Praying With Passion

ELOKAI, NESHAMA Cont. from last week

Word to the Wise: Meaning within the meaning - The Neshama which we thank Hashem for every morning is described in the bracha as T’HORA. The commentaries explain that the Neshama is T’HORA because it comes from a pure place - a Makom Tahor, and that, additionally, it is incredibly consists of a Chelek Eloka MiMa’al - so to speak, a “part” of Hashem that he has given to us. This means that just as Hashem Himself is Tahor so is our Neshama!

Visualize: Images that bring prayer to life…

A person is trapped in a mining tunnel - a nightmare come to life. All around him, there is nothing but darkness, and he knows that without air, he will perish within days. But as he looks around him, he realizes that he can discern shapes and outlines in the tunnel. The darkness is broken by some source of light. He looks up above him and sees that there is an opening - a place where light and air are able to enter his underground domain. He realizes that he must cling to that spot, to keep it in sight and make sure nothing obscures it, for it alone can keep him alive until he reaches the world on the other side of the tunnel.

Our pure, holy neshama likewise peeks demurely into our dark, physical existence. And yet, it is the source of our vitality, permitting the holiness and light of the spiritual world to illuminate our lives.

Take It With You: Your personal connection to the prayer…

A person’s mind may wander in many directions from sublime to mundane to impure and around again. It may happen in the course of seconds. One minute he is in the midst of learning, and the next, his mind flashes onto a news story he heard about an investment scam, leading him straight into enviously pondering the source of his neighbor’s newfound wealth. Then he shakes himself free of his stray thoughts and gets back to his learning.

We often bemoan our own spiritual weakness and wonder, what are we made of, anyway? Why is the G-dliness within us so easily obscured? Why do our appetites, desires and curiosity so often get the best of us? These are thoughts that can lead to despair, causing a person to give up the effort of spiritual growth.

T’HORA HI - “it is pure!” this blessing tells us. Your neshama is within you, the core of your very being, and it is restored in all its purity each and every day. When you wonder what you’re really made of, that is your answer.

The following section is added to the Praying with Passion “piece” on ELOKAI, NESHAMA by the editor of the Towards better Davening and Torah Reading column of Torah Tidbits:

Help with pronunciation:

First of all, the comma after the word ELOKAI, and the pause it indicates, is important. ELOKAI - My G-d! We are addressing G-d with our acknowledgment and thanks. N’SHAMA, the soul which You… Running the first two words together indicates a lack of understanding of what the words mean.

For some of us, the first way we learned to say this bracha - as a sing-songy chant, ELOKAI… NESHAMA… SHENATATA… BI… - tends to obscure the proper phrasing which, in turn, ocludes the meaning and understanding of what we are trying to say.

Another thing to watch out for are the six words that end in MAPIK-HEI, a HEI with a dot in it, which indicates feminine objective form - HER, in this case, the NESHAMA.

You (referring to G-d) created HER, You formed HER, You breathed HER into me… A MAPIK HEI is an aspirated, voiced HEI - it is not silent. The HEI at the end of the word NESHAMA, for example, is silent. Some people transliterate the word as NESHAMAH, but the final H is unnecessary since it is not sounded. In “created her, V’RATAHHH, the HEI contributes a sound.

Does it really make a difference if we say Y’TZARTAHHH or Y’TZARTA (without the HEI sound at the end)?

Depends what one means by “make a difference”. Is the bracha invalid without sounding the HEIs of these six words? Let’s say not. At least, let’s hope not. But that should not be our only concern.

ELOKAI, NESHAMA is our daily thank you note to G-d for the greatest gift anyone can ever receive - LIFE. Should not our words of thanks be said correctly, enunciated properly, understood by us, said with feeling?
Y es, yes, yes, and yes.

How we say thanks to G-d is a reflection of how much we appreciate what He does for us and how well we understand how very much we owe Him.
Remember: ELOKAI, NESHAMA is the “full version” of MODEH ANI.

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