Noam Elimelech · Tzetel Katan · Maamar ב From the Torah ofRebbe Elimelech of Lizhenskרבי אלימלך מליז'נסקProfile ›

Shema and Shemoneh Esrei: Ready to Give All

The first verse of the Shema and the first blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei are the heart of daily prayer. R' Elimelech asks for one picture in the mind at exactly those moments. What must a person see himself ready to bear for these words to be said as they should?

2At the first verse of the Shema and the first blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei, he should think the thought of item 1: throwing himself into the fire for kiddush Hashem. He should also have in mind that if all the nations of the world were to torment him with every harsh torture, and strip his skin from his flesh to make him deny Hashem's Oneness, Heaven forbid, he would bear all the suffering and not give in to them. He should picture it as though they were doing this to him, and in this way he fulfills his obligation of the Shema and of prayer as he should.

ב. בְּפָסוּק רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּבְרָכָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה יְהַרְהֵר כנ"ל. וְעוֹד יְכַוֵּין אִם יְעַנּוּ אוֹתוֹ כָּל אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם בְּכָל עִינּוּיִים קָשִׁים, וְיִפְשְׁטוּ עוֹרוֹ מִבְּשָׂרוֹ לְהַכְחִישׁ ח"ו בְּיִחוּדוֹ, יִסְבּוֹל כָּל הַיִּסּוּרִים וְלֹא יוֹדֶה לָהֶם ח"ו. וִיצַיֵּיר בְּדַעְתּוֹ וּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ כְּאִילּוּ עוֹשִׂין לוֹ כנ"ל, וּבָזֶה יֵצֵא יְדֵי חִיּוּב קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּתְפִילָּה כַּדִּין:

In shortThe Shema and the Shemoneh Esrei are rightly fulfilled when a person pictures himself enduring every torture rather than deny Hashem's Oneness.

The maamar as a whole

The second practice carries the first into prayer. At the first verse of the Shema and the first blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei, a person returns to the thought of item 1, throwing himself into the fire for kiddush Hashem. R' Elimelech adds a second picture: all the nations of the world torturing him, even stripping his skin from his flesh, to make him deny Hashem's Oneness, and he bearing every pain without giving in. He is to see it as though it were being done to him now. With that readiness in mind, the declaration of Hashem's Oneness and the opening of prayer are fulfilled as they should be: the words are backed by a life ready to be given for them.

Takeaway

At the first verse of the Shema and the first blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei, see yourself holding fast to Hashem's Oneness under every torment, for R' Elimelech teaches that this is how the obligation of these prayers is truly fulfilled.

Learn this in the merit of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk. His yahrzeit and life ›

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