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Podcast: The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman
Episode: Hayom Yom 5 Kislev - Prayer is the ladder it stands on the ground its top reaches up to Heaven
Description: וְהִנֵּה סוּלָּם מוּצָּב אַרְצָה“Behold, a ladder was standing on the ground.” תְּפִלָּה הִיא סוּלָּם הַהִתְקַשְּׁרוּת שֶׁל הַנְּשָׁמָה בֵּאלֹקוּתPrayer is the ladder by means of which the soul is bound to G‑dliness. וַהֲגַם שֶׁהוּא מוּצָּב אַרְצָהThough it “stands on the ground,” הַתְחָלַת הַתְּפִלָּה הִיא בְּהוֹדָאָה לְבָדfor prayer begins with a simple acknowledgment of G‑d, אֲבָל וְרֹאשׁוֹ מַגִּיעַ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה“its top reaches up to Heaven:” בִּבְחִינַת בִּיטוּל עַצְמִי[it brings a person to] utter self-nullification (bittul atzmi). אֲבָל בָּא לָזֶה עַל יְדֵי הַקְדָּמַת הַהַשָּׂגָה וְהַהֲבָנָהOne arrives at this by first attaining an understanding בִּפְסוּקֵי דְזִמְרָהof Pesukei DeZimra, בִּרְכוֹת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַעthe blessings that frame the Shema, וּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַעand the Shema.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]