[Avodah] Fwd: [Beyond BT] Elul is the Time to Start on the Little Things

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

Useful suggestions from R' Mark Frankel (CC-ed).

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha


   Beyond BT
   Posted on September 8, 2016 by [R'] Mark Frankel


   Elul is the Time to Start on the Little Things
   """" "" """ """" "" """"" "" """ """""" """"""
   At the beginning of Shaarei Teshuva (The Gates of Teshuva), Rabbeinu
   Yonah teaches that if we make our efforts in Teshuva, then Hashem will
   assist us in return, even to the extent of reaching the highest level
   of loving Him. But we have to make our efforts. Rabbi Welcher says
   that Elul is the time to start making efforts on the little things
   as we work up to dealing with some of our bigger issues.

   Kavanna is a Big "Little Thing"
   """"""" "" " """ """"""" """"""
   Where does kavanna fit in? On the one hand, we all know how difficult
   it is to daven a full Shomoneh Esrai with good kavanna, but on the
   other hand saying one brocha or doing one mitzvah with the proper
   kavanna is something that all of us can achieve. Being focused on
   Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh this year has shown me the importance of kavanna
   and awakened me to the fact they we can spend our whole lives involved
   in Torah, Mitzvos, Tefillah and Chesed, but if we are not focused on
   Hashem during our day to day lives, then we are not properly building
   our souls and achieving our purpose in this world and the next. The
   obvious place to start building is when we're involved in Hashem
   focused activities like davening and mitzvos.

   Kavanna during Mitzvos
   """"""" """""" """""""
   There are three basic thoughts to have in mind before performing
   a mitzvah:

   1) Hashem is the one who commanded this mitzvah;

   2) I am the subject of that command; and

   3) Through the act that I am about to perform, I am fulfilling
      Hashem's command.

   It's that simple, the Commander (Hashem), the commanded (me), the
   fulfillment (the mitvah). So, perhaps we can focus ourselves before
   we do a mitzvah and have these three things in mind.

   Kavanna during Prayer
   """"""" """""" """"""
   Shacharis davening consists of four basic components, while Mincha and
   Maariv and brachos contain some subset of those components which are:

   1) Thanking Hashem for the physical goodness He gives to us (Berachos
      / Korbanos)

   2) Praising Hashem for His general awesomeness (Pesukei D'Zimra)

   3) Intellectually accepting and appreciating the Kingship and Oneness
      of Hashem (Shema)

   4) Standing before Hashem with spiritual awareness that He is the
      source of everything

   Obviously there's a lot to talk about here and I highly recommend
   Aryeh Kaplan's Jewish Mediation as a primary source for understanding
   kavanna and prayer.

   Kavanna during Shacharis
   """"""" """""" """""""""
   Let's go through a typical Shacharis and pick some potential Kavanna
   points.

   1) When putting on Tallis and Tefillin, have in mind the three points
      of Kavanna during mitzvos described above

   2) When saying morning Brachos, be thankful that Hashem has given
      you the opportunity to say these Brochos

   3) During Korbonos, say at least Parshas HaTamid and Ketores with
      extra focus concentrating on the simple meaning of the words

   4) During Pesukei D'Zimra in Ashrei say this line with focus: Poseach
      Es YoDecha... - You open your hand and satisfy every living thing's
      desires". A basic understanding is that although Hashem runs the
      world through orderly natural laws (as symbolized by the aleph-beis
      structure of Ashrei), He is constantly active in running the world.

   5) During Shema, before the first verse have in mind that you are
      accepting Hashem's Kingship and oneship with the implication of
      following a Torah way of life. According to some you should have
      in mind that you would actually give up your life for Hashem,
      if necessary.

   6) Before Shmoneh Esrai have in mind that you are about to stand
      before Hashem and pray to him, that He is awesome, and that we
      are relatively small compared to Him, the source of everything.

   These are just some ideas. Certainly we can do one a week, or one
   a day, or possibly more. Whatever works for you, but let's make the
   effort and earn the merit to grow closer to Hashem at this time.