If I don’t have Ahavas Yisroel then I feel like I am lying when I say Hareini Mekabel

 

Question Continued:

Also, if I don’t have Kavanah during Davening, then what’s the point, I just mumble the words and they come out in one big mush and I feel like I said a huge Bracha levatalah. I know you will answer that I SHOULD have Ahavas Yisroel and Kavana, but what about on the days that I don’t?

 

Answer:

This is an excellent question, and it seems to be coming from a place of caring about davening and what is being said. This approach give rise to the above question: if I don’t actually have Ahavas Yisroel, who am I lying to? if I don’t have Kavana, what’s the point?

The first question can really be asked in a deeper way:

The Alter Rebbe inserted Hareini Mekabel in the Siddur so that we verbalize our connection with every Yid. Wouldn’t it be better if we would be instructed to do a physical act of Ahavas Yisroel? Perhaps the verbal commitment is superficial? Perhaps one will think that this is sufficient? (We are indeed taught to give Tzedakah before davening, but that is also due to the unique value of Tzedaka. Either way, the poor person benefits whether we had the right intentions or not).

The Frierdiker Rebbe explains (Sefer Hasichos 5797 bottom of pg. 201) that like everything in Yidishkeit, we must go step-by-step, in an orderly fashion. Thus, we start our day with “just” a verbal commitment, and continue throughout the day with physical acts. This verbal stage is true and real, because we are stating what our goal is. We are not promising that we will succeed, but we know that even if we don’t – the desire is real.

(Interestingly, it has been rumored that the famed Chosid and Mashpia Reb Mendel Futerfas would also recite the instruction printed the Siddur (“it is proper to say before praying: Hareini…), perhaps in light of the above).

 

The second question is addressed by various Rishonim and the Alter Rebbe in his Shulchan Aruch:

The reality is that nowadays the majority of Yidden are not able to concentrate that much during Davening, and that should not prevent us from Davening. In fact, there are many Halachos of Davening that the Poskim (including the Alter Rebbe) say are different nowadays, as a result of the above reality.

On the other hand, we commonly Daven with a Siddur, which can help us focus. We should prepare ourselves properly, through contemplating the greatness of Hashem and lowliness of man (this is achieved through learning Chasidus), and then Daven with the awareness that we are standing before a King.

The main focus is on the first Posuk of Shema and first Bracha of Shmone Esrei, as well as the Posuk “poseach es yodecha”.

We should also attempt to concentrate at least at the end of each of the Brachos of Shmone Esrei.

 

וראה אג״ק חי״ז ע׳ כח.

#12544