I remember the many times that I sat on the boardwalk watching the surfers waiting patiently on their surf boards for a breaking wave and being lifted up by the bounding waves and then the magnificent and daring ride begins. How thrilling it must be for the surfer at that moment of being lifted by the waves into a curling sweeping arch and at all times trying desperately, with some expertise, to maintain his balance. Most of the time he is successful and rides those waves with much success, and then there are times that the challenge is so great and try has he must the powerful waves overpower him and he tumbles into the raging waters , only to live once again for another wave for him to ride successfully.
As I watched this surfer and the way he was maneuvering the waves, I realize that life is like being a surfer, trying with all our energy and strength to swim successfully in the tides of life and to always maintain our balance even when we are faced with adversities and difficulties that so often happen to us so unexpectedly. It is at these times we need to muster all our spiritual strengths and with abiding Emunah forge ahead with optimism enabling us to carry on with a great sense that we can surf those waves of turbulent waters of life, successfully. Most of the time it is due to our inner strength and the encouragement and support of family and friends that help us stay on the surfboard of life erect.
The more I think about this issue the more I come to realize that faith, Emunah, is surfing the waves of life.
Faith faces the fears and turns the negative into a positive and we become less overwhelmed by those dire circumstances. The question that I pose; "When can we feel that our prayers are being answered and that our feelings of vulnerability are less anxiety ridden?"
In answering this question, I turn to this week's Parsha, wherein we see the Torah describes Yitzchak in a state of prayer.
ויצא יצחק לשוח בשדה "Yitzchak went forth to pray in the field."
Chazal say that Yitzchak was praying Mincha and from his action we learn that he originated the Tefilla of Mincha.
The Rav makes a distinction between Avraham who originated the Tefilla of Sharcharis and Yitzchak who originated Mincha. The Rav said that the word by Avraham for prayer was עמד,where he stood, emphasizing Avraham's erect posture when he prayed, while Yitzchak's posture was לשוח, emphasizing a prayer of a broken man who cannot stand erect. These two postures reflect two types of prayer. Avraham who represents חסד, of an expansive kindness, consistently prayed for others.
When praying for others it is well to stand erect, even to the extent of demanding that his prayers be answered. While Yitzchak represented the attribute of Gevurah, which implies withdrawal, contraction, an inward movement. When one prays not on another's behalf, but on ones own, his stance is bent over, stooped, as a poor man begging at the door. Yitzchak's prayer was, therefore, made in meekness, while bent over.
As I contemplate this difference, I realize more and more why all our Tefillot are in the plural, such as רפאנו הי. As long as our Tefillot are inclusive of others, not only will they be answered for the other, it will even be more so answered for ourselves---this is true Tefilla. This is the essence of what life means - selflessness rather than selfishness.
This idea is truly essential as we surf on the torrential waters of life in a successful way by using the lessons of prayer from Avraham and Yitzchak, to pray with חסד and גבורה, to pray on behalf of others and at the same time our own Tefillot will be answered.
Provide room in your hearts and minds for others and in doing so all our Tefillot and our visions of a life of happiness and peace will be realized for ourselves and Klall Yisrael.
This Shabbat we will bless the new month of Kislev, the month when we will celebrate the Holiday of Chanukah, a holiday commemorating a time of salvation for the Jewish People. It is a propitious time to beseech the almighty to bring about the true salvation for עם ישראל.
שבת שלום ומבורך
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