If we take a moment to look at the additions to our Amidah during Aseret Ymei Teshuva we will notice a progression. First we ask Hashem “Zochreinu L’Chaim”, Remember us for life.” Next (“Mi Kamocha”) we refer to Hashem as He “who remembers His creatures for life, in His mercy.” At the end of the Amida our requests become bolder: “Inscribe for a good life all the children of Your covenant.” Finally we ask for a lot: “In the book of life, blessing, peace and abundant maintenance, may we be remembered and inscribed before You…” The lesson of this progression is simple and profound: We thank Hashem for life. Life alone is a priceless gift deserving of our thanks to God. But during this time of year, when “the King is in the field” we don’t stop with the basics. We take advantage of the moment and ask for much more.
Rav Yitzchak Tuvyah
Weiss, who passed away last summer, would often tell the story that in his
youth he lived in the town of Pesing that was about four kilometers away from
Pressburg. When the Germans entered his city, the community leaders didn’t know
how to deal with the Nazis. He didn’t know whether the community should listen
to the Nazi's demands, or whether they should escape and seek to evade them.
The head of the Jewish community sent the young Tuvyah Weiss to Pressburg, to get
advice from the communal leader of Pressburg. In Pressburg he was told that the
situation was very bleak. The leader in Pressburg also told young Tuvyah Weiss
that the King of England sent a train to save one thousand Jewish children, and
he received a thousand tickets to distribute. “I don’t know who to save, and
who has precedence over whom, but since you’ve come here, take a ticket, and
save yourself.” Reb Tuvyah went home, quickly packed his bags, said goodbye to
his parents, and went to the transport.
Before long, he was in England with a thousand other
children. The king wanted to see with his own eyes the thousand children the he
saved. The children stood on both sides of the road, and the king drove between
them. Rav Weiss recalls that standing next to him was a courageous boy. When
the king’s chariot came near this boy jumped into the king’s chariot. The
king’s servants wanted to send the boy away, but the king said that he wants to
hear what the child has to say. The child thanked the king for saving so many
children, "but it upsets me that the king's compassion isn't perfect,
because I left behind my parents and family. How can I be happy with my
salvation when I’m worried about the plight of my parents and family…” The king
asked him for the boy’s parents’ details. Two weeks later, his parents and all
his extended family were in England. Rav Weiss made the following observation:
If the king was in his castle, this child wouldn’t be able to speak to the
king. But now that the king is traveling he was able to come close to the king
and plead for the lives of his parents. This is exactly what takes place on
Rosh Hashanah. During Aseret Ymei Teshuva we have access to a special power of
tefillah. On that day in England 999 children remained in their places; they
didn’t take advantage of the king’s appearance. Only one child didn’t let this
opportunity slip away. See how much he gained seizing the moment. Let us do the
same this Yomim Noraim season.
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