
The Prayer of Protection
Torah StudyJewish Thought & MussarSelected Passages
Selected passages
When reciting Aleinu, after saying the words, "Hu Elokeinu ein od emes Malkeinu efes zulaso...ein od - He is our G-d and there is none other. True is our King, there is nothing beside Him...there is no other," before continuing to "Ve'al kein nekaveh lecha Hashem Elokeinu And therefore we put our hope in You, Hashem, our G-d," one should pause for a moment and think about a salvation he looks forward to and desires
Tanna DeVei Eliyahu Rabbah (25) shares a novel interpretation of this pasuk. The word seiser can also mean in secret. With this in mind, the Tanna DeVei Eliyahu explains that protection is guaranteed for one who sits in private and learns Torah without fanfare and without others knowing. Such a person is deemed a "yosheiv beseiser." He is the one who is elyon, elevated, and he will bask "be'tzeil Shakai," in the shadow of the Almighty