THE PIRCHEI SHOSHANIM ROADMAP TO PRAYER PROJECT The Roadmap to Prayer Lesson 2 Pirchei Shoshanim 2005 This shiur may not be reproduced in any form without permission of the copyright holder Rehov Beit Vegan 99, Yerushalayim 03.616.6340 164 Village Path, Lakewood NJ 08701 732.370.3344 fax 1.877.Pirchei (732.367.8168) THE PIRCHEI SHOSHANIM ROADMAP TO PRAYER PROJECT AN ATTACHMENT OF THE SOUL Lesson The Roadmap 2 To Prayer The Four Spiritual Spheres Atzilus Briyah Yetzirah Assiyah There are four spiritual worlds that represent four levels in creation. They are: Y Atzilus – The world of G-d’s thought Y Briyah – The world of creation Y Yetzirah – The world of formation Y Assiyah – The world of integration These terms are generally used in esoteric writings of Kabalah. We use it here to represent the lofty ideals of Prayer; as we ascend with it to spiritual heights. After all, we do actually Pray to G-d directly. The Highest level being Atzilus and the lowest level Assiyah that corresponds to the world we live in. The Daily Prayer: Ascending the Spiritual The Men of the Great Assembly (Anshei Knesses Hagedolah) which consisted of 120 Realms of PROPHETS and Sages arranged our daily prayers (tefilas) to correspond to these Asiyyah, Yetzirah, Briyah and Atzilus through Prayer four spiritual spheres. These men fixed the text of the daily prayer (Shemoneh Esrei- the “Eighteen Benedictions”). From that point and onward in became incumbent upon every Jew to pray three times daily. We then systematically work our way up from one level to the next until we reach the highest sphere Atzilus. Alternatively, Prayer (Tefila) is explained to correspond to the four levels of holiness that were in the Holy Temple the Beis Hamikdash. 11 THE PIRCHEI SHOSHANIM ROADMAP TO PRAYER PROJECT AN ATTACHMENT OF THE SOUL – LESSON TWO Y Har Habayis (The Temple Mount) Y Azarah (The Courtyard) Y Heichal (The Chamber) Y Kodesh Kodoshim (Holy of Holies - The Inner Chamber) In this case the highest level is the Kodesh Kodoshim while the lowest is the Har Habayis. According to both interpretations, Prayer (Tefila) climbs the ladder of spirituality carefully from one level to the next until She’moneh Esrei while it descends from the highest level to the lowest in the same manner of succession with the portion of prayer that follows the She’moneh Esrei until the end of the Prayers (davening). The Four Parts of Prayer (Davening) Y Brachos and Korbanos / Assiyah Y Pesukei de’zimra / Yetzirah Y Krias She’ma and its blessings / Briyah Y The Amida (She’moneh Esrei) / Atzilus After finishing She’moneh Esrei we begin our descent down to the lowest level of spirituality which corresponds with the Har Habayis. They are: Y The Amida (She’moneh Esrei) / Atzilus Y Ashrei and Kedusha de’sidra / Briyah Y The Shir shel Yom (Levite song of the day) / Yetzirah Y Ein ke’Elokeinu and Pittum haketores / Assiyah Please note: Not all versions of Tefila have the exact same portions of prayer. The differences will be discussed in later lessons. 12 THE PIRCHEI SHOSHANIM ROADMAP TO PRAYER PROJECT AN ATTACHMENT OF THE SOUL – LESSON TWO The Necessary Steps1 When building an edifice, it is absolutely necessary to build a firm foundation and work ones way upward building one level upon another. Likewise, Prayer (Tefila) is a CREATION. One is building a world to live in and it is of utmost importance to establish it firmly so that it can support the tall edifice built upon it. The world consists of two distinct areas. The Holy and the Ordinary. The Holy is the Temple (Beis Hamikdash) which contains the Sanctuary (Heichal) and the Holy of Holies (Kodesh Kodoshim). The Ordinary is the Temple Mount (Har Habayis) and the Courtyard (Azarah). A person visiting the Temple (Beis Hamikdash) first comes to the Har Habayis: Y Har Habayis (THE TEMPLE MOUNT) that is not yet the holy area The beginnings of Holiness of the Beis Hamikdash but it is a place necessary to revere and to One begins to aspire to honor. According to Jewish Law, one may not enter into this area serve the Creator with one’s money pouch, walking stick or shoes. Upon entering this area, one is reminded that that there is a Creator and that one is obligated to His laws. Next one enters into the Azarah: A place of devotion One begins to contemplate a Y Azarah (THE COURT YARD) The place of Service where one lifetime of devotion to Service of G-d immediately realizes that one must devote his entire life to the service of G-d as the Azarah is the place of actual Service. Kodesh: Next one enters into the Full focus on Hashem observing us Y Kodesh where a person realizes that Hashem is watching him. Finally, upon reaching the Kodesh Kodoshim: There is no other Power Y Kodesh Kodoshim, (THE HOLY OF HOLIES) one realizes that there is no true Power other than G-d Himself! Ein ode mi’levado. Likewise in Prayer (Tefila), one needs to follow this route to Holiness (Kedusha) both in the ascent to Holiness (Kedusha) and in the descent back to the mundane reality of human existence. Just as one cannot jump to the highest levels of 1 Based on the writings of Rav Shimshon Pinkus zt”l in Nefesh Shimshon 13 THE PIRCHEI SHOSHANIM ROADMAP TO PRAYER PROJECT AN ATTACHMENT OF THE SOUL – LESSON TWO Holiness (Kedusha) without first experiencing the (Kedusha) of each lower level, so too, in one’s descent from the highest to the lowest level one must be careful not to come crashing down. In order to capture the levels of Holiness (Kedusha) attained in the ascent and bring them back and incorporate them into our daily existence, one must descend slowly but surely through each level of disengagement. The Names of G-d The Names of G-d: Tetragrammaton – Ascent in the Spiritual The Tetragrammaton – G-d’s Name of Four Letters is written Pronounced Adonoi with the letters Yud and Hey and Vav and Hey. It must never be pronounced as it is Concentrate that G-d always existed, exists and will written. Rather, the correct pronunciation is Adonoi. Even this pronunciation of G-d’s continue to exist. He is Master of all existence Name may never be said in vain. It may only be recited in the context of a blessing or a prayer. The Name Adonoi - Concentrate He is Master of all existence Whenever one pronounces G-d’s Name (Tetragrammaton) one must meditate on two Elokim – thoughts. 1) Adone hakole – Master of All existence 2) G-d always existed, He exists and All Powerful G-d He will always continue to exist. In Hebrew this translates Hayah (was) Hoveh (is) and Yihyeh (will be), each word being from the Tetragrammaton. The Biur HaGra maintains that it is only necessary by the first verse of She’ma to meditate on both meanings of Hashem’s Name. Otherwise, it is sufficient just to meditate on the meaning of the way we pronounce Hashem’s Name. The Mishna Berura in Orach Chaim 5: 3 agrees with the Gra’s interpretation of this law. When G-d’s Name is written with the letters Alef, Daled, Nun and Yud, it is pronounced as it is written Adonoi. Only the first meaning Adone hakole – Master of All existence must be meditated. When uttering G-d’s Name Elokim, one must meditate that G-d is all-powerful and omnipotent. One who finds it difficult to always keep in mind these meditations should at least declare at the beginning of each day that he means to have these meditations whenever he utters the Name of G-d. (Introduction sefer Afikei Yam) Labor of the Heart – Avodah She’belev Tefila is work that we labor at so we can reach greater Prayer (Tefila) is referred to as Avodah she’belev, which translates literally “the spiritual heights in our labor of the heart”. Tefila should be viewed as a proactive enterprise where we Service of G-d. 14 THE PIRCHEI SHOSHANIM ROADMAP TO PRAYER PROJECT AN ATTACHMENT OF THE SOUL – LESSON TWO “labor” to make our way up to higher spiritual spheres and levels. This way, we grow through our prayers (tefilos) and each day’s prayers (tefilos) will reach up to greater and greater heights, each new prayer (Tefila) making the previous (Tefila) seem like a lower level of (Tefila). Rav Chaim Volozhiner zt”l writes that the great feat accomplished by the Men of the Great Assembly (Anshei Knesses Hagedolah) when they standardized the language of prayer (Tefila) was that they were able to incorporate into the very same words each individuals specific level of concentration and spirituality from the time they instituted the prayers (tefilos) until the end of time. Hence we have the unified prayer (Tefila) where everyone prays the exact same way while at the same time each prayer (Tefila) is different in nature by the way each individual prays and concentrates on that prayer (Tefila). AAddoonn OOllaamm We do not know for sure who composed this beautiful prayer. Some say the author was R’ Shlomo Ibn Gabirol (1021 -1058) who lived in Spain. Others say it was R’ Sherirah (900-1001) and R’ Hai Gaon (939-1038) who mention this in their writings. Adon Olam serves both as an introductory prayer as well as a closing prayer to the morning prayers. Adon Olam translates to the Master of the Universe. It is brought that Rebbe Yehudah Hachasid and Rav Sherirah Gaon said that one who concentrates while reciting these words, is guaranteed that his Tefila will be readily accepted and that no prosecuting angel will interfere with his Prayer (Tefila).