the honor and glory of Hashem (God)’s Kingship. Some commentators have asked (see Siddur HaGra, preface to tefillot for Rosh Hashanah), if this is the day of Heavenly Judgment, why aren’t we spending much of our time praying for our own needs – for children, health and parnassah (livelihood)?
A Year of Heavenly Pursuits
There was once a devout Jew, Rabbi Nachum Yisrael Warshaviak of Lipna zt”l, a talmid (student) of the Kotzker Rebbe, who spent his entire life dedicated to Torah and tefillah – so much so that he would often not eat throughout the day because he was so involved in his pursuit of ruchniyut (spirituality). In fact, he would never eat on Rosh Hashanah, as was the practice of some in those days (see Mateh Efraim 597:5). Once he was asked, “We know that ‘simana milta hee’ – a ‘siman,’ or sign, can be effective. If so, wouldn’t your fasting on Rosh Hashanah be considered a bad sign for the rest of your year?”
Rabbi Nachum Yisrael responded, “I once met a pauper on Rosh Hashanah who was crying. When I asked him what was bothering him he replied, ‘I am so poor that I barely have anything to eat, to the point that it has greatly affected my tefillot (prayers) on this holy day. Surely it is a bad siman for the rest of my year!’
“However,” Rabbi Nachum Yisrael went on to explain, “when I don’t eat on Rosh Hashanah, it is because I am so busy with my heavenly pursuits. This will certainly be only a siman tov, a good sign, for the upcoming year. The fact that I don’t eat because I am involved in ruchniyut? My spirituality will surely improve because of this!” (Beis Kotzk, page 442).
“Simana Milta Hee” – Let’s Pursue Hashem’s Kingship
If we would spend the day of Rosh Hashanah primarily davening for our own needs and our own problems and challenges, these thoughts could leave us somewhat distraught and saddened. Rather, we should spend this holy day thinking mainly about the pursuit of Hashem’s glorious Kingship. For “simana milta hee,” and therefore we will have a year of ruchniyut, in which we will think only about Hashem, above all of our own problems and needs. It is perhaps for this reason that we focus on Hashem’s honor on this special day.
Excerpted from the Book, “To Return and Rekindle” – A small, pocket companion for the months of Elul and Tishrei. Written by Rabbi Usher Smith, published by Bikush Publications and distributed by Feldheim. Available in Jewish book stores or at www.Feldheim.com.
