All year round we are preoccupied with the problems of life. We are all troubled by the difficulties of everyday life, both private and public. Each and every one of us faces challenges and strives to achieve various goals. These efforts sometimes bear fruit and sometimes fail.
But during the High Holy Days we move to another plane - the plane of prayer.
Many who do not attend synagogue year-round come to the High Holy Days, and even regular worshippers devote much more time to prayer and the recitation of Tehillim. It is time to discuss the power of prayer.
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Action alongside prayer
Prayer does not contradict the need to act in the way of nature and deal with the problems and challenges that lie before us. On the contrary, prayer is about asking that we see blessing and success in the works of our hands.
We all discover in the course of our lives the truth behind the verse, "Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord is what will stand.' Sometimes a person believes that he has the power to shape reality and that nothing will prevent him from achieving his goals. But in reality, it turns out that everything is going exactly the opposite, completely contrary to all predictions.
We must act and do, but we can never guarantee that our actions will succeed. The one who truly determines and shapes reality is the Creator of the world and its leader.
It is the hand of providence that guides the steps, sometimes in winding and hidden ways, sometimes in an open and clear manner. That is why a Jew says about everything – 'with the help of God', 'if God wills', because without His help we can do nothing.
The High Holy Days are the time to ask truly. This is the time to turn to God, as a son turns to his father, and to ask with all his heart and soul. To ask for health, longevity, a dignified livelihood, peace in the home, and contentment from his children. We are given a golden opportunity to stand before the King of kings and ask for the desires of our hearts. Shall we not seize the opportunity?
Let go of anger and disagreements
God awaits the prayers of the people of Israel, and He is ready to fulfill the desires of our hearts. All that is required of us is to ask, to ask truly. Let us put aside all anger, disputes, polemics, frustrations, and disappointments, and focus on praying that the Creator of the world will make His presence known within us, give us worthy leaders, and direct their hearts and minds to doing what is good and right.
Let us unite in prayer and in asking for blessings for all, for our people and for our land. These requests are written in the prayer cycles. We ask, "Give glory to your people, glory to those who fear you, and good hope to those who seek you." We pray for the well-being of the people of Israel, for the foiling of the plots of the enemies, for the building of Jerusalem, for the return of the Shekhinah to Zion, and for worldwide unity around the kingdom of God.
In fact, if we look at the prayers of the High Holy Days – we pray primarily for the coming of true and complete redemption: "And a horn shall sprout for David your servant, and a lamp shall be lit for the branch of Jesse, your anointed – quickly in our days." Therefore, let us pray on Rosh Hashanah and ask our Father in Heaven, and He will surely fulfill the desires of our hearts for good.
May we all have good writing and signing, for a good and sweet year, a year of redemption and salvation.
