There’s a famous prayer called Tefilat Chana- The prayer of Chana. As we know, Chana was the mother of one of the greatest men of all time- Shemuel HaNavi, but she was barren for many years. She prayed her heart out and was answered. We learn many lessons about prayer from Chana. We learn that our prayers have to be audible, we learn laws of kavana. Chana is a role model in prayer.
It’s interesting that we learn the lessons of prayer from a woman. Ladies are known to pray with kavana and feeling, for their children or for their want of children. But aside from Chana’s prayers that she prayed when she wanted to have a child (which as we’ve said, teach us many lessons), there’s another Tefilat Chana that she prayed after she had her children.
There are many people that start their day with Chana’s Tefilla, and it has many lessons.
The Hovot HaLevavot’s Shaar Bitachon sheds a light on this prayer, which I came to appreciate when I recently went though this Tefilla, using my Hovot HaLevavot lenses.
The Hovot HaLevavot basically gives us a thesis on the concept of cause and effect. It tells us the rule that in life, there is only one cause: G-d’s decrees. After that, there are many steps and effects-such as a car that hit another car, which ricocheted and hit a motorcycle. That is an example of cause and effect, but the fact that the motorcyclist fell of his bike was due to a decree of G-d. Anything in between is just an intermediary, to get to the ultimate outcome that G-d wanted to begin with. The Hebrew term for cause is עילה-
The quote that the Hovot HaLevavot uses to prove this point is part of Chana’s prayer:
And to G-d, are set up causes -וְלוֹ נִתְכְּנוּ עֲלִלוֹת:
Chana realized that G-d is the One that makes all things happen. People don’t realize how involved G-d is in our daily lives, and how everything that happens is caused by Him. Chana saw this in her own life. She started out as a barren woman but went on to become a mother of seven, whereas her co-wife had many children but was ultimately bereft- and lost her children.
Chana understood G-d’s great powers.
It’s a beautiful prayer that I’d like to go through:
She starts off saying,
“My heart exults in Hashem. My pride had been raised by Hashem.”
She was initially looked down upon as a barren woman and now she is a proud woman.
“My mouth is open wide against your antagonist but I rejoice in your salvation.”
We know she was taunted, and she was eventually rejoiced
Next is her Bitachon speech
אין קדוש כה׳
There is no one as holy as Hashem.(Holy really means high, uplifted and exalted) There is no one like G-d.
And while it may sound like G-d is high and lofty and has little to do with us,
אין צור כאלוקינו
“There is no rock like our G-d.”
As we have said, the term rock/ צור refers to the concept that we can seek refuge in G-d, even though He never promised us anything. As it says, צור חסיו בו
The rock they seek refuge in
If it’s raining and you seek shelter under a big rock, the rock is your refuge even though you never spoke to it. G-d is the most powerful place of refuge. Run to Him and He will protect you.
Then she continues and says,
“Don’t say, ‘High up, High up’. Don’t say G-d is high and lofty and that he doesn’t get involved down here. “Take that lie out of your mouths. G-d is the G-d of thoughts. He knows what everyone is thinking.”
He’s the One that sets everything into action. He is the Source of all causes.
Then she continues and says, “The bow of the mighty is broken while the floundering are girded with strength.” That means sometimes the mighty are broken and those that have been stumbling are given new strength. Where does that come from? From G-d.
“The sated ones are hired out for bread.” Sometimes the wealthy end up having to work for bread “while the hungry ones cease to be so.”
G-d can turn everything around in a moment. She gives examples:
“The barren woman bears seven and the one with many children becomes bereft. Hashem bring death and gives life. He lowers to the grave and raises up.”
A person can be as close to death as possible and still come out if it.
“Hashem impoverishes and makes rich, He humbles and He elevates. He raises the needy from the dirt, and from the trash heaps, He lifts the destitute to seat them with the nobles and endow them with a seat of honor. For Hashem’s are the pillars of the earth. Upon them, He set the world.”
G-d is capable of making all of these upheavals and all these turns.
“He guards the steps of the devout ones but the wicked are still in darkness. For not through strength does man prevail.
Hashem, May those that contend with Him be shattered, let the heavens thunder against them.”
This is Chana’s speech of bitachon.} It’s interesting that the Gemara says the amount of pesukim in her prayer correspond to other prayers we say. {
People read this before they pray, because it’s a beautiful mussar speech from Chana, who was someone who lived it. She put her money where her mouth was, and the Bitachon worked. She brought down into this world, one of the greatest men of all time, Shemuel HaNavi.
This should be an inspiration for us. We read about Chana on Rosh Hashana, to let us know that ultimately, everything that happens is from G-d’s decree. On Yom Kippur, the Sephardic custom is to usher in Ne’ilah with the words אל נורא עלילה
God is awesome in his ability to use causes.
I was thinking today, imagining the angels that were there by Ne’ilah this year, when G-d made those decisions that we have seen lately- to bring down the economy, to have businesses challenged, and Lo alenu, that people would be sick.....All this upheaval of the past three months was G-d’s decision, his gezerah.
Maybe the angels heard these gezerot and wondered how G-d would make it all happen.
And G-d said, “I have this virus- it’s a piece of protein, it’s not even alive, and it has the ability to go and wreak havoc on DNA and RNA.
The angels would say “ אל נורא עלילה-Wow! G-d is awesome! That‘s how He׳s going to bring about all that?
Yes.
We must realize that ultimately, everything happens from Hashem, and He can turn everything around.
Have a wonderful day.