 B’Ezrat HaShem Yisborach: “You are My witnesses, a guarantee of HaShem” (Isaiah Chapter 43:10) “Na’aseh v’Nishmah” – Spiritual Practices and their Benefits
Na’aseh:
In the closing prayer of Yom Kippur we say “Baruch Shem Kvod Malchuto L’Olam Va’ed” – 3 times.
On Yom Tov, as we take out the Torah Ashkenazic congregations recite the prayer, “V’ani T’filati - May it be a time of desire” imploring G-d to receive the special holiday prayers that are inserted. (What exactly a “time of desire” is, is another mystery perhaps to be addressed in a future column.)
We normally pray three Shemoneh Esreis a day as part of the three daily prayer services. We take three steps back; we take three steps forward; we close by bowing in three directions. During the repetition of the Amidah, the Kohanim bless us with the thrice-fold blessing: Yevarechecha-Ya’eir-Yisah. During Kedusha we lift ourselves up three times as we recite, “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh!”
We have three pilgrimage holidays.
When we eat, if there are three adult women or three adult men our sages tell us we have what is called a “mzuman”, which poorly stated but nevertheless highly, highly significant despite my explanation’s lacking is an extra concentration of G-d’s Presence as a result of the density of three souls coming together and uniting in the meal as one. With this extra concentration of spiritual matter, the participants can do something one or two people cannot: they can personally bless G-d vs. fulfilling the biblical obligation to recite the standard blessings alone. Wow.
Now it gets interesting. We wash our hands in the morning – 3 times each – alternating. Why?!
When we go to sleep we recite a prayer, “In the name of G-d, the L-rd of Israel, on my right is (the archangel) Michael, on my left is Gabriel, in front of me is Uriel and in back of me is Rephael, and upon my head is the Feminine Presence of the Almighty”. We repeat it three times.
We also repeat certain verses for protection three times at the end of Hallel on Rosh Chodesh and most famously, after the Traveller’s Prayer for protection.
We have three meals on Shabbat. The Holy Zohar considers all three so important that it goes so far as to say, “If one leaves out the third meal, they have accomplished nothing.” (By the way, I asked both Rebbe and Rav Yaakov Reissman if there was any source whatsoever to support learning Torah in lieu of eating the third meal. Rav Simcha kindly responded, “Not that he knows of.” Rav Yaakov said flat out, “No.” When I tried to ask further, he gave me a look that stopped me dead in my tracks. It seems hilarious to me besides to substitute learning the Torah that teaches us to have three meals instead of following what it teaches. Quite curious, isn’t it…?)
The Rambam teaches that by observing the world we can learn about G-d.
In the mundane world we find the idea of “Three times a charm” in significant ways. Often the best advice from exercise experts is to do “three sets of ten.”
Highly significant is the teachings of the Chinese tai-chi masters. Master Chen Yen-Lin wrote the following in his training manual: “If someone really wants to achieve martial arts skill, every time one practices, one needs to repeat the set of movements at least three times. The first time acts merely to stretch one’s body; practicing more than two times develops energy and improves skill.” The energy the tai chi master is referring to is life force, not a caffeine buzz. Where does life come from? HaShem Yisborach. And that’s the giveaway.
Nishmah:
The Midrash Otiot d’Rabbi Akiva is found in the collection Batei Midrashot.
While teaching lessons connected to the letter Aleph, the midrash teaches: “Another thing: Aleph-Lamed-Pheh (A’le’ph – is spelled with three letters). For what reason do we write the letter with one character and call the aleph through three letters? Because this letter is considered one opposite the Holy One, Blessed is He, who we call One: Shema Yisrael HaShem Elokeinu HaShem Echad, Hear o Israel, G-d our L-rd, G-d is One.
The Holy One, Blessed is He is called “One” and calling his name One takes three letters (just as the Aleph does, in this case) Aleph-Chet-Daled.
And where (do we know/find/learn that) that the Holy One Blessed is He and EVERY name and praise of His is never recited before Him except in triplicate? For it says, ‘1) G-d 2) our L-rd 3) G-d is One’ – behold His name is in triplicate, ‘meshulash’!
“A-donai A-donai E-l Rachum” – behold His name is meshulash!
“Elokei ha-Eloheem va’A-donei ha-Adoneem” – behold is meshulash!
And where do we find (examples that) we don’t say any praises before Him that are not meshulash?
For it says, “K-adosh K-adosh K-adosh HaShem Tzva-kot” – behold it is meshulash.
“Gadol A-donai u’mehulal m’od v’lig’dulato ein cheiker” – behold it is meshulash.
“Az yashir – et haShirah hazot – Ashirah la’HaShem!” behold it is meshulash.
And so The Song of Songs, Shir haShirim, “Shir” = one song + “Shirim” = two songs = three – behold the Song is meshuleshet!! ☺
Explanation and Instruction:
Whenever we do something three times, we are invoking the Divine aspect built into Creation as a function of HaShem Echad.
That is why before Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur we even have to do nullification of vows for any actions we’ve done three or more times. These are considered more than just habits. By repeating an action three times, it develops energy, life force, drawn from HaShem. We must return that which we have been lent.
Knowing this principle we can likewise employ it in our service of G-d in miraculous ways.
A person who gives charity once or twice – is a person who gave charity once or twice. A person who gives charity three times becomes a ba’al or ba’alat Tzedakah. Their being is transformed.
Knowing this principle our sages profoundly composed and ordered our prayers.
Understanding this principle we understand that mitzvoth that come in Threes generate and bestow upon us and Creation additional life force from the source of Life, HaShem.
Look for more examples. I’ll give you two hints: start while putting on tefillin or saying tachanun. The more you search the more you’ll see.
Is three the only magic number? No. But that doesn’t detract from it one iota.
Afterword:
The purpose of this column is to introduce readers to spiritual practices, or ways of performing Mitzvot – that if practiced on an ongoing basis – will grant the person doing them an understanding and/or experiences of the deeper spiritual benefits that we accepted would be there in faith when we said, “Na’aseh v’Nishmah” at Sinai.
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Thank you for letting me share this treasure with you.
Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorach
© Copyright 2009 Moshe T. Eliovson All Rights Reserved
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