The Yud Gimmel Middos of Rachamim

Chazal reveal the tremendous power of the Yud Gimmel Middos of Rachamim. The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 17b) teaches that Hashem revealed these Middos to Moshe Rabbeinu and established them as a bris kerusah l'sfasayim—a covenant upon our lips: whenever Klal Yisrael recites the yud gimmel middos, their tefillos are accepted.

The Gemara says that "Hakadosh Baruch Hu wrapped Himself like a shaliach tzibbur and taught Moshe how to recite them." Why would Hashem be described as a shaliach tzibbur, for which tzibbur was He serving as a shaliach? Furthermore, how can we understand the idea of tefillah in this context, we daven to Hashem, Who is the Source of everything. To whom, then, could Hashem Himself be davening.

The early commentators explain that the yud gimmel middos correspond to the thirteen middle brachos of Shemoneh Esrei, which are the brachos of request. Yet when we examine them, we find no explicit request or tefillah, rather expressions of praise about Hashem's mercy and kindness.

Rav Shimshon Pincus זצ"ל explained this with בגליל beautiful

Imagine an impoverished man whose torn clothing makes his situation obvious. He comes to the home of a wealthy man, but instead of asking for food, money, or help, he begins praising the wealthy man: "Everyone knows what a baal chesed you are. Your home is open to everyone. You have helped so many people so generously..."

The poor man never actually asks for anything. Yet the wealthy man sees his condition and understands what he needs. Moved by the man's words, he gives him everything he feels he could possibly require—including food for his family and expenses for his children's Torah education.

In fact, the poor man gained more by not asking. Had he requested money for one specific need, the wealthy man might have provided only that. But because he left the decision to the wealthy man, he received everything he truly needed.

So too, we stand before our Father in Heaven as the "poor man." We are limited in knowledge and understanding, and we do not even recognize all that we lack. Hashem, however, knows exactly what we need—even what we do not know to ask for.

Therefore, in His infinite mercy, Hashem gave us the yud gimmel middos. Rather than limiting ourselves to specific requests, we praise Him and proclaim His Middos of mercy and kindness. In response, He bestows upon us goodness far beyond anything we could have known to request.

This explains why Hashem is described as a shaliach tzibbur: He Himself fulfills the unspoken requests of Klal Yisrael. We praise Him, and He fills in the tefillos for us, and answers them in the way He davened for us.

During these precious days, let us strengthen ourselves in reciting the Yud-Gimmel Middos with greater kavanah, while striving to emulate Hashem's ways—being merciful and willing to overlook the faults of others.

May we merit, through this, a Gmar Chasimah Tovah and a year of Geulah.

Excerpted and adopted from a shiur delivered by HaGaon Rav Dov Kahana shlit"a on the first day of Selichos before the avreichim of the Kollel.