Powtórzonego Prawa 4:7 Kabała: Sha'arei Orah

Whoever understands this, will understand the statement in Tractate Rosh HaShanah²⁸⁵See Talmud Bavli, Rosh HaShanah 17b-18a regarding the decrees upon a congregation or an individual that are torn up. He will similarly understand what it states in Torah,²⁸⁶Deuteronomy 4:7 “For which is a great nation that has a god who is close to it, as is HaShem-יהו״ה our God, whenever we call to Him?” I shall hint at the matter with the verse,²⁸⁷Isaiah 55:6 “Seek HaShem-יהו״ה when He is to be found.” That is, whoever wishes to attain his desire and tear up the decree that is issued upon him, should seek HaShem-יהו״ה when He is to be found, which is in the secret of the Supernal Crown-Keter Elyon. For that is His primary primordial existence, and it is from His truth that the Sefirot were revealed. This is a very deep matter, but you yet shall understand some important principles about this matter, with HaShem’s-יהו״ה, blessed is He. When we come to the explanation of the “preexistent-Kedem-קדם,” which will be explained in this Gate, with HaShem’s-יהו״ה help, blessed is He, we will explain and reveal some hidden matters regarding this.

However, because they are HaShem’s-יהו"ה portion, this is not so of the Jewish people. Thus, though on Rosh HaShanah they stood in judgment, nevertheless, on any day they wish, they can tear up that judgment and elicit renewal for the good. This is as stated in Torah,²⁰⁷Deuteronomy 4:7 “For which is a great nation that has a god-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם who is close to it, as HaShem-יהו״ה our God is whenever we call Him?” Deeply contemplate the greatness of this verse. It also is written,²⁰⁸Kings I 8:59 “That He may do justice-Mishtpat-משפט with His servant, and justice-Mishpat-משפט with His people Israel; the need of each day in its day.” That is, every single day the Jewish people can tear up and rescind the decree that was sentenced upon them on Rosh HaShanah, and they can renew it for the good. No other nation can do this. This is because not one of the seventy ministering angels can add to his nation, beyond the reward apportioned to it on Rosh HaShanah.

Now, everything we said above specifically applies to the prayers of lone individuals. However, in regard to congregational prayers, no appointee or gatekeeper is capable of holding back these prayers. Rather, when the congregation prays, their prayers enter and are received in every circumstance. This is the meaning of the verse,³⁵¹Psalms 102:18 “He turned to the prayer of the accuser-Arar-ערער [in the singular] and He did not despise their prayer-Tefilatam-תפילתם [in the plural].” The meaning of the words, “He turned to the prayer of the accuser-Arar-ערער [in the singular],” is that when a lone person prays, his prayer is examined to see if it is fitting to be received, and many accusers-Me’arerim-מערערים come against it. In contrast, about the prayers of the congregation it states, “He did not despise their prayer-Tefilatam-תפילתם [in the plural],” in that even though their prayer may not be as fitting and appropriate as it should be, it nevertheless is received from Above. About this, our sages, of blessed memory, stated,³⁵²Talmud Bavli, Brachot 8a and Rashi there. “From where do we know that the Holy One, blessed is He, does not despise communal prayers? As it states,³⁵³Job 36:5 ‘Behold, God is mighty, He does not despise.’” They also stated³⁵⁴Talmud Bavli, Brachot ibid. that a person should always join himself to the congregation, and they stated, “When is a time of Divine favor? When the congregation is praying.” The verse similarly states,³⁵⁵Deuteronomy 4:7 “For which is a great nation that has a god who is close to it, as HaShem-יהו״ה our God is, whenever we call to Him?”