Rosh Hashanah 5769/2008 - Jewish Infertility

prayers. Tears will fall upon last year’s tear stains, adding to theever-growing collection of prayers of every passing year.How difficult it is to daven again and again, when it seems thatour requests are repeatedly denied. How can we summon thestrength and courage to invest emotion into our tefillos, whenthe coldness of unchanging circumstances stares us in the face?Reb. Chana Juravel in her piece “Communication” enlightens usas to the true nature of tefilla. Praying is not a matter of rote, noris it simply an opportunity to voice our requests. Rather, the giftof prayer is a means of communication. Let’s repeat that mindbogglingconcept: tefilla is a means of communication! Whilewe’re standing in the air-conditioned shul, feeling the gusts of coldair blowing through our beings, let’s take the time to internalizethis message. We are actually talking to the King of Kings, andwonder of wonders, He is actually listening to our prayers! It’snot a matter of submitting a request and anxiously awaiting theresults. We are forging connections that assist us as we deal withthe never-ending vicissitudes of life.Yes, every occasion is double-sided. Yentele Roitenberg clarifiesthis so beautifully and succinctly in her article, His Will – OurDesire. The root of the word bracha is comprised of three lettersthat are multiples of two - beis(2), reish(200), and chof (20). Everysituation can be viewed from two perspectives. “It isn’t merely acloud with a silver lining, for every ominous cloud can be viewedas a treasure trove of opportunity.”Do we feel as though our tefillos are repeatedly turned downor rejected? We are actually building the lines of communicationto sustain us along the journey of life. If there is anyone who canattest to the treasures of hidden blessing, Yentele is the mostsuitable candidate. This is not a manner or a firm decision; it is herway of life. After reading her article, I felt compelled to skim thewords again and again in an effort to internalize her message ofcheer, optimism and vitality.Recently, I read a beautiful article which struck a chord ofrecognition and inspiration. Although it spoke to my musicaltendencies, it is also designed to speak to the music of the heart.Arturo Toscanini was a world-famous musician who was blessedwith unparalleled musical talent. His virtuosity enabled him todelve into the essence of a musical piece, unveiling depths ofmeaning that others never detected. Upon listening to a recordingof a musical rendition, Arturo was noticeably disturbed. He knewthat this particular piece required the participation of fourteenviolinists, yet he realized that only thirteen were playing.Shaarei Tikvah Issue 57/ Rosh Hashana 2008“Where is the fourteenth violinist? What happened to thefourteenth violinist?” he asked.Wasn’t it enough that thirteen professional musicians wereplaying the piece? Was it really necessary for that last violinist tobe present?If the question would be posed to anyone, the response wouldbe an unequivocal “no.” Why was the fourteenth violinist so2rosh hashana_magazine2.indd 221/09/2008 6:58:24 PM