Shemoneh Esrei 41: Making It Personal
שמע קולנו
Last week, we focused on the opportunity and importance of turning to Hashem even, and especially, for the “small stuff.” One of the appropriate places to do this is in our brachah of Shema Koleinu. Additions should be said before the words “כי אתה–ki atah” at the end of the brachah.
In many siddurim, there is a “יהי רצון–Y’hi ratzon” insert in the brachah of רפאנו–R’fa’einu to daven for specific people who are ill, and two inserts in our brachah, one a vidui to admit sins committed and ask for forgiveness, and one for parnasah. The Mishnah B’rurah, quoting the Magen Avraham, says it is good to add these. They do not mention whether to add it in every tefilah or just as needed. There is a difference of opinion as to whether one may, should, or must not, add these tefilos as a FIXED part of Shemoneh Esrei. All agree that one may add as needed, meaning that on any given day we may add for that day. However, some are very concerned about the “chutzpah” of permanently adding the same tefilah every time we daven every day. How can we dare to permanently add on to what the Anshei K’neses HaG’dolah – comprised of Prophets and Tana’im – composed with ruach ha’kodesh? One should discuss with his rav or rebbe the frequency of saying these inserts and any personally composed tefilos.
In any case, we quote the Mishnah B’rurah on the importance of ALL of us, EVERY day, to turn to Hashem for our specific needs, parnasah, and the ruchniyus of our children and future generations:
נכון וראוי לכל אדם להתפלל בכל יום ביחוד על צרכיו ופרנסתו, ושלא ימוש התורה מפיו וזרעו וזרע זרעו, ושיהיו כל יוצאי חלציו עובדי ה' באמת, ושלא ימצא ח"ו פסול בזרעו, וכל מה שיודע בלבו שצריך לו... רק שיהיה מקירות לבו
It is correct and proper for every person to pray daily in particular for his needs and his sustenance, that the Torah will not leave his mouth or the mouths of his offspring, or of his offspring’s offspring, that all of his progeny will be true servants of Hashem, that, Heaven forbid, there will be no disqualification among his offspring and for everything that he knows in his heart that he is in need of. [The] only [essential requirement is] that [the prayer] should be from the bottom of one’s heart. [Mishnah B’rurah 122 s”k 8, quoting the Chayei Adam]
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The Chazon Ish (Igeres 74) composed a tefilah for mothers to say for their children. (Anyone can certainly say this tefilah for children; we merely point out that he composed it originally for a mother). He composed it to be said in our brachah (before the “כי אתה” at the end of the brachah). We present it here:
יהי רצון מלפניך, ה' אלקינו ואלקי אבותינו, שתרחם על בני [שם] שתהפוך את לבבו לאהבה וליראה שמך ולשקוד בתורתך הקדושה, ותסיר מלפניו כל הסיבות המונעות אותו משקידת תורתך, ותכין את כל הסיבות המביאות לתורתך הקדושה
May it be Your will, Hashem, my G-d and the G-d of my forefathers, that You will have mercy on my child, [name,] that You will turn his heart to love and fear Your Name and to be diligent in Your Holy Torah, and that You will remove before him all of the reasons that are preventing him from diligence in Your Torah, and that You will prepare all of the reasons that bring one to Your Holy Torah.
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If anyone would like an e-mail with the above two quotes in Hebrew, as well as another reference in the Mishnah B’rurah that indicates other places in the davening to daven for children, please e-mail us and we will be happy to reply with the above by e-mail.