Tefillah Tips - Ahava Rabbah 3

Avinu Malkaynu Baavur Avotaynu Shebatchu Becha Vatelamdaym Chukey Chaim Keyn Techanaynu Utelamdaynu - Our Father our King because of our forefathers that trusted in You and you taught them the laws of life, so too please teach us…

As a rabbi of a congregation and a community, I have the privilege of teaching many classes over the course of the week. A question that seems to repeat itself in several of the classes in different forms is, if the Messiah did not come for our ancestors and mothers, why should He come for us? If the greatness of Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, Solomon, Rashi, Ramban, The Gaon of Vilna, and the Chafetz Chaim didn’t clinch our redemption, what hope do we have now?

The Chafetz Chaim points out to us the well-known rule that bargains exist if one is prepared to wait for them. If one would want to buy a new designer winter coat during the fall, the price would be marked up quite high. If we returned to the store mid-winter and saw leftover stock, it would certainly be much cheaper. If it were still in the store together with next years styles, the store would practically give it away.

We can apply this principle in G-d’s world throughout time as well. The price for redemption, forgiveness and salvation must have been expensive in the times of the Bible. During the Middle Ages, the price came down a lot; and today the effort necessary to achieve G-d’s eternal promises is at the lowest levels ever. It is clearly within our reach!

Why is it within our reach? It’s easy, because we are resting on the backs of all previous generations and their successes. G-d has not forgotten any fine deed that has been accomplished throughout the millennia. It goes into a spiritual savings account that we can draw upon when necessary.

This is the meaning of our prayer - Baavur Avotaynu Shebatchu Becha, Keyn Techanaynu Utelamdaynu – because of their great deeds, teach us as well. Every Jew has a rich and illustrious history, a glorious family tree and a meaningful heritage to enjoy.

May we merit seeing the coming of Moshiach in our day and seeing the fulfillment of all the blessings and prophecies that were shared with our ancestors.

Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Ephraim Epstein

Rabbi Ephraim Epstein