והיה אם שמוע תשמע בקול ד' אלקיך לשמר לעשות את כל מצותיו אשר אנכי מצוך היום
“It shall be that if you hearken to the voice of Hashem, your G-d, to observe, to perform all of His commandments that I command you this day.”
Devorim Rabbah on this posuk connects it to Hashem counting every footstep that a person takes when going to shul, as well as telling us about saying “אמן.” What does this have to do with this parsha?
The Maharal says that when the Gemara and Midrash tell us that Hakadosh Boruch Hu counts each step that one takes when going to the bais haknesses, and thus one should go to the farther shul so that he takes more steps, this only applies to the mitzvah of going to shul, and not by any other mitzvah. The Maharal gives an example of the mitzvah of sukkah and says that there would be no reason to go to a farther sukkah, for one does not receive reward for his steps to do the mitzvah. Why is this so? There is a fundamental difference between tefillah and all other mitzvos. All mitzvos that one performs brings him closer to Hashem. However, it is not a direct cause and effect but works indirectly. The very essence of the mitzvah of tefillah is to communicate with Hakadosh Boruch Hu and to bring oneself closer to Him. We see this concept in many halachos of tefillah. For example, the halachah is that if one finished davening Shemoneh Esrei but did not take his three steps back yet, he is still considered as if he is standing in front of the King and is in middle of davening in regard to certain halachos. Although he finished his mitzvah of davening, he is still in front of Hashem. (פחד יצחק)
The purpose of this world is for us to prepare for the next world. In this world, our goal must be to come close to Hakadosh Boruch Hu. Every mitzvah that we perform brings us closer to Hakadosh Boruch Hu, though it does so indirectly. Following the ratzon Hashem and performing the mitzvah itself does move us closer, but the command is to perform that mitzvah. Tefillah is different. The mitzvah of tefillah is to speak to Hashem, to connect to Him. The actual command of tefillah is to come close to the Ribbono Shel Olam. When we are mispallel to Hashem, we are speaking to Him. We are coming close to Him; we are directly connecting to Him.
The Maharal tells us that when one is “going to shul,” that person is on a higher level than even one who is already close to Hashem. The motion, the movement forward, catapults one to a level of as if he is already close to Hashem, for that is the route he is going. Reciting “אמן” is not just saying a word, but it is a testament to our true belief. We are saying that we know and believe that there is a Hashem in the world Who controls every aspect of this world. That is why we are mispallel to Him, for He has the ability to do anything and everything. All of the brochah in this world comes to one who is close to Hashem.
May we be zoche to come close to Hashem during the days of selichos and rachamim and to have a כתיבה וחתימה טובה.
הרב בן ציון סנה
