#760: Tachanun - Shomer Yisrael (Part 7)

So, Avinu Maakeinu, Avinu Maakeinu means our father, our king.

Of course, there's a contrast, a father and a king.

A father reflects the fact that we're banim, we're children.

And our king means that we're avadim.

We're meant to be his loyal servants, his loyal slaves.

That's why we sing.

We'll sing soon.

Shabbos Yom Tov come together.

We'll sing, whether you relate to us as children, you relate to us as slaves, either way, Hashem responds positively to us.

The Gemara records a, whether we are Hashem's children always, or we're only Hashem's children when we're well-behaved, Does Hashem associate with us as our Father, loving and loyal Father, only when we're obedient, compliant, only when we act as His children? Or no matter how we act, no matter how we behave, parents love children unconditionally.

So Yehuda says it's dependent, it's conditional in our behavior.

And Rimeyer says, It's unconditional.

Hashem loves us.

We are His children, whether we're doing Retzono Shalmakam or not, whether we're obedient and compliant or not.

Now, ordinarily, the Rashba points out in his Shuvos, ordinarily we pass Kenan HaMachlokas Rav Yehud and Rav Meir.

We follow the opinion of...

Rabbi Yehuda.

Which would mean that it depends on how we behave.

He doesn't always want to identify as our father, we as his children.

Comes along the Rosh Benet Shuvah and he says, when it comes to this, it's an exception to the rule.

We Paschan like Rabbi Meir.

We're always Hashem's children.

No matter what we do, no matter how far we've fallen, no matter how distant we've become, no matter how non-compliant or disobedient, im kavan, we're always HaKadosh Baruch Hu's children.

Avinu.

And Avinu, you'll know, comes before Malkenu.