A Shuvu Story: Tefilah

Last week I ( a teacher) was invited to speak for the 6th grade of Lod who were starting to say Shmoneh Esrei for the very first time.

This was after weeks of practice and studying the meaning of the Tefillah.

We went to a shul nearby that was empty and they allowed us to use it.

The girls stood quietly with such Yiras Hakovod and said each and every word. When they finished they were allowed to walk up to the Aron HaKodesh and ask a Bakasha from Hashem.

Evelyn Kanievsky asked me if she could say something and we listened carefully to her “wish”.

She had tears rolling down her face as she told us that she asked Hashem that the Kavana that she had today davening Shmoneh Esrei for the very first time, should remain with her throughout her entire life! There was silence in the shul as her words permeated the air.

I was so choked up that it was difficult for me to speak. I composed myself and passed around the shul a picture of a siddur that was found in Treblinka after the war.

I told them that a Yid takes a siddur with him wherever he goes. We said a Perek Tehillim and then I continued to tell the story of Natan Sharansky.

When Sharansky was in prison in Russia, he had a tiny siddur with him that he would daven from daily.

Years ago someone met up with him and told him how impressed she was that he kept that tiny siddur with him in the Soviet prison.

At that point Sharansky put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the tiny siddur.

The woman asked him if he carries it all the time. At that point he answered her, “I don’t carry the siddur with me, the siddur carries me“.

When I finished speaking Galina yelled out spontaneously that after she davens she feels the same way and like a different person, and she see the power of Tefillah!

This content, and any other content on TLS, may not be republished or reproduced without prior permission from TLS. Copying or reproducing our content is both against the law and against Halacha. To inquire about using our content, including videos or photos, email us at [email protected].

Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**

**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**

Got a news tip? Email us at [email protected], Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.