Classic Concepts מטות–מסעי
Following this first “Yetzias Mitzrayim,” during Shmone Esrei we find a very deep lesson. Even after reaching the ultimate climax in davening, tomorrow one must set himself to daven all over again, beginning from the preparations of davening, and afterwards Hodu, P’sukei D’zimra, etc. Because however high he had reached yesterday is still considered a “limitation” in regard to the level to which he must reach today.
This concept applies not only to davening but to the general service of Hashem. A person must be one that is constantly “going” higher. Even after completely going out of “bad,” he must know that it is still not enough, because relative to a higher level, he still has a connection to evil. A proof for this is that he still sees in others the existence of evil. It is known the saying of the Baal Shem Tov: “when a person sees evil in another, it is a proof that he himself possesses the very same evil, at least in a slight form.”
But notwithstanding the fact that Shmone Esrei is the ultimate climax, tomorrow he must set himself to daven again, starting from the beginning. This is the endless journey of spiritual growth, where each day brings new opportunities and challenges, and the work is never truly finished.
