Torah And Tefillah Foundation

במדרש בענין התפלה

The Midrash speaks about the matter of tefillah.

The Sfas Emes opens by noting that the Midrash on this parsha addresses the theme of tefillah.

כי עיקר כחן של בנ"י בפה הוא תורה ותפלה

For the essential power of Bnei Yisrael lies in the mouth, namely in Torah and tefillah.

The unique strength of Bnei Yisrael is expressed through the mouth, in the twin avodos of Torah and tefillah.

והנה דור המדבר הי' בחי' תורה שנק' דרך

Now, the generation of the wilderness was on the level of Torah, which is called 'a path.'

The dor hamidbar embodied Torah, which is described as a 'path' one travels along.

וא"י היא בחי' תפלה עבודה שבלב ונק' עמידה

And Eretz Yisrael is on the level of tefillah, the avodah of the heart, which is called 'standing.'

Entering Eretz Yisrael corresponds to tefillah, the service of the heart, which is described as 'standing' in place before Hashem.

ולכן כ' אתם נצבים שנעשו עומדים

This is why it is written, 'You are standing' (Devarim 29:9) — that they were made into ones who stand.

The opening words 'Atem nitzavim' hint that upon entering the Land, Bnei Yisrael were elevated to the standing posture of tefillah.

והגם כי מדרגת התפלה למטה ממדרגת התורה אבל היא היסוד כמו היקום אשר ברגליהם

And although the level of tefillah is below the level of Torah, nevertheless it is the foundation, like the ground beneath their feet.

Even though tefillah ranks lower than Torah, it serves as the underlying foundation, just as the solid ground supports a person standing on it.

ועל ב' אלו כ' לא נפלאת היא ולא רחוקה כי קרוב כו'

Regarding these two it is written, 'It is not hidden from you, nor is it far off... rather it is very close' (Devarim 30:11-14).

The verse that the Torah is 'not far off' but 'very close' refers to both Torah and tefillah being accessible to every Jew.

בפיך זו תורה ובלבבך זו תפלה

'In your mouth' — this refers to Torah; 'and in your heart' — this refers to tefillah.

The phrase 'in your mouth' alludes to Torah, while 'in your heart' alludes to tefillah.

והם בחי' תש"י נגד הלב

And these correspond to the tefillin of the hand, which is set opposite the heart,

The shel yad of the tefillin, placed opposite the heart, parallels tefillah, the avodah of the heart.

ותש"ר למען תהי' תורת ה' בפיך

and the tefillin of the head, as it is written, 'so that the Torah of Hashem may be in your mouth' (Shemos 13:9).

The shel rosh parallels Torah, as the verse ties the tefillin to 'the Torah of Hashem being in your mouth.'

ואלו הם הפותח והחותם שכ' במדרש:

And these two are the opening and the closing of which the Midrash speaks.

These two avodos, Torah and tefillah, are the bookends — the opening and closing themes — that the Midrash highlights.

Summary: The Sfas Emes teaches that the essential strength of Bnei Yisrael is found in the mouth, expressed through the two avodos of Torah and tefillah. The generation of the wilderness embodied Torah, called a 'path,' while entry into Eretz Yisrael corresponds to tefillah, the avodah of the heart, called 'standing' — which is why the parsha opens with 'Atem nitzavim,' that they were made into ones who stand. Though tefillah ranks below Torah, it is the very foundation upon which a Jew stands, like solid ground beneath one's feet. Both are 'very close' and accessible, alluded to in 'in your mouth' (Torah) and 'in your heart' (tefillah), which parallel the tefillin shel rosh and shel yad. These twin avodos form the opening and closing themes of the Midrash.