#756: Tachanun - Shomer Yisrael (Part 3)

The first, from a Sefer called Ha'ares HaTefilah, and he suggests the following based on the Sifri and pars-- On the Pasuk of Shema.

Why is Shema, Shema Yisrael? Why isn't it Shema Bnei Avraham VeYitzchak? Why isn't it Shema someone else? Why are we identified not only in Shema, but throughout Torah, Daber El Bnei Yisrael? Yisrael, of course, is another name for Yaakov, for Yaakov Avinu.

Yisrael is the higher name of Yaakov.

Yaakov living his ideal.

So why are we always referred to or identified with Yisrael? Daber El Bnei Yisrael.

Shema Yisrael, as opposed to Avraham and Yitzchak.

So we know that Yaakov Avinu had a concern.

Yaakov was worried, "Oi li shema tetze mimenem psolas k'derach sheyatzu mei'avosai".

All he had to do was look at his own background.

He looked at his own family tree, and he had cause for concern.

Zeid Avraham, of course, was great, was a tzadik, was a gadol, but from Avraham came a Yishmael.

His father, Yitzchak, was a gadol.

His father, Yitzchak, was incredible.

From Yitzchak came a Esav.

He said, "What about me? I'm not gonna be greater than my father and grandfather.

If they had to deal with such descendants, why would I, why should I be different?" He had a concern, and in fact, it was a concern that took him all the way to the end of his life.

The Torah tells us, the Midrash fills in how he surrounded himself with his sons at the end of his life, and he was worried.

Shema yesh bevavcha machlokes amit shamer vahaya olam.

Maybe among my children is a psul.

Maybe among my children, they all, when they're around me, they dress the right way, they say the right things, they give the impression they're living my lifestyle.

But what if among them is somebody who has, just like my brother, just like my uncle, is my psul, is my psolas.

So what did they respond? In unison, all of his sons declared, amar lo, they said, Shema Yisrael.

Shema Yisrael.

Who's the Yisrael they're talking to? Their father.

Shema Yisrael.