As we have mentioned in the past, the Baalei Musar tell us that the best way of working on something is to insert it into our prayers and have kavana for it.
We’re praying anyway, so we might as well have the right kavana.
In the sefer Yaarot Devash, by Rabbi Yonatan Eibeschitz (volume 1, derush 1), he goes through the 19 berachot of the Amida and tells us what kavana to have for each beracha.
Regarding Sim Shalom, he tells us the obvious. When you say Sim Shalom, you are praying for peace, because there is no greater receptacle for peace than shalom. That’s why it’s the last thing, at the end of the Amida. It’s the receptacle for all the blessings throughout the Amida. And it comes when there is complete Achdut in the Jewish people.
He says that when we say Sim Shalom, we should think that there should be no arguments in Yisrael.
People have a lot of kavana at Refaenu, and lot of kavana at Barech Alenu. We want healing, we want refuah… people also pray for understanding knowledge in Atah Honen…and maybe people add things in Shomeah Tefila… But I wonder how many people have kavana at Sim Shalom, to really pray that there should be no arguments, jealousy or hatred amongst the Jewish people. We should all be beloved and united in one goal of brotherhood and friendship. We should all be one soul.
He says to have in mind to fulfill the Mitzvah of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha. It’s the Klal HaTorah.
The Tachlit HaTefilla, the end goal of all our prayers is to get to Sim Shalom, and Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha, because without that, all the parnasa and refuah have no where to land. They have no receptacle.
Therefore, we must have kavana when we say Sim Shalom.
This was a Hiddush for me. People don’t usually think of this. Maybe during the three weeks people have Boneh Yerushalayim in mind.. there’s a time of the year for every thing.
People often have more kavana for Mehayeh Metim after a close relative passes away, to resurrect the dead.
Certain blessings talk to, and resonate with us.
Now, let Sim Shalom resonate with us. It’s the last one. It might be a little hard at the end of the Amida. But it’s like buying an expensive bottle of wine, that has been curated and developed, and finally poured it into a glass that has a hole in it. All that work is for naught.
So let’s have kavana in Sim Shalom.
Have a wonderful day.