Feet on the Ground – Parshas Korach 5773
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- Feet on the Ground – Parshas Korach 5773
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After Korach rebelled against Hashem and Moshe, there was a decree from Heaven that Korach, his followers and anyone else in the nation that lent support should be killed. The verse (Bamidbar 16:22) tells us that Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces to annul the decree and prayed before Hashem to please have mercy on the nation. Rabbeinu Bechaya takes the opportunity to discuss prostration and other aspects of prayer.
Three Messages
Rabbeinu Bechaya states that bowing to Hashem expressed three distinct ideas. 1) Awe of the Divine Presence, 2) Pain and subservience, 3) Self-negation of feelings and body given over to God’s service. In this merit they were answered. It is interesting to think about this when we pray in front of Hashem and experience our deep spiritual side. Here is a further discussion on the matter.
How to Pray
The Gemara Berachos (10a) tells us that when one prays Shemoneh Esrei he should place his feet next to one another as the angels stand. Talmeidey Rabbeinu Yonah (there) discuss the various customs of either placing one’s feet parallel to one another or touching in the back and splitting them outward. The Yerushalmi (Berachos 4a) has a fascinating discussion about how to stand. “Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Seemon, one says that you stand like Kohanim, one foot in front of the other, and the other says like angels, with one’s feet next to one another.” When praying Shemoneh Esray our custom is to place our feet together like the angels (See Tur OC 95:1 with Beis Yosef and Taz). What is the deeper meaning here?
Kohanim and Angels
Perisha (OC 95:2) explains that we learn the rules of prayer from Kohanim because prayer takes the place of sacrificial offerings and thus we follow that paradigm as much as we can, just as we find that the three daily prayers follow the sacrificial schedule. Rashba (Agados) notes that we learn how to stand from the angels because they are totally connected to Hashem and they exist only to serve and sing His praise. This is our goal as well and we reinforce that during prayer.
Father and King
I think that both of these intentions are powerful to bear in mind when standing before Hashem. I suggest that they hint to two important perspectives that we have as Jews. Hashem is Avienu and Malkeinu, our Father and our King. We stand before him as Kohanim, “Beni bechori yisrael,” His chosen special nation and we daven to our Father in Heaven for mercy. Thus, the advent of Kohanim represents the Father and son relationship that we have with Hashem. Additionally, we stand before Him as an angel who is a dedicated servant of Hashem the King. Thus, we focus on the fact that Hashem is our Master and King.
Two Kavanos, Intentions
Another famous aspect about prayer is the fact that there are two distinct obligations. Firstly, one must understand the translation of the words he is saying and secondly, he should see himself standing before Hashem as a servant before his master (See Shulchan Aruch 98:1 and Chiddushei Reb Chaim, Tefillah 4:1) I believe that these two components are represented by angels and Kohanim. The angels represent the kavanah, concentration, of standing before Hashem as a servant before the King. This concentration is mandatory throughout the entire prayer (which can be the reason that our custom follows the opinion of standing as angels). The other intention is that of translating the words and understanding what one is saying like a Kohen who does the service of his father and strives to understand the words. When we pray we try to incorporate both these aspects.
Full Devotion
Rabbeinu Bechaya concludes his discussion by contrasting the fact that Jews put their feet together whereas other religions pray by holding their hands together. He states that when one puts their hands together it is a small gesture of subservience to the Higher Power; but when one places his feet together it is a full and utter expression of devotion and commitment to not budge without a focus on God’s complete Will and Guidance. That is what we stand for.
Categories: Parshas Korach
