Tefilah: Waking Up Jewish

Eternal Reward

“Anyone who mentions the miracles of the redemption from Egypt before Shemoneh Esrei will merit a place in the World to Come” (Brachos 4b). Remembering the miracles that Hashem performed for us enables us to recognize Hashem’s attribute of kindness and prepares us to beseech Him with the requests of Shemoneh Esrei. But how does it help us earn a place in the World to Come?

In the World to Come there is no eating, drinking or any other form of worldly pleasures. Rather, the righteous simply bask in the glory of Hashem’s radiance. It is a pure, spiritual joy, without any trace of physicality.

Miracles are also beyond the limitations of this world. Belief in miracles shows that one knows that he is not limited by the natural boundaries that Hashem established in this world, and that one is constantly connected to a higher plane of existence.

By connecting the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt to the miraculous power of our daily Shemoneh Esrei prayer, we activate our connection to the spiritual realm. In doing so, we have placed one foot in the World to Come even in this world.

Mentioning the miracles of the Exodus before Shemoneh Esrei helps us internalize that prayer and all of aspects of a Jew’s life are miraculous.

Text Copyright © 2009 by Rabbi Daniel Travis and Torah.org