Parshas Shoftim-Making davening a little easier
Parshas Shoftim-The Guilt Trap: Part 2
Torah Psych101
Dr. Jonathan M. Lasson
רש"י brings the גמרא in סוטה (1) which tells us fearful people should go home from battle. This is based on the פסוק (2) of מי האיש הירא ורך הלבב ילך וישב לביתו-
“Who is the man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return home”…
רש"יsays that this refers to a person who is afraid of his עבירות.
The אור החיים הקדוש poses the following question. Where in this פסוק does it mention anything about being afraid of עבירות-sins? It is natural that people who are about to go to war that they become scared and sometimes regret their decision to go to war. That does not seem very sinful. It’s just human nature!
So the אור החיים says an amazing psychological Pshat. He says that the person in question is not consciously aware that he has sinned but going into battle automatically causes a person to be fearful of the sins he may have committed in the past. This is an automatic subconscious response. He then asks a question about a Gemara that says if a person sins by speaking between ישתבח and יוצר אור he should go back home from war. Now this seems strange on a couple of levels. On one hand, I can think of far greater sins then speaking during davening that a person should be sent home from battle. And secondly this ירושלמי (3) seems to be saying that the person was aware that he had spoken during a time he was not allowed to? If he was aware he certainly was conscious?
The answer given is that whenever anyone goes to war, there is a מלאך that accompanies him (4) and intercedes on his behalf. If that person is reflecting on even a minor עבירה such as talking during ישתבח and יוצר אור, he will need that מלאך to intercede in order to save him during battle. If we experience guilt for minor or other sins which are mostly unconscious then we become morally injured.
It is interesting to note that there has been a recent resurgence in the psychological literature on the idea of moral injury that is frequent among those going out to war. Many who experience survivor guilt or shame for not being more active in combat related operations tend to fair far worse than those who were actually injured physically during battle. To some, this might not come as much of a surprise as we know that sticks and stones may break my bones. But to others it the longstanding effects of moral injury go unrecognized if left untreated.
I want to add to this idea. Davening is a very hard thing to do. To be able to concentrate during an entire Tefilla seems almost impossible at least for me let alone concentrating on a few Pesukim. I have tried but this is something that I and many others struggle with. Our thoughts wander. We try to shake those thoughts away. Sometimes we shake in the literal sense. The fact is these thoughts come out in Tefilla because the יצר הרע understands the power of Tefilla so he strengthens himself specifically during Tefilla in order to distract us. Invariably we fall into the guilt trap. We say to ourselves, “I am such a bad person. I can’t get through a simple Tefilla without having unwanted thoughts.” This sense of guilt can become toxic.
Back to our Parsha and the Passuk we began with. I believe this Passuk can be referring to a different type of battle that I just mentioned. The battle that rages on in our minds. We feel guilty and therefore unworthy of protection. I believe this is what Rashi means when it says that this particular מי האיש is spoken and proclaimed. One of the greatest ways to humble yourself during davening and get to the right Kavana is to both speak and proclaim. The idea of speaking and proclaiming which in this case is done solely by the Kohen adds a little extra intensity by proclaiming that Hashem is the king of all kings.
As we enter into Elul with the Yomim Noraim in our sights, let us work on strengthening our Tefillos by working on davening even small portions with intense concentration. Just proclaiming that Hashem is our king, will help us achieve the sometimes elusive powers of Tefilla.
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(1) Sotah 44a
(2) Devarim 20:8
(3) Yerushalmi quoted by Hagahos Maimoniyos in Hilchos Tefilla
(4) Shabbos 53b, see Rashi there