Rosh Hashanah: Tefillah
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ShareHow can Hannah's prayer model how we should pray?
Tefillah תפילה
Hannah’s תְּפִלָּה (tefillah, prayer) is a model for Jewish prayer every day of the year, not just on Rosh Hashanah.
In the Gemara, R. Hamnuna explains the rules that come from the way Hannah prayed for a child (in Shmuel Alef 1:13):
In the Gemara, R. Hamnuna explains the rules that come from the way Hannah prayed for a child (in Shmuel Alef 1:13):
״וְחַנָּה הִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת עַל לִבָּהּ״: מִכָּאן לַמִּתְפַּלֵּל צָרִיךְ שֶׁיְּכַוֵּין לִבּוֹ.
״רַק שְׂפָתֶיהָ נָּעוֹת״: מִכָּאן לַמִּתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיַּחְתּוֹךְ בִּשְׂפָתָיו.
״וְקוֹלָהּ לֹא יִשָּׁמֵעַ״: מִכָּאן שֶׁאָסוּר לְהַגְבִּיהַּ קוֹלוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ.
“Now Hannah was speaking from the heart”: from here we learn that a person praying must have kavvanah (intention) in their heart.
“Only her lips moved”: from here we learn that a person praying should say the words with their lips.
“Her voice could not be heard”: from here we learn that you should not raise your voice during prayer.
- How can you tell if a prayer is “from the heart”?
- Why is it a good thing to pray quietly?
Blessing #1: מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם (shield of Avraham)
Hannah hinted at this when she prayed רָמָה קַרְנִי בַּה’ (I have triumphed through God, in Shmuel Alef 2:1). [The midrash may connect these because the letters of רָמָה (ramah) can be rearranged from the last three letters of אַבְרָהָם (Avraham).]
Hannah hinted at this when she prayed רָמָה קַרְנִי בַּה’ (I have triumphed through God, in Shmuel Alef 2:1). [The midrash may connect these because the letters of רָמָה (ramah) can be rearranged from the last three letters of אַבְרָהָם (Avraham).]
Blessing #2: מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים (Who gives life to the dead)
Hannah hinted at this when she prayed ה’ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה (God brings death and life, in Shmuel Alef 2:6).
Hannah hinted at this when she prayed ה’ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה (God brings death and life, in Shmuel Alef 2:6).
Blessing #3: הָאֵ-ל הַקָּדוֹשׁ (the holy God)
Hannah hinted at this when she prayed אֵין קָדוֹשׁ כַּה׳ (there is none holy as God, Shmuel Alef 2:2).
Hannah hinted at this when she prayed אֵין קָדוֹשׁ כַּה׳ (there is none holy as God, Shmuel Alef 2:2).
Try it out!
According to the midrash, the words and ideas of the Amidah are taken from Hannah’s prayer about her real life situation. When you say the Amidah on Rosh Hashanah (or any other day), what words or themes can connect to the things that are happening in your life?
According to the midrash, the words and ideas of the Amidah are taken from Hannah’s prayer about her real life situation. When you say the Amidah on Rosh Hashanah (or any other day), what words or themes can connect to the things that are happening in your life?
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